Development Intelligence Lab

In recent years, Australia’s non-ODA (NODA) support to countries in the region has grown dramatically. Yet uncertainty remains about the nature and development impact of this funding. Our new brief ‘Non-ODA support and the future of development cooperation’ looks at this issue and finds: ⚫ Non-ODA (NODA) support has moved from the margins to the mainstream of Australia’s development cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. ⚫ When purposefully deployed, non-ODA support enables greater scale, flexibility and coherence in development cooperation. ⚫ Further guidance on the use of non-ODA support alongside Official Development Assistance (ODA) would help sharpen the development program as an element of statecraft while preserving its core development purpose. The brief concludes that non-ODA support is a promising building block for a new development paradigm in Australia. 🔴 Read the full brief by Lab’s Strategic Advisor, Michael McKenzie, here 👉 devintelligencelab.com/analyses/non-o…

What is non-ODA support for development (NODA)? ⚫ The primary objective of Official Development Assistance (ODA) is the sustainable development of the recipient country. Broader objectives (geostrategic, security, diplomatic and economic) can inform decision-making, but they should not displace or undermine the primary goal of promoting the economic development and welfare of lower and middle income countries. ⚫ The converse is true for non-ODA support for development. While not formally defined, it captures spending that does not meet ODA criteria but nonetheless contributes to sustainable development. In such cases, geostrategic, security, diplomatic or economic objectives may be determinative, provided development remains a secondary or complementary focus. 🔴 Read our latest brief to learn more about NODA here 👉 devintelligencelab.com/analyses/non-o…

The Intel’s editor, Victoria Cooper, sets the scene for this fortnight’s question and why it deserves to be asked: “Pacific Island countries have the lowest level of female political representation in the world. Women in Asia and the Pacific work the longest hours in the world, with 80% of unpaid care work in the region done by women. Climate shocks and conflict are widening these gaps.” Explore the debate 👉 devintelligencelab.com/intel/10march2…

This fortnight’s Intel featured insights from Renat Muruket and Jocelyn Condon, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, and Beth Eggleston responding to the question: 🔴 When does ‘gender mainstreaming’ become ‘gender washing’? Multiple perspectives. Different angles. Explore the points of agreement, tension, and difference here 👉 devintelligencelab.com/intel/10march2…

This fortnight on the Intel we ask: 🔴 When does ‘gender mainstreaming’ become ‘gender washing’? Our expert contributors pitch in: ⚫ @FemiliPNG’s Renat Muruket and FemiliPNG Australia’s Jocelyn Condon ⚫ GPPAC Pacific & Pacific Women Mediators Network’s Sharon Bhagwan Rolls ⚫ Humanitarian Advisory Group’s Beth Eggleston Explore their three competing views, here 👉 devintelligencelab.com/intel/10march2… Don’t miss an edition, sign up to our list to get the Intel straight to your inbox 👉 #launch-section" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">devintelligencelab.com/#launch-section

The Intel’s editor, Victoria Cooper, sets the scene for this fortnight’s question and why it deserves to be asked: "Few abbreviations elicit as buzzy reactions as ‘AI’. Artificial intelligence has entered all our lives, and Australia’s policy wonks are no exception. Governments around the world are grappling with how to harness the technology’s immense potential for good and mitigate the risks of its evils." Explore the debate 👉 devintelligencelab.com/intel/24februa…

This fortnight’s Intel featured insights from Geordie Fung, Pia Andrews, and Michael Barlow, responding to the question: 🔴 Australia is drafting an international strategy on AI: so what for development? Multiple perspectives. Different angles. Explore the points of agreement, tension, and difference here 👉 devintelligencelab.com/intel/24februa…

This fortnight on the Intel, we ask: 🔴 Australia is drafting an international strategy on AI: so what for development? Our expert contributors pitch in: ⚫ The Lab’s Geordie Fung ⚫ Pia Andrews ⚫ @UNSW’s Michael Barlow Explore their three competing views, here 👉 devintelligencelab.com/intel/24februa… Don’t miss an edition, sign up to our list to get the Intel straight to your inbox 👉 #launch-section" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">devintelligencelab.com/#launch-section

”Australia’s comparative advantage is not speed, it is trust. It’s our geography. It’s access to our education and health partnerships, and our economy, and it’s our long-term presence... The tension right now is, if we distort our development program to chase that short-term influence, we may win a headline, and at the same time lose a generation that we might need to collaborate with in a decade’s time.” Our CEO, @bridirice, is featured in the latest podcast episode of Development Future by the @LowyInstitute, alongside Cameron Hill from the @devpolicy at the Australian National University and hosts Roland Rajah and Grace Stanhope. Together, they discussed how geostrategic competition is shaping development, the findings of the OECD DAC review of Australia’s aid program, and the risk posed by the security vs. development binary. 🔴 Listen to the full episode, ’The future of Australian aid’, here 👉 lowyinstitute.org/publications/f…

Applications are still open for our Operations Officer role. This role will report to the General Manager and work closely with all members of the Lab team. A week in this role might look like: 🔴 Drafting and administering staff and consultant contracts. 🔴 Analysing financial reports, cost structures and identifying optimisations. 🔴 Leading or supporting the organisation of events. Read the full position description and how to apply here 👉 devintelligencelab.com/hiring/operati…

Can Australia compete with China's aid program in the Indo-Pacific? In our latest podcast, @devintellab CEO @bridirice highlights Australia comparative advantage in development assistance. lowyinstitute.org/publications/f…

Join us this Thursday, 12:30pm AEDT for the launch of #AP4D's paper on Education as a Tool of Statecraft. Featuring: @JulianHillMP @LowyInstitute's @SusannahCPatton @NSC_ANU's @rohan_titus @ACFID's @matthew_maury @devintellab's Richard Moore Register at us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regist….

