Comments

Regarding the news item from the New Yorker I would like to clarify the Kariba dam situation which has been mis-reported in this article (and a few others). Quoting a colleague of mine who is an experienced Zambian engineer who knows the dam well: "Jacques Leslie should stay in SF and watch American Football, rather than meddle in things he is not qualified to offer alarmist projections about. The article is not to be taken seriously - he is misinformed and trying to make a living out of alarmist reporting. As I said before, all dams with flood gates through the wall have plunge pools to approx 2/3 the height of the drop - it is simple energy equation and practice has proven this to be appropriate. There is no cause for alarm, it needs some renovations but they are not urgent. A failure would not wipe out Cabora Bassa downstream in Mozambique, but it would flood over the top of that wall. The dam in Iraq is more of a problem - and I would not want to live downstream."

Is there anywhere online...a copy of the paper he delivered in the 1970 Waigani Seminar

Hi Carmen, Thank you for a honest and unbiased write up. When I started reading your post I was fearing the worst already, but the story never went the way I had thought like most stories would end up (Negative). I hope you enjoy your stay in PNG and if you have time, do walk the Kokoda Track, and visit other places around the country, because you will never regret. All the negative stories you hear do happen because the tourists do not respect local authorities and try to do things their own way and get into such mishaps. I have organised trips for tourists from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Townsville, Sydney, Singapore, Cape Town, Brussels and New York besides the local expatriates from Pom, Lae Mt Hagen and Goroka. They have never regretted and I know you will also have the same experience. Ed.

Thanks for this post Gordon it raises a really important point that mainstream academia needs to engage with if influencing people who make development decisions is at least part of what they do. My favourite line from a reviewer was 'can you put more in the bibliography?'

The percentage figure quoted, which is from DAC statistics, relates to gross bilateral ODA. It doesn't include imputed multilateral flows. But nor does it include aid to PNG, Australia's largest recipient by a mile. PNG has in the not-so-distant past met the criteria for classification as an LDC but, unusually, it refused to allow itself to be so classified. I am unsure whether it currently meets the criteria but I imagine it wouldn't miss by a mile. So the 24% figure is perhaps a little misleading.

Chris, It's great to have this sort of analysis which can help to identify both need and capacity. Thanks. When you say Australia is giving less than 25% of its aid budget to LDCs are you including Australian dollars that go to LDCs via the UN, multilateral banks and multilateral funds?

Hi Tess, it is true that Samoa has been the most stable country politically in the region over the past fifteen to twenty years and there is a reason for that. I first visited Samoa after Cyclone Val in 1991 which is not really that long ago in terms of observing the developments there but my first impressions at the time was of a place that was devastated by the cyclone. I subsequently visited almost every year after that for the next 15 years, and each time there were noticeable changes and improvements in the infrastructure and just the general appearance of the Capital. Political stability also has a percolating effect on economic growth. ok granted, Samoa’s GDP is about 60% owed to China in loans but they have been successful in integrating Chinese Aid/Loans into their economic development. It helps to have some political stability which is supported by having a common culture, language and a chiefly system and political continuity albeit coagulated around one man - the current Prime Minister who is loved by most and loathed by some, but nonetheless respected and admired by his detractors for what he has done for Samoa. Whether or not you can argue that this is because of the system of Government or because of the persona of the Prime Minister and the strength of their Party is not really clear to me. I think it is a bit of a combination of both factors. As to whether this is likely to be replicated in other countries; that is hard to see They have developed their unique approach to governance which a generation of Samoans have been used to and perhaps comfortable with.

Thanks for this post Transform and particularly for providing a much needed insight into the political machinery of Marshall Islands. The Vanuatu parliament meets Feb 11th and we are hoping that appropriate constitutional and legislative reform to provide for greater stability (work that was commenced early last year) will be early on the agenda. I do have a question: a Samoan associate pointed out to me recently that her country was the most politically stable in the region: this is undoubtedly true and there are certainly some exemplary policy developments we can point to in that country but there are also some serious issues including worryingly high levels of public debt...so is it ever possible to say that there can be too much political stability?

Chris, Interesting piece, but isn't it odd to ask whether countries can afford to reduce poverty? Isn't that like asking if they can afford to grow? Look forward to hearing more (and seeing you) at the aid conference.

Great piece brings focus to the resource needed to implement Global Goals. However, the sums of money involved are so small that they should make us all ashamed. Every year tax evasion and offshore investment schemes take over US$ 1,000 Billion out of poorer countries around the World. If we simply eliminated Global tax avoidance the LMICs could be made self-sufficient, leaving the balance of Global aid to cover the $70B gap in LICs. In any case rich countries should be making long term investment in Global economic development by increasing aid to poorer countries. The cost upto 2014 of the US "war on terror" in Afghanistan and Iraq was over $2,400 Billion. An investment just a fraction of this size, to help elimiate Global poverty, would have done far more to advance World peace and economic stability. Real progress will only be made once we stop seeing the World in terms of "them and us" and start to all view each other as Global Citizens. Economically this means working towards a "Global Economic Community" which is the only way to bring some of these key changes about. Robert P Bruce author www.TheGlobalRace.net

Dear Robin, I haven't read the report and not planning to do it anytime soon. I will assume that this blog is a good summary of what is to be found. Not sure why, this sector always looks at the UN as the only mechanism that could deliver a solution. They are, without a doubt, a good convener of well educated Illuminati with great from the book solutions. The problem always lies with the lack of local context and the fact that there are NO global solutions. The CERF-like proposed fund will be good for big NGOs where the vetting processes will be impossible for local and more agile organizations to meet. The UN and similar agencies have to respect international accords (like the Paris declaration) where the limited definition of "country ownership" increases bureaucracy and reduces effectiveness. Too important ...I agree ...but the FERC like fund will do little to support local organizations.

Thanks Alurigo. I enjoyed your comment. I agree - one day it will be great when substantive discussions about policy overtake the mechanisms of aid delivery!