The Weekly
CEO Top of Mind
Marc Purcell, what is at the top of your mind this week?
With the Federal Budget passed down on Tuesday night, the ACFID Secretariat was busy preparing its annual analysis for members (read more below). Although the Government has indicated to a long-term ODA growth trajectory, Australia is backsliding on international benchmarks for aid generosity
We are now ranked 27th out of 30 OECD donor countries, giving just 0.19% of GNI this year – down from 0.2% in October. ACFID will continue to advocate for those with greatest need and work with the Government to deliver on its ambitions to revitalise Australia’s international development and humanitarian assistance program.
The new Development Policy, of which we anticipate the release in the coming weeks, should guide the allocation and implementation of the aid budget. This will outline key priorities and guide future spending and programming. ACFID will issue a media release in response and provide a comprehensive overview for members. Read ACFID’s submissions to the new Development Policy here.
To Note
2023-24 Federal Budget – ACFID’s Analysis
ACFID welcomed the 2023-24 Federal Budget’s measures towards improving ODA on Tuesday evening, describing them as “responsible and sustainable.”
While the Budget contains only modest immediate measures aimed at boosting ODA, ACFID recognises the Government is devoted to sequenced increases of 2.5% per year over the longer term from 2026-27 onwards.
Jump in to read all about the highlights of the aid budget, such as investment in DFAT development capability and new non-ODA funds for the Pacific, the increases and decreases from previous analyses and the questions we still have, such as will we see a whole of government strategy on international humanitarian assistance?
To Note
2023-24 Federal Budget – Help Fight Famine
The 2023-24 Federal Budget is a missed opportunity for Australia to devote much needed additional resources to the global hunger crisis, and Help Fight Famine intends to press the case for further relief efforts to be funded from the Humanitarian Emergency Fund.
To Note
Aid Sector Welcomes $6m for Sudan; Urges an Amplified Australian Response
Australia’s international aid and humanitarian sector has welcomed the Australian Government’s announcement over the weekend of an initial $6 million in emergency funding to assist the people of Sudan, which is currently in the grips of a deadly civil conflict.
The aid sector believes Australia should elevate our financial commitment to $25 million in total. This reflects our country’s expansive and growing Sudanese diaspora, combined with our global interests in supporting peace and human development.
To Attend
Understanding Race & Racism Workshops
ACFID has been very grateful for the overwhelming response to “Understanding Race & Racism Workshop” with HUE.
Yesterday’s session was thought-provoking, confronting (in a good way), and very fun!
ACFID is proud to stand by its resolution on race, diversity, and Australian NGOs. As such, all members interested will be offered this valuable training.
The additional workshops are:
- Thursday 29 June 2023; 11am-1pm AEST. Please register here.
- Wednesday 12 July 2023; 2pm-4pm AEST. Please register here.
- Thursday 30 August 2023; 9.30am-11.30am AEST. Please register here.
- Thurs 16 November 2023, 2-4pm AEST. Please register here. (Originally this date was marked for HUE’s Deconstructing Whiteness workshop)
Each workshop will have a minimum participation level of 15 attendees, and a maximum participation level of 35 attendees. Please register only if you can attend the full session!
There is pre-reading required and for maximum value, we don’t encourage last minute switching unless people have time to do the pre-reading.
Please send only 1-4 representatives from your organisation, so that all members have the opportunity to participate. If spots are still open, we will contact you to invite any other staff members interested.
HUE also are conducting public workshops in September, and this is their suite of workshops offered for further and/or organisational training.
We are also collecting Expressions of Interest (EOI) for Hue’s next workshop “Deconstructing Whiteness” – a session exploring whiteness culture and how it shapes our values, ways of life and how we understand the world, and its structural impacts in our workplaces.
Please note that these workshops will not be recorded due to the sensitive nature of these discussions.
To Action
ACNC Related Party Reporting Changes
From the 2023 Annual Information Statement (AIS), all charities except for Basic Religious Charities will be asked to report their related party transactions to the ACNC, due to changes announced in November 2021.
ACNC guidance on related party transactions has been updated and outlines how the new obligations apply to charities of different sizes.
The ACNC recommend charities keep their own register of related party transactions and we have a template to use for this purpose.