Registrations are still open to join our first AI x Development discussion session of 2026! 🔴 When: Wednesday 18 February, 12pm AEST. 🔴 Where: Online. 🔴 What to expect: A presentation by @leehickin, Executive Director of @IndustryGovAu National AI Centre, to discuss the recently released National AI Plan and the Centre's work, alongside Geordie Fung and Miranda Forsyth co-hosting discussion and Q&A. 🔴 How to register: DM us to get the calendar invitation. Don’t miss it!

Do you have experience in organisational operations, like finance, HR, compliance, logistics, or administration? Do you excel in small teams that are values-driven? Are you curious about what life is like at a think-tank? If you answered yes, we want you! We’re hiring for an Operations Officer to help us maintain the Lab’s high standards of performance, support the delivery of our vision, and foster a positive and collaborative culture. The role will report to the General Manager and work closely with all members of the Lab team. A typical week in this role might include: 🔴 Manage the Lab’s day-to-day operations in support of organisational priorities. 🔴 Maintain and improve operational systems, processes, and policies with an eye on the Lab's sustainability. 🔴 Conduct financial planning and monitoring for the organisation and its projects. 🔴 Support and mentor staff in operational and financial best practice. 🔴 Facilitate effective communication and coordination across the team. 🔴 Contribute to a positive, inclusive, and high-performing workplace culture. Applications close on 27 February 2026 and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Find out more and apply: devintelligencelab.com/hiring/operati…

The Intel’s editor, Victoria Cooper, sets the scene for this fortnight’s question and why it deserves to be asked: “With so much noise in the system, the harder task is identifying what genuinely matters. So I asked three of our own: 2026: What are you watching?” Explore the debate 👉 devintelligencelab.com/intel/10februa…

“Australia has made it quite clear it wants to be the security partner of choice in the Pacific. When Australia is working so closely with forces across the Pacific, it is easier to have vehicles and equipment that match.” Our Senior Analyst, Blake Johnson, spoke to The Guardian Australia about diplomacy in the Pacific, luxury gift giving, and how automobiles and other pieces of equipment are often used to advance tighter relationships, integration and interoperability with partners. Last year, the Lab explored the tensions that are currently shaping Australia’s Pacific integration agenda in a policy brief: Integration as strategy: Australia’s Pacific agenda. 🔴 Read the full Guardian article 👉 theguardian.com/world/2026/feb… 🔴 And explore the full Australia’s Pacific agenda brief 👉 devintelligencelab.com/analyses/integ…

This fortnight’s Intel featured insights from @bridirice, Richard Moore, and Blake Johnson, responding to the question: 🔴 2026 - What are you watching? Multiple perspectives. Different angles. Explore the points of agreement, tension, and difference here 👉  devintelligencelab.com/intel/10februa…

This fortnight on the Intel we ask: 🔴 2026 - What are you watching? Our expert contributors pitch in: ⚫ The Lab’s very own CEO, @bridirice ⚫ The Lab’s Strategic Advisor, Richard Moore ⚫ The Lab’s Senior Analyst, Blake Johnson Explore their three competing views, here 👉 devintelligencelab.com/intel/10februa… Don’t miss an edition, sign up to our list to get the Intel straight to your inbox 👉 #launch-section" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">devintelligencelab.com/#launch-section

We're excited to share that our AI x Development discussion sessions are back for 2026!  To kick things off, we will have @leehickin, Executive Director of the National AI Centre @IndustryGovAu, to discuss the recently released National AI Plan and the Centre's work. These discussions are firmly aimed at non-AI experts. So, if you work in development and consider yourself 'AI curious', this is for you. 🔴 When: Wednesday 18 February, 12pm AEST. 🔴 Where: Online. 🔴 Co-hosts: Geordie Fung and Miranda Forsyth.  🔴 Format: A conversational AI concept explainer, followed by a presentation from Lee Hickin, with time for discussion and Q&A. 🔴 How to register: If you have previously joined, you will automatically receive the invitation. If you haven't attended before, please DM us to get the calendar invitation. See you then!

What Nepali development challenge can be unlocked with an AI-powered solution? That’s the question six young Nepali entrepreneurs stepped up to answer over the past few weeks, as part of the Lab's partnership with @UNDPNepal. Each entrepreneur put forward one practical, AI-enabled solution to tackle an issue ranging from justice, health, agriculture, employment, language access and inclusive governance. All grounded in community need and real-world constraints. Our CEO, @bridirice, worked with them to sharpen their thinking and structure their pitches for impact. This included clarifying the problem, defining their user, articulating a change pathway, and making a clear ask. Then, they presented their pitch at the launch of UNDP Nepal’s 'The Next Great Divergence: Why AI May Widen Inequality Between Countries' report, moving the conversation from “AI is coming” to “here’s what we’re building for the future of Nepal.” Congratulations to Jagriti Srivastava; Pranjal Timsina, Kanoon Portal; Sakshyam Banjade; Bijayan Bhattarai, Diyo AI; Ranjan Pokharel; and Priyanka Pathak! As for what's next, if you care about inclusive and responsible AI in development, this is the moment to move from applause to action. Let’s connect these entrepreneurs to the policymakers, funders and partners who can help turn sharp ideas into real-world shifts. 🔴 Sign up to receive the latest Lab analysis from Geordie Fung on the AI front: #launch-section" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">devintelligencelab.com/#launch-section 🔴 And access the UNDP report here: undp.org/asia-pacific/p…