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The Indo-Pacific Development Centre

The Indo-Pacific Development Centre (IPDC) is a policy research centre at the Lowy Institute dedicated to generating fresh policy insights and ideas on the most pressing economic development issues in the Indo-Pacific region. The IPDC focuses on key challenges facing emerging and developing economies in Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and South Asia as well as the role of more advanced Indo-Pacific economies such as Australia, the United States, Japan, China, and others in helping shape the future economic development of the region.

The work of the IPDC is organised around six key themes:

  • Post-Covid recovery, growth and development
  • Climate finance and decarbonising development
  • Technology and the digital economy
  • Globalisation and regional integration
  • The future of international development finance
  • Geoeconomics and the intersection of development and security

As part of its development finance pillar, the IPDC houses the Lowy Institute’s Pacific Aid Map, a digital interactive that tracks all official development finance flows to the Pacific region.

The IPDC has been established with the support of multi-year funding from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Featured projects

Southeast Asia Aid Map
Southeast Asia Aid Map
New interactive tracking more than 100,000 development projects, the most comprehensive assessment of development flows in Southeast Asia ever undertaken.
Pacific Aid Map 2022
Pacific Aid Map 2022
Updated research shows the unprecedented disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Pacific Islands region caused upheaval in how international donors provide aid.
Experts
Latest publications
News and media
A new multilateral bank, not an American “Marshall Plan” alone, is the key to a clean energy future
A new multilateral bank, not an American “Marshall Plan” alone, is the key to a clean energy future
Former senior White House official Brian Deese recently called for a “Clean Energy Marshall Plan. Deese, who served as the National Economic Council Director from 2021–23, wants…
The case for an Indo-Pacific Economic Resilience Bank
Analyses
The case for an Indo-Pacific Economic Resilience Bank
The world faces a multi-trillion-dollar financing gap to reinvigorate stalling global development and create diversified green supply chains to enable a secure clean energy…
Reducing the role of cash in Pacific Island economies
Reducing the role of cash in Pacific Island economies
In the Pacific Islands region, cash is king. But a transformation to digital financial services could unlock economic dividends needed now.The undertaking would be no small feat…
Amid defence deals, don't forget Prabowo's pledge to Indonesians
Commentary
Amid defence deals, don't forget Prabowo's pledge to Indonesians
Originally published in The Canberra Times
Meeting the need: Recommendations for a new Loss and Damage fund
Meeting the need: Recommendations for a new Loss and Damage fund
A new UN report on rising sea levels, unveiled at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting last month in Tonga, has brought the harsh realities of climate change into sharp focus…
South-South Solidarity in Southeast Asia
Commentary
South-South Solidarity in Southeast Asia
Originally published in Fulcrum
The World Bank’s IDA Is a Vital Lifeline for Pacific Islands and Other Small States
Commentary
The World Bank’s IDA Is a Vital Lifeline for Pacific Islands and Other Small States
Originally published by the Center for Global Development
A climate loss and damage fund that works
Policy Briefs
A climate loss and damage fund that works
A new United Nations climate instrument to support the most vulnerable countries will make its mark if it follows six key recommendations. 
Radio Free Asia
30 June 2023