In 2015, the federal aid budget was slashed by almost $1 billion, followed by cuts of a further $200 million in 2016. 2017 is the first year it is expected to increase, if only enough to cover inflation. Join us the morning after the 2017-18 budget announcement at the sixth annual Devpolicy Aid Budget Breakfast for fresh insight and expert analysis on how aid has fared in this year’s budget. The event will be held on Wednesday May 10, commencing at 9am sharp. Please join us from 8am onwards for breakfast, or watch the livestream here. Further details here. Register here.
Trump and development: the first 100 days
Stephen Howes and Robin Davies contributed to the ANU volume The Trump Administration’s First 100 days with an article on “Trump and development: aid, migration and the Beijing Consensus.” They argue that apart from aid cuts, migration reforms and a slashing of refugee intake, the lasting developmental legacy of the Trump administration might be the fillip it provides to the so-called “Beijing Consensus”, which emphasizes the importance of exports and authoritarianism.
Why forests?
On Tuesday May 16 at 2pm, the Development Policy Centre will co-host a public seminar by Jonah Busch of the Centre for Global Development, based on his recent book (with Frances Seymour) Why forests? Why now? The science, economics, and politics of tropical forests and climate change. Read about the event here, and register here.
PNG drought and famine
In 2015, much of PNG was hit by a major drought and a series of destructive frosts. On Wednesday June 7 at 3.15pm, Devpolicy will host a public forum entitled Drought and famine relief in Papua New Guinea, 2015-2016. More detail here, and register your interest here.
Also, on PNG check out Terence Wood’s latest analysis of PNG electoral reforms; Stephen Howes on PNG’s ongoing revenue decline; Joachim Luma, Michael Anderson and Carmen Voigt-Graf on how to get more aid-funded staff into in-line positions in PNG; and Grant Walton on anti-corruption messaging.
Finally, the deadline for submission of papers to the 2017 PNG Update (10–11 August 2017) has been extended. Abstracts will be accepted until Friday 12 May 2017. Further information here.
Upcoming events
Aid Budget Breakfast
9 – 10.30am, Wednesday 10 May, Molonglo Theatre, Crawford School, ANU. Details here.
Why forests? Why now? The science, economics, and politics of tropical forests and climate change – Jonah Busch
2 – 3.30pm, Tuesday 16 May, Acton Theatre, Crawford School, ANU. Details here.
Drought and famine relief in Papua New Guinea, 2015-2016
3.15 – 5.15pm, Wednesday June 7 at Lecture Theatre 1, Hedley Bull Centre, Building 130, Garran Road, ANU. Details here.
2017 Pacific Update
20 – 21 June, The University of the South Pacific (USP), Suva, Fiji. Details here.
2017 PNG Update
10 – 11 August, The University of Papua New Guinea, Waigani Campus, Port Moresby. Details here.
Blog highlights
Samoa’s creeping politicization of religion
Polio progress: one-step closer
On the blog
Midwifery and maternal health in Papua New Guinea by Susan Crabtree
Has LPV helped women candidates in PNG? By Terence Wood
Does China need to become democratic to become rich? By Stephen Howes
Did changing electoral systems change election results in PNG? By Terence Wood
Heeding a global call to action on rehabilitation by Wesley Pryor and Alexandra Lewis-Gargett
For immunisation, Australia must continue to also look beyond its borders by Helen Evans
Revenue falls for a second year in a row in PNG by Stephen Howes
Christianising Samoa’s constitution and religious freedom in the Pacific by Bal Kama
Polio is one step from eradication, and we must take it by Chris Maher and Reza Hossain
Significance of the centenary: history and commemoration of the Kokoda Campaign in Papua New Guinea by Gregory Bablis
Aid advisers in Papua New Guinea: a full solution by Joachim Luma, Michael Anderson and Carmen Voigt-Graf
In brief
Fortnightly links: global poverty, non-violent protest, vaccine trial, pro-aid ad, and more
Your chance to have an evaluation discussed in the next Australian Aid Evaluation Forum
New opinion data on aid spending, and 2017-18 Federal Budget preview
PNG Elections: 1964 to 2017 – film screening at ANU
Aid at the end of Murray McCully’s time as NZ’s foreign minister
This is the fortnightly newsletter of the Development Policy Centre at Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, published every second Friday.
