What do Southeast Asian experts think about Australia’s development program? To find out, the Lab spoke to 360+ top development and foreign policy experts. Here’s what we found.
Shared Futures: Southeast Asia’s Development Trends and Australia’s Strategic Imperatives
There are a number of big disruptions underway, and these will drastically affect development in every country.
You have 100 points. Allocate your points according to which of the below disruptions are most critical to address in your country.
Things like: the impact on livelihoods, infrastructure and people’s quality of life as the climate changes, the global push to reach net zero and beyond, biodiversity health and resource usage, disaster resilience
Things like: competing powers and their impact on things like trade and economic growth.
Things like: the rapidly growing digital and data economy, and the rise of artificial intelligence and advanced autonomous systems.
Things like: shifting demographics across age, education and healthcare, and rising inequality, gender equality, disability inclusion.
Things like: rapidly changing markets, trade conditions, stability and resilience to shocks, changing job opportunities and emerging industries.
Things like: shifting international norms and state structures, effective functions of the state, and disruptions to the international rules based order.
Things like: global stability and instability, internal conflict, humanitarian crises, external interference, maritime disputes.
We know that to achieve social and economic development, an effective and accountable state is critical - and this is something that Australia is committed to working with partners on.
You have 100 points. Allocate your points according to where you would focus efforts to enhance social and economic development in your country, using the State Effectiveness Framework.
For example, commercial policy, private sector development, intervention by the state when the market experiences failure or crisis.
For example, a balanced security environment, when police, military and other security institutions are bound by the law and guidelines.
For example, public utilities - including water, electricity and roads.
For example, strong adherence to both formal and informal rules, high levels of predictability and stability of the enforcement of rules, and governance arrangements.
For example, investment in the citizens of a state through education and public health.
For example, strong and transparent forms of public financial management, effective public borrowing, and fiscal management.
For example, addressing barriers to equal opportunities through citizens rights which cut across gender, race, ethnicity, religion, class and location.
For example, state assets (including natural resources [water, land, the environment, extractives] and other intangible benefits [licenses and permits]).
For example, preparedness for disasters, state resiliency against crises such as drought, famine, and catastrophic weather.
For example, public sector management, uniform rules and guidelines, strong reforms to prevent corruption.
Australia's new development policy wants to foster connection between your country and ours. How is this best done within development?
You have 100 points. Allocate your points according to where you think efforts are best placed to bring our countries together through development cooperation.
Support from Australia to back your country's aspirations on things like gender equality, health assistance, rural development and education.
Support from Australia to back your country's aspirations on things like trade, market growth, regulatory reform, small-to-medium enterprise (SME) development and development finance.
Support from Australia to back your country's aspirations on things like peace and security, effective governance, food security, digital and cyber security, law and justice.
Support from Australia to back your country's aspirations on things like remittances, labour mobility, job creation, social and economic policy reform.
Support from Australia to back your country's aspirations on things like scholarships, policy dialogue, cultural exchange and institutional partnerships.
Support from Australia to back your country's aspirations on things like climate adaptation and mitigation, global health crises, transnational crime, joint cooperation in regional and multilateral fora, unregulated migration flows and major demographic changes.
Australia works with your country through development cooperation in a variety of ways. What would you like to see here?
Australia works with countries through development cooperation. How would you re-allocate Australia's development spending in your country across these categories using your 100 points?
Including policy and research to support economic growth, emerging industries and job markets, banking and financial services.
Including transport and storage, larger water, communications.
Including agriculture, fisheries and forestry, industry and mining and mineral resources.
Including policy and enabling markets.
Including governance programming, policy reforms, civil society strengthening, social protection measure and infrastructure.
Including support for feminist organisations and movements, support for disability organisations and services.
Including basic, secondary and higher education and scholarships.
Including basic health, infrastructure and basic water and sanitation.
Including climate mitigation and adaptation, energy infrastructure, environmental protection and management.
Including emergency response, disaster prevention and preparedness .
Alongside what is included in Australia's development cooperation with your country, we're interested in your views on how Australia delivers partnership.
You have 100 points. Allocate your points according to where you think Australia should focus to become a great development partner.
Working in selective sectors where Australia can best assist your country, and doing it well. Perhaps operating in a less visible way, and much more impact-oriented.
Working at the forefront of development challenges and working with partners to get ahead of big, new challenges to development. Developing specific capabilities in response to development disruptions decades ahead.
Working with partners to leverage Australian expertise, and knowledge, and working with your country's knowledge ecosystem to solve the most difficult development challenges.
Connected to your communities, not just your Government. Australia as a whole-of-nation partner that connects across different levels: for example universities, businesses, and organisations. Squarely focused on delivering development outcomes for people and communities.
Working to back Australia's development partner's aspirations through things like ASEAN, multilateral arenas, and through bilateral arrangements.
