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Foreign aid, human agency, and self-reliance in the Pacific Lessons from the pandemic463.72 kB
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Journal article
Foreign aid, human agency, and self-reliance in the Pacific: Lessons from the pandemic
Development Policy Review, Vol.42(S2), pp.1-9
2023
Abstract
Motivation: Amidst the highly polarized discourse on development aid in Pacific Islands, few studies explore the perspectives of local people. Missing from the literature is how the subjective experiences of Pacific Islands people responding and adapting to a sudden global disruption influence their perceptions of foreign aid. Faced by sudden shutdown of export markets, tourism, and labour migration, the COVID-19 pandemic offered an opportunity to investigate how disruptions from international events affect Pacific Island peoples' perception of foreign aid. Purpose: We investigated how the lived experiences of people in the Cook Islands and Tonga during COVID-19 may have influenced their perceptions of foreign aid. Methods and approach: Semi-structured interviews guided by open-ended questions were conducted with 25 persons in the Cook Islands and 24 persons in Tonga. Interviewees were purposively selected from staff in government ministries and environmental NGOs; from people working in tourism and private enterprise; from members of youth empowerment groups; and from among traditional leaders, faith leaders, high school teachers, fisherfolk and farmers. The interviews explored their subjective experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and the meanings they attributed to them. Findings: The pandemic closed down tourism and interrupted labour emigration in both countries. In response, people switched to farming and fishing, and found ways to redeploy their skills. The pandemic saw increased local innovation, strengthened traditional practices, increased local agricultural output, and enhanced collaboration between foreign donor partners and recipient countries to develop local human capacity. Policy implications: Rather than repeating history by integrating Pacific Island societies into the globalised economy, or providing bail outs through economic restructuring, donors should strive to support the agency and self-determination of Pacific Islands people. They should start by recognizing the resourcefulness and capacity to adapt shown by participants during the pandemic.
Details
- Title
- Foreign aid, human agency, and self-reliance in the Pacific: Lessons from the pandemic
- Authors
- Rerekura Teaurere (Author) - Auckland University of TechnologySiulua Tokilupe Latu (Author) - Ministry of Meteorology (Nuku'alofa, Tonga)Roxane de Waegh (Corresponding Author) - Auckland University of TechnologyMark Orams (Author) - Auckland University of TechnologyMichael Lück (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sustainability Research Centre
- Publication details
- Development Policy Review, Vol.42(S2), pp.1-9
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
- DOI
- 10.1111/dpr.12727
- ISSN
- 1467-7679
- Copyright note
- This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Teaurere, R., Latu, S.T., de Waegh, R., Orams, M. and Lück, M. (2023), Foreign aid, human agency, and self-reliance in the Pacific: Lessons from the pandemic. Dev Policy Rev. Accepted Author Manuscript e12727, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.12727. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Sustainability Research Centre; USC Business School - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99739998202621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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