Sir Julius Chan: a life in PNG politics
Last week, we hosted the launch of the memoirs of former Papua New Guinea PM and current MP Sir Julius Chan, the first political memoir for PNG for 40 years. The book, Playing the Game, has sparked a wide range of reactions. Read Sir Julius Chan’s speech here, and responses and reviews by Ross Garnaut, Bill Farmer, and Bill Standish.
Launch of the New Zealand Aid Stakeholder Survey
On Thursday 31 March (5.30pm), we will be launching the findings of the 2015 New Zealand Aid Stakeholder Survey in Wellington. Like the Australian survey, NZ stakeholders were asked about aid quality, specific aspects of aid programme performance, and the political leadership of aid programs. Devpolicy’s Terence Wood will be joined by Dr Wren Green, Director of NZ’s Council for International Development. The launch will be held at Victoria University – details here. Look out for the full report on our website and blog next week.
PNG & Pacific Update calls for papers
Our call for abstracts for the PNG Update, to be held at the University of Papua New Guinea on June 15-17, will close next week. More details on the conference and submission details are available here. Looking beyond PNG, on 18-19 July we will hold the Pacific Update conference at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, together with the USP School of Economics and the Asian Development Bank. The call for papers will close on April 30. For both conferences, we welcome abstracts from established and early-career academics, students, practitioners, and policymakers, on a wide range of topics, so don’t be shy – it’s a great chance to share your research.
Syria and global humanitarian funding
Last week marked five years since the beginning of the Syrian conflict. Jo Spratt writes on the blog that Australia and New Zealand are still not pulling their weight when it comes to contributing funds to support the humanitarian crisis stemming from the conflict. Get an insider’s view of the challenges facing Syrian women and families through this interview with Dr Lama Mouakea, Executive Director of the Syrian Family Planning Association.
With Syrian appeals coming up short year after year, and even more resources needed, this conflict and others shine a light on the current failings of the international humanitarian financing system. In a new policy brief [pdf], Robin Davies argues that a global humanitarian fund, sharing some characteristics with the several vertical funds that now support action on infectious disease control, climate change and other things, could help bridge the $10 billion humanitarian financing gap. He also discussed current issues in humanitarian financing recently in two blog posts (here and here).
Upcoming events
Australian aid evaluations: performance of Australian aid and Australia Awards scholarships
Wednesday 20 April, 9.15am, Barton Theatre. Register here.
2016 aid budget breakfast
Wednesday 4 May. Save the date! Registrations will open soon.
2016 PNG Update
15-17 June, 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
Backpacker taxes could help Pacific workers
Explaining NZ’s seasonal worker success
Staggeringly high costs for clean water in PNG
On the blog
Reflections on Australia and PNG: Sir Julius Chan’s remarks at the launch of ‘Playing the Game’
NZ’s seasonal worker success: lessons for Australia by Richard Curtain
Pacific countries still struggling to provide access to safe water by Luke Lovell and Tom Muller
Sir Julius Chan reviews a life in PNG politics by Bill Standish
Return to Abuser: limited options for survivors of violence in PNG by Ashlee Betteridge and Abdul Wasey
Backpacker tax under review: implications for the Seasonal Worker Program by Richard Curtain and Stephen Howes
Serving Syrian families: an interview with Lama Mouakea by Camilla Burkot and Lama Mouakea
Antipodean apathy on Syria continues by Jo Spratt
Will gender equality promises be kept? Accountability and the 2030 agenda by Somali Cerise
In brief
Ross Garnaut on Sir Julius Chan
PNG Business Coalition for Women seeks addressing violence project manager
This is the fortnightly newsletter of the Development Policy Centre at Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, published every second Friday.
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