DevNet

23 hours ago

DevNet–MFAT New Zealand Postgraduate Development Field Research Awardee Spotlight: Melanie Altemus

Congratulations to Melanie Altemus, PhD in Psychology at Victoria University of Wellington, on the successful completion of her research, Cross-cultural Power, Connection and Impact of Volunteer Tourism in Fiji: Insights from Local iTaukei Perspectives.

Melanie shared:

“International development volunteering, including ‘voluntourism’, is a thriving form of humanitarian travel. Typically, travellers pay to join organised service projects hosted by countries in the ‘Global South’. However, some consider voluntourism morally controversial due to the risks of unskilled labour and its potential as a form of neocolonialism, given the inherent power dynamics. This ignited my deep interest in studying the phenomenon through the lens of moral psychology. By conducting fieldwork in a rural village in Fiji, I was presented with an incredible opportunity to centre the voices and perspectives of those who host volunteers.

As a White American woman, my identities parallel those of many volunteers. This offered a first-hand view of how volunteers are received in the village, but it was impossible to share participants’ perspectives. In fact, a large part of successfully completing this research involved navigating my positionality. I engaged in active reflexivity, humility, and learning, along with collaborating with local expertise and employing culturally relevant methods.

By engaging in talanoa, a traditional form of open dialogue grounded in empathy, I spent many hours sitting on mats in various homes, listening to stories, sharing philosophies of life, and drinking tea with participants. This study quickly spanned beyond psychology and greatly stretched my expertise. Yet, in each talanoa, it was clear that there is a place for cross-cultural exchange that voluntourism currently offers. However, improved communication and cooperation must be equitable to prevent avoidable harm to host communities. The findings align with the message from decolonial research that voluntourism organisations and groups must redistribute power over Indigenous Vanua (land) back to those to whom it belongs. This does not mean there is no place for kaivalagi (outsiders) in Fiji; rather, it calls attention to the importance of community-led development.”

For more information, please read Melanie’s policy brief here: devnet.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/NZPG-Policy-Brief-Final-1.docx

Photo: Melanie and her host, Basi, attend church together on her first Sunday in the village ... See MoreSee Less

DevNet

3 days ago

DevNet–MFAT New Zealand Postgraduate Development Field Research Awardee Spotlight: Rebecca Thomas

Congratulations to Rebecca Thomas, Master of Arts in Development Studies at the University of Auckland, on the successful completion of her research: Climate Mobility, Adaptation and Community Resilience in Fiji: Findings from the Villages of Galoa and Yadua.

Rebecca shared:

“My Master’s research explored climate mobility in the Fijian villages of Galoa and Yadua. Using the Fijian Vanua Research Framework and participatory visual methods, including Photovoice, mobility mapping and creative artworks, I examined how communities understand environmental change and make decisions about staying, moving temporarily, or relocating. It found that attachment to Vanua (land, people, ancestry, obligation and belonging), gendered resilience, and everyday micro-mobilities shaped climate adaptation in ways often overlooked by relocation-focused policy. Fieldwork in Fiji was relational and reciprocal, highlighting the value of community-led, culturally grounded approaches to Pacific climate mobility research and adaptation planning.”

For more information, please read Rebecca’s policy brief here: devnet.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Rebecca-Thomas-NZPG-Revised-Policy-Brief-2026-1.docx ... See MoreSee Less

DevNet

7 days ago

Pacific Research Grant Awardee Spotlight: Dr Apisalome Movono

Research topic: Integrate or Bust: Exploring Resilience Building in the Pacific Tourism Space: A Case Study of Fijian Tourism, Savusavu & Taveuni, Fiji

Fiji’s tourism sector continues to face deep structural challenges arising from fragmented governance arrangements, which have undermined resilience and limited equitable participation in development. Over time, overlapping mandates, competing institutional interests, and inadequate coordination among central government agencies, provincial administrations, and community bodies have created inefficiencies that hinder the implementation of coherent tourism policies.

As a result, Fiji’s tourism system struggles to deliver consistent and equitable outcomes for both investors and Indigenous landowning communities. Strengthening coordination among government ministries, traditional institutions, and local communities is therefore critical to building a more resilient and inclusive tourism sector.

A cohesive governance framework would support more effective policy implementation, strengthen shared accountability, and enable more inclusive decision-making that reflects both national development priorities and the aspirations of local communities.

Find out more about the policy brief here: devnet.org.nz/apisalome-movono-university-of-the-south-pacific/ ... See MoreSee Less

DevNet

1 week ago

Pacific Research Grant Awardee Spotlight: Emelda Calista Ariku

Congratulations to Emelda Calista Ariku, Solomon Islands National University and Pacific Research Grant Awardee, on the successful completion of her research on “Challenges and Barriers that Students Faced in Transitioning from Secondary Schools into Higher Tertiary Education: The Perspectives of Divine Word University Students, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea.”

Her study examined the academic, technological, social, and institutional challenges students experience when transitioning from secondary school to tertiary education, with particular attention to students from rural and disadvantaged backgrounds.

The findings highlight the need for more inclusive, structured, and responsive transition support to help students adjust, participate, and succeed in higher education. The research also provides valuable insights that can inform government policy and institutional strategies, while supporting Divine Word University in strengthening programs that promote students’ academic success and overall well-being.

Ultimately, addressing these barriers can contribute to improving the quality, accessibility, and inclusiveness of higher education in Papua New Guinea.

📄 For more information, please read Emelda’s policy brief here: devnet.org.nz/emelda-calista-ariku-solomon-islands-national-university/ ... See MoreSee Less

DevNet

3 weeks ago

📢 Call for Papers & Presentations – DEVNET Conference 2026

Just a gentle reminder that submissions of paper and presentation abstracts for the 2026 DEVNET Conference are due on Monday, 31 August 2026.

We welcome submissions from academics, practitioners, policymakers, community organisations, and students that engage with the conference theme:

🌏 Rebalancing Worlds – Remaking Practice
Abstracts can be submitted to one of the conference sessions, the Open Session, or the dedicated Student Session for postgraduate students wishing to have their presentations adjudicated.

📝 Submit your abstract via the conference webpage:
www.wgtn.ac.nz/sgees/about/events/devnet-2026-conference

Please share this opportunity with your networks.

We look forward to receiving your submissions and welcoming everyone to Wellington in December!

#DEVNET2026 #CallForPapers #CallForAbstracts #DevelopmentStudies #Conference2026 #Research ... See MoreSee Less