Leaving no one behind
Since the 1990s, the Asia-Pacific region has seen significant economic growth, prompting significant socioeconomic shifts yet this prosperity hasn't been equally shared. Poverty and unemployment persist, exacerbated by COVID-19, which highlighted inequalities, particularly for the most vulnerable. Governments' emphasis on digitalisation risks excluding the poor, as digital access becomes essential for basic services and economic participation.
In response, the Griffith Asia Institute established the Inclusive Growth and Rural Development Hub in 2022, focusing on financial inclusion, digital access, and rural development to benefit marginalised populations. Collaborating with partners, including multilateral institutions and NGOs, the Hub facilitates research and capacity building.
Hub Leads
Sustainable Development Goals
Griffith University is committed to advancing sustainable development through comprehensive initiatives that promote economic prosperity, social inclusion, environmental sustainability and good governance for all.
Our primary focus areas
The programs pursued through the Inclusive Growth Hub are designed to accelerate progress on a wide range of economic growth and development priorities across Asia and the Pacific. Leveraging Griffith University’s multidisciplinary expertise across diverse fields, as well as extensive regional networks, new programs are developed regularly in response to rapidly evolving regional trends and challenges. These programs are centered on providing practical solutions relevant to multiple stakeholder groups, including governments, practitioners, and civil society. Our core activities include providing stakeholders with expert advice and educational opportunities to bolster skill development as well as collaborating with policymakers and industry leaders to develop and promote new knowledge through innovative research. In line with this approach, the Inclusive Growth Hub currently focuses predominantly on three areas.
Our impact
Overview
GAI's Dr Hui Feng and Shawn Hunter talk about economic development and growth challenges and opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region and why GAI is well placed to address these.
Research
GAI's Dr Hui Feng and Shawn Hunter talk about research and capacity-building programs around financial inclusion and digital technologies being undertaken at GAI.
Our publications
Explore our commentary, policy briefs and research papers relating to inclusive growth and rural development.
Financial inclusion project highlights
Increasing access to safe, affordable, and high-quality formal financial products and services for those at the base of the economic pyramid and ensuring that usage has a positive impact on their well-being.
Digital inclusion project highlights
Ensuring that the most vulnerable and disadvantaged segment of society, including women and children, the elderly, those with disabilities, or micro-enterprises have opportunities and are capable of meaningful participation in the digital economy.
Rural development project highlights
Exploring innovative approaches to rural development to alleviate poverty, sustain food security, encourage economic growth and improve social equity across Asia Pacific.
Indo-Pacific Initiative for Sustainable Animal Health Cooperation
Using satellite imagery to build climate resilience for seaweed farmers in Indonesia
Strengthening small-scale agricultural exports to China
Global burden of animal disease intitiative: Indonesia case study
Reimagining collaboration in the Australian and Vietnam beef cattle sectors
Improving smallholder farmer incomes in southern Vietnam
Rapid transformation of the Lao beef sector: biosecurity, trade and smallholders
Mango trade and strategic research issues in the Asia Pacific
Agribusiness
The Griffith Agribusiness research program delivers insights to improve and further develop an understanding of Australian and international trade and market systems directly related to agriculture. Researchers are engaged in applied studies in the areas of trade and marketing for fresh and processed foods in developed and developing countries across the region.
Our researchers
- Ron Bevacqua
- Professor Robert Bianchi
- Professor Naomi Birdthistle
- Assoc Prof Kerry Bodle
- Professor Caitlin Byrne
- Assoc Prof Andreas Chai
- Dr Tarni Cooper
- Professor Ivan Diaz-Rainey
- Assoc Prof Sameer Deshpande
- Dr L. Fernando Distadio
- Professor Susan Harris Rimmer
- Shawn Hunter
- Dr Md Sayed Iftekhar
- Professor Shireenjit Johl
- Dr Amber Marshall
- Dr Lili Mi
- Dr Athula Naranpanawa
- Assoc Prof Tess Newton Cain
- Dr Akihiro Omura
- Dr Anya Phelan
- Assoc Prof Robin Roberts
- Assoc Prof Tapan Sarker
- Professor Selva Selvanathan
- Professor Saroja Selvanathan
- Assoc Prof Dominic Smith
- Professor Dian Tjondronegoro
- Mr Bob Trojan
- Dr Erin Watson
- Dr Steffen Westermann
- Dr Victor Wong
Our partners
