Australian Development Assistance

Economic diplomacy: Strategic funding comes in from the cold
Economic diplomacy: Strategic funding comes in from the cold
Soft dollars While the multiples of defence to aid and intelligence to diplomacy spending have received a lot of attention in recent years as they have relentlessly widened,…
Infrastructure for influence: Pacific Islands building spree
Infrastructure for influence: Pacific Islands building spree
There is a building spree going on in our neighbourhood as Pacific Island countries leverage geopolitical rivalries to fill a huge gap. A rough estimate is that the region needs…
The Global Fragility Act in PNG: can the US succeed?
The Global Fragility Act in PNG: can the US succeed?
It was a long-awaited announcement that drew little attention in Australia. In April, US President Joe Biden named Haiti, Libya, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Coastal…
Five reasons Australia should establish a Development Finance Institution
Five reasons Australia should establish a Development Finance Institution
The Australian government has recently announced a Development Finance Review. One big idea actively under consideration is establishing an Australian development finance…
Telstra’s Digicel Pacific challenge
Commentary
Telstra’s Digicel Pacific challenge
The deal with the government insulates the telco from financial risk. But accepting the role of Australia’s lead business ambassador in the region makes it no set-and-forget…
Pacific Step-Up needs a Covid-era reboot
Pacific Step-Up needs a Covid-era reboot
Through thickly vegetated jungle paths, teams of doctors hike for hours to reach Fiji’s most remote villages. Travelling ahead of them, as reported in The…
Australia buying Digicel hits two birds with one stone
Commentary
Australia buying Digicel hits two birds with one stone
On top of staving off a China telco monopoly, underwriting the purchase would show the government is putting big money on the table to get ‘blue chip’ companies to invest in the…
Forgiveness not permission: A feminist foreign policy
Forgiveness not permission: A feminist foreign policy
China’s increasing attention to the Pacific region has created an uncomfortable bind for Australian foreign policy: should Canberra try to compete on economic grounds, knowing…
What Biden means for Australia’s aid policy
What Biden means for Australia’s aid policy
Joe Biden has taken the mantle of US president at a critical time for international development – amid a resurgence in poverty, increasing geopolitical contestation, rapid…
Avoiding a Pacific Lost Decade: Financing the Pacific's COVID-19 Recovery
Policy Briefs
Avoiding a Pacific Lost Decade: Financing the Pacific's COVID-19 Recovery
The Pacific's post-pandemic economic revival will rely on an international multi-year recovery package of grants and loans led by Australia