Global development

Global businesses, donors and governments have each pursued a Green Revolution agenda in Africa, Asia and South America since the 1960s. Its aim was, in theory, to produce more food, reducing food insecurity and poverty. This was done via improved seed varieties, chemical fertilisers and other agrochemicals.

Women are largely being excluded from decisions about conservation and natural resources, with potentially detrimental effects on conservation efforts globally, according to research.

Researchers from UQ and the Universitas Negeri Papua (State University of Papua) are taking up the challenge of developing HIV education for customary leaders in rural and remote areas of West Papua province so that they can support HIV prevention and care.

The Partnership for Australia–Indonesia Research (PAIR) is a bilateral research initiative of the Australia–Indonesia Centre, with support from the Indonesian and Australian Governments, the University of Queensland and other leading universities. PAIR seeks to enhance research linkage between Australia and Indonesia across a range of fields. Research is focused in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, where UQ will contribute to research on agricultural commodities.

Female genital cutting (FGC) is the practice of cutting or removing part of the female genitalia for non-medical reasons. In many countries of the developing world, a girl’s transition to womanhood can be marked by some form of this tradition. UQ School of Economics researcher Dr David Smerdon has been working with local NGOs in Somalia to find policy solutions to eradicate FGC.

Selayar in Indonesia is the gateway to Taka Bonerate, a highly biodiverse marine national park, which is under serious threat from overexploitation and ocean plastic. To protect the area and other marine environments in the Coral Triangle, UQ researchers from CCRES developed strategies to strengthen coastal management.

Enormous asymmetries exist between the people living in the South Fly region of Papua New Guinea and those living just across the border in the Torres Strait in terms of livelihoods, opportunities, and more. UQ researchers engaged with people and communities in this complex border region between PNG and Australia to develop recommendations that aim to improve the livelihoods of those residing in the South Fly.

Pacific communities are considered to be the ‘most vulnerable’ to the impacts of climate change. Consequently, aid is now being redirected to community-scale adaptation. UQ researchers are engaging with Pacific communities to evaluate community-based adaptation initiatives and generate recommendations to optimise future efforts.

UQ researchers are promoting regional approaches to make migration safer and criminalise the smuggling of migrants in Southeast Asia. The smuggling of migrants is a major concern in Southeast Asia. Every country in the region is affected as a source, transit region, or destination for migrants seeking protection or prosperity abroad.

Madagascar is one of the world’s largest producers of fine sapphires and other gems, but it is also one of the world’s poorest countries. Sapphire miners and traders are largely women, and their early position in the supply chain means they receive few of the profits to be garnered from the gemstone industry. Lynda Lawson’s doctoral research with the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) aims to change that by providing training and equipment to women sapphire workers to increase their power within the industry.