“Development cooperation is no longer the soft edge of foreign policy. It is now uniquely suited to advancing Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s four priorities: region, relationships, rules and resilience.”

The 4Rs: A new(ish) narrative for Australia’s development cooperation

Development cooperation advances all four of Australia's foreign policy priorities – region, relationships, rules and resilience – in ways no other tool can.

lowyinstitute.org

The 2026-27 Australian Federal Budget was released last night. What’s the long term, big picture story? ⚫ Amidst rising global threats and aid cuts, this year, Australia’s international affairs budget makes up $76.18b, or 9.54% of the total Commonwealth budget.

The 2026 Australian Federal Budget was released last night. International affairs, including defence, development, diplomacy, intelligence, and international policing, make up $76.18b, or roughly 9.54% of Australia's total 2026-2027 budget.

The 2026 Australian Federal Budget has just been released. International affairs, including defence, development, diplomacy, intelligence, and international policing, make up $76.18b, or roughly 9.54% of Australia's total 2026-2027 budget.

The Intel’s editor, Victoria Cooper, sets the scene for this fortnight’s question and why it deserves to be asked:

This fortnight’s Intel featured insights from Imogen Harper, Dr Cameron Hill, and Mira Sulistiyanto, responding to the question: 🔴 DFAT’s development performance report is out— what should you know? Multiple perspectives. Different angles. All here 👉 www.devintelligencelab.com/intel/05may2026

This fortnight on the Intel we ask: 🔴 DFAT’s development performance report is out—what should you know? Our expert contributors pitch in: ⚫ Australian Council for International Development’s Imogen Harper ⚫ Development Policy Centre’s Dr Cameron Hill ⚫ The Lab’s own Mira Sulistiyanto

The Intel’s editor, Victoria Cooper, sets the scene for this fortnight’s question and why it deserves to be asked:

This fortnight’s Intel featured insights from Serena Sasingian, Grace Stanhope, and Richard Moore, responding to the question: 🔴 Non-ODA support for development - What works, what doesn't? Explore the points of agreement, tension, and difference here 👉 www.devintelligencelab.com/intel/21april2026

This fortnight on the Intel we ask: 🔴 Non-ODA support for development - what works, what doesn't? Our expert contributors pitch in: ⚫ Lowy Institute’s Serena Sasingian’s ⚫ Lowy Institute’s Grace Stanhope ⚫ The Lab’s Richard Moore

"AI will transform development" - but what's actually being talked about? The Lab's Geordie Fung, argues the transformation can be understood through 3 lenses: AI for efficiency, AI for effectiveness, and AI as a force reshaping development trajectories www.devintelligencelab.com/analyses/ai-...

What is non-ODA support for development (NODA)? ⚫ The primary objective of Official Development Assistance (ODA) is the sustainable development of the recipient country.

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:

The Intel’s editor, Victoria Cooper, sets the scene for this fortnight’s question and why it deserves to be asked:

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.

This fortnight on the Intel we ask: 🔴 When does ‘gender mainstreaming’ become ‘gender washing’?

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."

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.

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

”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...

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. Read the full position description and how to apply here 👉 www.devintelligencelab.com/hiring/opera...

Development Intelligence Lab@devintellab.bsky.social · 7mo ago

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!

Registrations are still open to join our first AI x Development discussion session of 2026! 🔴 When: Wednesday 18 February, 12pm AEST. 🔴 Where: Online.

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!

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?”

“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.”

‘A free limo is hard to turn away’: how car diplomacy turbo charges politics in the Pacific

A luxury Chinese sedan gifted to Fiji is the latest in a string of vehicles donated by foreign countries to deepen partnerships and seek influence in the region

theguardian.com

This fortnight’s Intel featured insights from Bridi Rice, Richard Moore, and Blake Johnson, responding to the question: 🔴 2026 - What are you watching? Multiple perspectives. Different angles.

This fortnight on the Intel we ask: 🔴 2026 - What are you watching? Our expert contributors pitch in: ⚫ The Lab’s very own CEO, Bridi Rice ⚫ The Lab’s Strategic Advisor, Richard Moore ⚫ The Lab’s Senior Analyst, Blake Johnson

We're excited to share that our AI x Development discussion sessions are back for 2026!  To kick things off, we will have Lee Hickin, Executive Director of the National AI Centre, to discuss the recently released National AI Plan and the Centre's work.

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 UNDP Nepal.

Are you looking for a role that combines project leadership with analytical depth? The Lab is calling for applications to join our talent roster for hybrid Project Manager / Senior Analyst roles.