To Read
Budget details $2 billion into Pacific to expand security and economic ties into island nations
ABC News | Stephen Dziedzic
Tuesday’s Federal Budget announced a $1.9bn package of whole of government support to the Pacific. Just $114m of this is ODA. The ABC reporting on this package quoted ACFID’s Chief of Policy and Advocacy Jessica Mackenzie. Speaking about the Government’s commitment to increase the ODA budget by 2.5% each year from 2026-27 over the long term, she said that the built-in increases “showed a commitment by this government to solidify a base from which to grow”. “It’s not radical, or enough, but they’re sequencing things carefully.”
To Read
A Platform for Pacific Feminists to Come Together
ACFID Blog | Jane Alver
The 3rd Pacific Feminist Forum ran from 8 May in Fiji until 10 May 2023.
Pacific regional feminist civil society is collectively creating spaces to be heard. Pacific feminists share initiatives, reconcile differences in goals, resolve tensions, have open processes, work across differences, and sustain actions which have resulted in Pacific feminist civil society having the ability to build a space for influencing other regional decision makers.
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
ACFID National Conference 2023
ACFID is excited and proud to announce that this year, the ACFID National Conference will return to an in-person event, to be held at the UNSW Roundhouse on 18 & 19 October 2023.
The theme for this year is “Global Development 2.0: disruptive dynamics, inspired ideas”
The two-day program includes space for both virtual and face-to-face concurrent sessions that advance the conference theme by exploring topics, issues or bold ideas for delegates to learn about, discuss and debate.
Read more here and download the expression of interest pack here!
To Attend
Code Review – final member workshops
Join us for the online consultation workshop to finalise the proposed changes to the Code.
| Sydney (face to face) | Melbourne (face to face) | Online |
| Tuesday 23 May | Thursday 25 May | Tuesday 30 May |
| 9:30am – 4pm | 9:30am – 4pm | 1pm – 3pm |
| Register here | Register here | Register here |
Thank you for your feedback and contributions to the ACFID Code Review so far! We are currently revising the proposed changes taking account of the feedback on the thematic areas of climate action, locally-led action and racial justice and diversity, that we received in the March consultation period. A new draft will also propose changes to better align the Code with ACNC and ANCP regulatory requirements as well as some of the financial reporting requirements.
We expect that this will be the last round of consultation workshops and encourage all members to participate. Further details on venues and materials for the workshop will be provided in mid-May.
To Action
Melbourne Heads of Agency Dinner and Networking
You are invited to join Marc Purcell for an ACFID Member Heads of Agency dinner on Tuesday 16th May from 6 – 8:30 pm. Please note that this is for Heads of Agencies and CEOs only.
This will be a wonderful opportunity to get together casually and enjoy a beautiful feast of Afghani food at the Afghan Gallery in Fitzroy, Melbourne. This family-run restaurant was founded by Dr Nouria Salehi, now CEO of the Afghan Australian Development Organisation, and her brother many moons ago. Following the Federal Budget and impending new development policy, there will be lots to discuss on the night.
For more information, please get in touch with Rae Lans, [email protected]
Please register and pay using this link. We sincerely hope to see you there.
To Attend
Introduction to the Sector Workshop (Melbourne)
ACFID will be hosting a one-day introductory workshop for staff, board members, and other personnel who are new to the International Development and Humanitarian Sector. This participatory face-to-face workshop will include an overview of the history of international development and humanitarian action; an introduction to ACFID’s Code and role in the sector; guest speakers; and opportunities for networking and further learning.
When: Tue 16 May 2023
Time: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm AEST
Where: AVI – 160 Johnston St, Fitzroy
To Note
Productivity Commission Inquiry into Philanthropy
ACFID will be making a submission to this inquiry after the Federal Budget. It will cover, amongst other things;
- the need to increase Fringe Benefit Tax concessions for charities,
- the value of payroll giving being taken up by Federal Government departments and agencies,
- the opportunities and risks with the digitisation of charity data, and,
- the value of standards of effectiveness in increasing public confidence, such as the ACFID Code of Conduct.
Upcoming Events
| Date | Time (AEST) | Event |
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16 May |
9:30am – 4:30pm |
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16 May |
11am – 11:45am |
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16 May |
6pm – 8:30pm |
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23 May |
9:30am – 4pm |
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25 May |
9:30am – 4pm |
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| 30 May | 1pm – 3pm | Code Review Workshop (online) |
| 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 |
| 29 June | 11am – 1pm | Understanding Race & Racism Workshop |
| 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
Three Months on from the Quakes, let’s keep the Spotlight on Northwest Syria
The New Humanitarian | David Carden
Donate to ACFID Members who are holding appeals via this link.