The Counterpart Perspective: Expatriate Advisors and Technical Assistance in Papua New Guinea: Putting Humans at the Heart of Technical Assistance

Submission note: A thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Research) to the La Trobe Institute for Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.

This thesis investigates Official Development Assistance (ODA) funded technical assistance from the perspective of twenty-seven Papua New Guineans who worked with expatriate advisers between 2014–2017. These Papua New Guinan counterpart perspectives are used to understand a rarely studied perspective of technical assistance. The purpose of the study is to unpack the intimate nature of technical assistance, focusing on the inherently human and political nature of individuals engaged in counterpart–adviser relationships, and the methods they use to collaborate. The study contains five main findings and analyses a number of emerging issues: (1) Day-to-day interaction heavily shapes counterpart–adviser relationships; (2) Openness, honesty and communication are the most highly valued attributes of advisers; (3) The power of shared purpose is critical to counterpart–adviser relationships; (4) Rudeness, processes of inclusion and exclusion are dynamics counterparts are acutely attuned to; and (5) Parallel structures and exclusive processes undermine counterpart–adviser relationships. The thesis also examines a set of emergent issues including: (1) overcoming technocratic approaches to advising; and (2) the unique roles longterm embedded bilaterally posted advisers play and the value counterparts place on them thinking and working politically. The study concludes that focus on interactions between counterparts and advisers may unlock greater understanding of technical assistance’s potential to influence patterns of behaviour, beliefs and attitudes as part of Australia’s ODA Program but that this human side of technical assistance warrants further exploration.