The Oxfam Monash Partnership

Our monthly newsletter has all news on research projects, interviews, and how to stay connected.

E-Newsletter

Information for Monash academics and Oxfam staff on Partnership-funded research opportunities.
Image: Matthew Willman/OxfamAUS

Research in Focus

The Oxfam-Monash Partnership is an exciting and innovative example of a formalised collaboration between the NGO and university sectors, drawing on the unique skills and resources of each institution to enhance their overall impact on global development and poverty alleviation. By combining research skills and resources, and by engaging the student body at Monash University, the Partnership aims to achieve long-term impact in the development field.

Established in 2008, and supported by a generous donation in 2010 from an anonymous donor, the Partnership takes as its main goal the improvement and extension of good practice on the ground. In pursuit of this objective, the Partnership undertakes various activities under the broad banners of action research and student engagement.

Action research is pursued through funding and supporting a range of overseas research projects each year, focused on the themes of accountability, gender equality and climate change. These projects seek to enhance knowledge and understanding in a way that will improve livelihoods on the ground, as well as feeding back into Oxfam Australia's knowledge base and strategic approach. Since its inception, the Partnership has funded three long-term and one short-term research projects, with a new round of projects set to begin in the near future. More information on these projects and on funding applications can be found here.

In its simultaneous efforts to engage the student body at Monash University, the Partnership has established numerous programs and opportunities for student learning and involvement in the development sector. In particular, the Partnership's South Africa Summer Placement Program has sent over 40 students to South Africa for intern placements with Oxfam partners in the country, providing an eye-opening and invaluable experience for the program participants. The Partnership has also facilitated an ‘international sense-making exercise', enabling students to critically evaluate the work of Oxfam Australia and develop strategic recommendations for its future direction. In other areas, the Partnership has implemented a development-related university unit, and has collaborated with the Oxfam at Monash student group on a range of projects and initiatives. Looking forward, the Partnership continues to explore different avenues through which to inspire and engage what we hope will become a new generation of development activists and practitioners.

In keeping with our belief in the transformative power of collaboration and co-operation, the Partnership welcomes and encourages the involvement of all individuals with fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to share. If this is you, see our Projects page, Student Engagement page, and of course, How to Get Involved. You can also keep in touch with us through our blog, facebook, E-News and Twitter. Together, we believe that the Oxfam-Monash Partnership can truly be more than the sum of its parts.

• Oxfam-Monash Partnership Annual Report 2011–2012 Download (1.03MB, pdf)
• Oxfam-Monash Partnership Annual Report 2010–2011 Download (1.04MB, pdf)