The Weekly
CEO Top of Mind
Marc Purcell, what is at the top of your mind this week?
On this day, six years ago, the invitation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart was delivered to the Australian people. ACFID accepts the invitation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and supports a First Nations Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Australian Constitution. The ACFID Board has decided this week that we are in support of the Yes vote in the forthcoming Referendum.
In 2017, ACFID celebrated its release at ACFID Conference with a moving speech from Professor Megan Davis, co-chair of the Uluru Dialogue. The Sir Ron Wilson Human Rights Award was also presented to the Referendum Council in recognition of their outstanding and collaborative consultative process on constitutional reform and this was received by Pat Anderson AO, co-chair of the Uluru Dialogue.
At ACFID’s AGM, ACFID Council passed a Resolution supporting the Uluru Statement from the Heart, calling on all NGOs to work to support the elements of The Voice.
Please take some time to re-read the Uluru Statement today and share wide within your networks.
I am also incredibly proud of the hard work of our members and the ACFID Secretariat on the updated NGO Aid Map. It is an incredible resource that allows us to see how diverse, extensive and widespread member work is. Read more about the NGO Aid Map below.
To Note
Explore ACFID’s members’ projects
ACFID’s 128 members work in over 65 countries expending a total of $1.2 billion dollars in international projects across a range of sectors including health, education, water and sanitation, gender empowerment and responses to humanitarian emergencies.
Head to ACFID’s Interactive NGO Map now to explore the global reach of ACFID’s members and the breadth and depth of their projects. The map lets you filter data by region, country, sector or organisation and features the latest data that members provided to ACFID in the 2022 ACFID Statistical Survey as well as data for the previous four years.
To Note
Committee for Development Cooperation – Update on NGO Appointees
Thank you to agencies who responded to our call to nominate sector representatives to the two Board appointed roles on DFAT’s Committee for Development Cooperation (CDC) which oversees the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP). We received nominations from seven excellent candidates and the Board will decide on appointments at the upcoming meeting in mid-June.
The appointments come at an important time for the NGOs involved in the ANCP, as DFAT are about to embark upon accreditation criteria and funding reviews of the program, following an ANCP review last year.
To Share with Colleagues
ACFID is Hiring a Research Officer
ACFID is currently hiring a Research Officer (0.8-1 FTE) to support the Policy and Advocacy Team to create and implement policy positions for ACFID, particularly in the wake of the new Development Policy, through research and administrative support. This is a unique opportunity to join our Canberra Secretariat with flexible working arrangements (home or office).
To Attend
ACFID Connect Webinar Series
Practical Steps to Integrate Climate Action: Starting the Journey
ACFID invites members to the second part of the webinar series. Aimed particularly at ACFID members who are looking to start or step up their climate action, this series will include foundational information, case studies, practical steps, participant engagement, and linkage to resources.
The webinars will build on ACFID’s Climate Action Framework and recent research (Integrating climate change action across the Australian international development sector: Setting the Scene for ANGOs and Enablers of Best Practice), and support ACFID members to genuinely consider climate action in line with the direction of the sector.
The sessions will be facilitated by Anna Gero and Dr Tazrina Chowdhury from the University of Technology Sydney – Institute of Sustainable Futures, who co-authored the papers.
Webinar 1: Wednesday 7 June, 1 pm – 2:30 pm
Webinar 2: Wednesday 14 June, 1 pm – 3 pm
Please note: as this is a two-part series, it is strongly recommended that participants attend both sessions.
Register here.
To Attend
Invitation to join the meeting of Climate Policy and Practice Community
ACFID members are welcome to join the next meeting of the Climate Policy and Practice Community (CPPC) on June 5 from 1:30-3 pm. This meeting will be an opportunity for a stocktake of the Community’s direction and planning for how it will operate moving forward. We welcome participants from organisations that are still exploring how best to engage in the sector and incorporate climate into their work and also organisations that already have an active role in climate policy and programming. The agenda will be provided soon via the Communities Platform in MYACFID.
Who: Climate Policy & Practice Community (CPPC)
When: Monday 5 June
Time: 1.30 – 3.00 pm
Where: Online via Zoom
For more information contact Head of Policy & Partnerships Antonia Pannell at [email protected]
To Attend
Save the Date: Policy & Advocacy Team Member Visits
Members of ACFID’s Policy & Advocacy Team will be meeting with members from in Melbourne from 3-5 July and in Sydney from 5- 7 July.
Workshops will be held on the 4 July in Melbourne, and the 6 July in Sydney.
We look forward to catching up and will be organising visits with members shortly!
To Attend
AP4D Symposium | Women, Peace and Security in the Pacific
On Wednesday 31 May the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy and Defence Dialogue (AP4D) will launch a new paper: ‘What does it look like for Australia to be a Strategic Partner on Women, Peace and Security with the Pacific’. The paper is the result of three months of consultations with almost 40 experts from Australia and the region and outlines a vision and pathways for how Australia can work with the Pacific to progress the WPS agenda.
Who: AP4D
When: Wednesday 31 May
Time: 10-11am (AEST)
Where: Online via Zoom – Register here.
To Attend
Code Review – final member workshops
Join us for the online consultation workshop to finalise the proposed changes to the Code.
When: Tuesday 30 May
Time: 1pm – 3pm
Where: Online – Register here. Please note online is primarily for members based outside Sydney and Melbourne.
To Action
Glasgow Statement
The Glasgow Statement coalition in Australia, led by Jubilee, includes organisations like ActionAid, ACF, Diplomats for Climate Action and more. Sign on to the open letter in support of Australia signing the Glasgow Statement to commit to ending international support for fossil fuels and to catalyse support for renewable energy.
Previously in The Weekly:
- ACFID anticipates the release of the Government’s new Development Policy, led by DFAT in the coming weeks. Read our submissions below.
- Understanding Race & Racism Workshops – read more & sign up for extra dates here.
- ACFID Submission to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Philanthropy – read it here.
- ACFID National Conference 2023 Concurrent Sessions Expressions of Interest – Read more here and download the expression of interest pack here!
Upcoming Events
| Date | Time (AEST) | Event |
| 30 May | 1pm – 3pm | Code Review Workshop (online) |
| 31 May | 10am – 11am | AP4D Symposium | Women, Peace and Security in the Pacific |
| 5 June | 1:30pm – 3pm | Climate Policy & Practice Community (CPPC) meeting |
| 7 June | 1pm – 2:30pm | ACFID Connect – Practical Steps to Integrate Climate Action Part 1 |
| 14 June | 1pm – 3pm | ACFID Connect – Practical Steps to Integrate Climate Action Part 2 |
| 19 June | 4pm – 5pm | AP4D Symposium | Enhancing Australia-France Coordination in the Indo-Pacific |
| 29 June | 11am – 1pm | Understanding Race & Racism Workshop |
| 3 – 7 July | Policy & Advocacy Team Melbourne & Sydney Member Visits | |
| 12 July | 2pm – 4pm | Understanding Race & Racism Workshop |
| 30 August | 9:30am – 11:30am | Understanding Race & Racism Workshop |
| 18-19 October | ACFID National Conference 2023 (Sydney) | |
| 16 November | 2pm – 4pm | Understanding Race & Racism Workshop |
Food for Thought
Armed conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies have an impact on mental health and psychosocial well-being.
“The mental health and psychosocial needs of people caught up in conflict must be a part of the growing attention given to mental health around the world. When not addressed, these needs have a far-reaching and long-term impact on people, their families, their communities, and on the whole society.”
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
Milena Osorio, Lead Clinical Psychologist | International Committee of the Red Cross