2016 PNG Update postponed
Due to the recent student unrest at the UPNG campus and suspension of classes by the University Council, we are postponing the 2016 PNG Update. We anticipate that it will be held in mid-July. Watch the newsletter and our website for new dates.
2017 Australasian Aid Conference
The 2017 Australasian Aid Conference will be held on 15-16 February next year.
Our call for papers is now open: if you are working on aid or international development policy in all of its shades, read the details and consider submitting. The deadline for abstracts is October 1.
Going beyond ‘politics matters’ in international development
In the above-titled public lecture on Wednesday 6 July (12.30pm, Brindabella Theatre), Samuel Hickey, the Research Director of the Effective States and Inclusive Development (ESID) Research Centre and a Professor of Politics and Development at the University of Manchester, will present the findings of a five year research project on politics and development in Asia and Africa. Register here.
Labor on aid
An announcement from Labor’s Tanya Plibersek last weekend gave us some indication of Labor’s intentions regarding foreign aid if there is a change of government in July. Robin Davies assessed the announcement of an extra $800 million over four years as an achievement but not enough to protect existing programs from future cuts. Former MP and Parl. Sec. for Aid Bob McMullan welcomed the development sector’s engagement on influencing aid policy, and Mel Dunn asked why there was no mention of the private sector.
World Humanitarian Summit: the lead up and the outcomes
The big news in development during the past fortnight has been the World Humanitarian Summit taking place in Ankara, Turkey. One of the biggest spats in the lead-up was the news that Médecins sans Frontières would not be participating. In a blog post, MSF Australia Executive Paul McPhun explained their decision – which had been criticized the week prior in a blog by Darren Brunk of NZ’s Council for International Development. Attendee list debates aside, Louise Searle of the Humanitarian Advisory Group found it was an event where small gains were carved out – read her reflections here.
Upcoming events
Going beyond ‘politics matters’ in international development
Wednesday 6 July, 12.30pm, Brindabella Theatre. Register here.
2016 PNG Update
POSTPONED. New dates soon. University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby. Details here.
2016 Pacific Update
18-19 July, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji. Details here.
Blog highlights
The Paris Agreement and the persistent developing-developed country divide
Lessons from indigenous affairs for development
Why is sustainability such a problem in aid, and how to improve it?
NZ’s aid increase is less than it seems
On the blog
Vale Ray Murray: capacity-builder without equal by Gordon Peake
The astounding increase in New Zealand aid, and other woes by Terence Wood and Jo Spratt
The long-term impact of aid by Ron Duncan
Are New Zealanders nicer when it comes to aid? By Terence Wood and Camilla Burkot
Post-summit takeaways on the ‘Agenda for Humanity’ by Louise Searle
How undifferentiated is the Paris agreement? By Stephen Howes
Policy-practice mismatches: insights from indigenous affairs by Michael Woolcock
Labor’s aid pledge: a look in the gift-horse’s mouth by Robin Davies
Let’s abolish the fire brigade – why Médecins sans Frontières isn’t at the World Humanitarian Summit by Paul McPhun
The curious case of sustainability by Robert Cannon
In brief
‘Outlawed and abused’: human rights abuses against sex workers in PNG
ANU-UPNG partnership runs Writer’s Workshop for upcoming PNG Update conference
Individual Deprivation Measure: short-term survey analysis opportunity
What about the private sector?
This is the fortnightly newsletter of the Development Policy Centre at Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, published every second Friday.
