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ANU Africa Network
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This website was established in 2013 by David Lucas, and renovated and relaunched in 2020 as part of a project to increase awareness of Africa and African studies in the ANU and the ACT, funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Another outcome of that project was a major research report, published in August 2021, African Studies at the Australian National University and in the Australian Capital Territory, analyzing the past, present and future of the study of Africa at the Australian National University and the wider Australian University sector.
The major innovation on this updated website is the creation of the ACT Africa Expert Directory which lists experts on Africa from institutions around the ACT, primarily the ANU. We will continue to curate this list, offering a key resource for media, government and non-government organizations seeking expert facts and opinions on Africa. Individuals can request to be added to the list by contacting the website managers.
Another notable addition is the expanded directory of PhD theses on Africa produced in the territory’s universities, a solid measure of the vitality of the study of Africa in the city of Canberra.
Reviewing these directories, it is revealing to note that the vast majority of research on Africa is produced by disciplinary experts (environmental scientists, economists, demographers, etc.) rather than area studies experts. This means that the study of Africa is woven into the fabric of the research culture of the ANU and the ACT’s other universities in ways that are not necessarily apparent.
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The Annual Australasian Aid Conference is on at the Crawford Building ANU until 14th February and is fully booked. For more details, including the program, see
https://devpolicy.crawford.anu.edu.au/annual-australasian-aid-conferenceWednesday 14th at 8am is of particular interest to Africanists:
Panel 3d – Should Australian ODA re-engage in Africa?
Should Australian ODA re-engage in Africa?
Acton Theatre
Chair: Bob McMullan, ANU
Australia’s official development assistance to African countries has shrunk by 85%
since 2013-14, making it the biggest loser in the rounds of aid cuts since the Coalition
government came to power. This is despite persistently high levels of poverty on the
continent. Meanwhile, many Australians donate to development NGOs working in the
region, and Australian businesses make efforts to build ties. Australia has expertise
in key areas such as mining and agriculture that could be invaluable for African
developing countries looking to use resource wealth as a pathway out of poverty, and
while not in the current government’s area of geographic focus, the continent presents
many opportunities for partnership. In this submitted panel, speakers will discuss the
arguments for and against Australian aid moving back into Africa.
Fessehaie Abraham, ANU
Jacqui de Lacy, Abt Associates
Sally Moyle, CARE Australia
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The Nutritional and Socio-ecology of Crop-raiding Elephants in Tsavo, Kenya
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The Royal Commonwealth Society’s ACT Branch has announced that Georgia Troup, a PhD student from the ANU Fenner School of Environment & Society, is to receive the 2018 Phyllis Montgomerie Commonwealth Prize of $5000.
Georgia is a PhD student studying human-elephant conflict in Tsavo, Kenya, which is becoming more important as droughts last longer. Human-elephant conflict, specifically crop-raiding, has become a significant conservation concern threatening the long-term survival of the African elephant. Working in collaboration with Save the Elephants, a Kenya-based NGO, she study focuses on African elephants as a priority conflict species to advance our present understanding of ‘risky’ behaviour developed in mammals living in close proximity to human settlements. Specifically, her research investigates the social dynamics of crop-raiding elephants and the potential nutritional motivation for crop-raiding by elephants in this semi-arid area of East Africa.
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Next Australian Ambassador in Harare
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On January 8th, 2018, the Minister for Foreign Affairs announced the appointment of Ms Bronte Moules as Australia’s next Ambassador to Zimbabwe, with non-resident accreditation to Malawi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, and Zambia.
Ms Moules was most recently Deputy High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea.
With regards to Zimbabwe, the Minister stated that ‘We look forward to developing our economic engagement in response to strengthening of rule of law and a more open and market-based investment environment. ‘
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With regards to all countries to which Ms Moules is accredited the Minister noted that ‘Our private sector engagement, especially in mining, is growing …. ‘Ms Moules holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University and a Graduate Diploma in Foreign Affairs and Trade.
For more information see:
https://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2018/jb_mr_180108.aspx