The Weekly

CEO Top of Mind

Marc Purcell, what is at the top of your mind this week?

We were delighted to have over 500 delegates, face-to-face and virtual, attend ACFID’s National Conference in Sydney last week. It was so good to meet so many of you and see colleagues reuniting and others bonding. If you missed any of the great keynote speakers, you can find mainstage recordings on our conference website! The secretariat is processing some of the recordings of the fantastic member-led concurrent sessions and they will go up on the conference website in the coming weeks.

At ACFID’s AGM on Wednesday 18 October, ACFID announced the election of four new Board ordinary members – Kate Lee (APHEDA), Mat Tinkler (Save the Children), Samir Bennegadi (Islamic Relief Australia) and Senthil Nathan (Fairtrade ANZ). Two VPs were elected, Sureka Goringe (UnitingWorld) and Michelle Higelin (ActionAid), and two Code of Conduct Committee members were elected, Tricia Keys and Trisha Hopper.  On behalf of the ACFID Board, thank you to all the candidates who were nominated. 

Also, in the Annual General Meeting, members unanimously voted to accept the proposed changes to the ACFID Code of Conduct. Following an 18 month process of reviewing and testing the proposed changes across the membership, the revisions include strengthened standards in the area of Climate Change, anti-racism and racial justice, and local leadership. Read more here.

GAZA

With the ACFID National Conference as a backdrop, more than 30 Australian humanitarian agencies signed a joint letter calling on the Government to act on Gaza. The Australian Council for International Development letter signed by organisations including Save the Children Australia, ActionAid, and United Aid Abroad urges Australia to exert its influence to seek an urgent ceasefire between armed Palestinian groups and Israel.

“The Australian Government must use its voice and exert its influence to seek a ceasefire – an end to the rapidly escalating conflict – as a matter of urgency,” the letter sent to Mr Albanese, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, Defence Minister Richard Marles and International Development Minister Pat Conroy says. Read the letter in full here. We did a media conference and you can see my ABC TV  interview on the crisis here Calls for Govt to help alleviate humanitarian disaster in Gaza – ABC News  and our  assurance about the integrity of aid funds: Australian government is not sending money to Hamas (themandarin.com.au)

Subsequently, the Foreign Minister, Penny Wong released a statement calling for a humanitarian pause Foreign minister calls for ‘humanitarian pause’ in Israel-Gaza conflict after Australia announces extra troop, aircraft deployment to Middle East – ABC News . Additionally, the Australian Government has announced an additional $15 million in humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by the conflict in Israel and Palestine. Read the government’s media release. ACFID has welcomed the announcement on social media here. ACFID member appeals can be found on our appeals page here.

To Celebrate

Stephanie March, Jaki Adams handed ACFID awards

ACFID’s annual awards were presented at the ACFID National Conference dinner on 18 October. Each year ACFID presents the Sir Ronald Wilson Human Rights Award, the Contribution to the Sector Award, and the Media Award, to an organisation or individual working in the international development space.

This year ACFID is pleased to announce Jaki Adams of The Fred Hollows Foundation as the winner of the Contribution to the Sector Award, Journalist Stephanie March as the winner of the ACFID Media Award, and Australian’s for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition (AICR) and the Yes23 Campaign as the winners of the Sir Ronald Wilson Human Rights Award.

In respect of calls from Elders for a week of silence and reflection following the outcome of the Referendum, ACFID will present the Sir Ronald Wilson award at a later date. Read more here.

To Attend

Implementing the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme

The ACFID Safeguarding COP is hosting a dedicated event for agencies preparing to implement the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. Join us for an important conversation with Elena Bezzolato, Misconduct Disclosure Scheme Coordinator, to discuss the practical next steps for ACFID members looking to implement the Scheme. This will also be an opportunity to provide input into how ACFID can best support your organisation and the sector with implementation.

This online discussion is designed for staff and governing body members of ACFID members who will be required to participate in the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme as a result of the Code amendments and other organisations interested in participating in the Scheme.

When: Thursday 16 November
Time: 4 – 5pm (AEDT)
Where: Online

Register here.

To Attend

ACFID Connect: Climate COPs 101 (ACFID member-only event)

Learn about the basics of the international climate negotiations that happen at the annual Climate COP (Conference of the Parties), and how NGOs can engage.

What happens at a COP? Who is there? What does it mean for climate action? How do NGOs engage?

Join a range of ACFID members who will share their experience participating in previous COPs and break down what can seem like a complicated mechanism.

When: Monday 13th November 1:30-2:30pm (online)

Register here.

To Attend

Invitation to virtual Roundtable with Ms Francesca Albanese, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories 

ACFID invites you to a virtual roundtable on November 17 from 10:00-11:30am AEST. The roundtable is open to all INGO staff and presents the opportunity to connect with Francesca Albanese, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories: 

“Francesca Albanese is a highly respected human rights lawyer, researcher, and author. She has worked for over twenty years as a human rights expert for the United Nations, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees.” 

To access her biography, please click here. 

Date: Friday 17th November  
Time: 10:00-11:30 am AEST 

Registration here. A Zoom link will be sent 24 hours prior to the event date to those who have registered. 

To Action

ACFID Hiring- Humanitarian Policy & Advocacy Lead

The role engages ACFID Members to influence Australian Government policy on key humanitarian issues, including through the coordination of ACFID’s Humanitarian Reference Group to DFAT. It is an exciting time to join, with a new Humanitarian Strategy currently being designed by the Australian Government. Further information can be found be here . Feel free to share widely with your networks.

To Action

ACFID Gender CoP meeting – focus on LGBTQIA+ rights

The next Gender CoP meeting will take place on Tuesday 31 October, 3-4pm AEDT. We will be joined by Tom Tanhchareun from Equality Australia who will give a briefing on the forthcoming LGBTQIA+ and rights strategy, including the consultation process, and Australia’s new Inclusion and Equality Fund.

We will also have an opportunity to discuss ACFID’s submission to the LGBTQIA+ and rights strategy consultation process and the gender CoP’s role in knowledge building and collective advocacy on LGBTQIA+ issues.

For regular updates on the Gender CoP meetings, please join the group via the MyACFID Communities Platform.

To Note

DFAT’s Disability Equity and Rights Strategy

As committed in the International Development Policy released in August this year, DFAT are developing an International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy which will involve a submissions process. If you would like to be involved in providing input to ACFID’s submission to the Strategy or have any questions, please reach out to [email protected]

To Action

Join the call for DFAT’s forthcoming Disability Equity and Rights strategy to be ambitious and accountable

The Australian Disability Development Consortium and ACFID would like to invite your organisation to join a Joint Call for action for the Australian Government’s forthcoming disability equity and rights strategy to be ambitious and resourced. The joint statement includes a call for targets and resourcing for disability equity in Australia’s development program. If your organisation would like to support and add its logo to the Joint Call, please contact [email protected] by next Wednesday, November 1. The Joint Call can be accessed via this link here.

To Action

Invitation to attend DFAT DPP Consultation for PNG

DFAT is in the process of shaping a Development Partnership Plan (DPP) for Papua New Guinea. DFAT have requested CSO input, and we will organise two meetings with yourselves: one preparatory meeting and one consultation with Australia-based colleagues

If you would like to be part of either the preparatory call, or the DPP consultation with DFAT, please register your interest here by 2^nd November.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Aditri Saika at [email protected]

To Note

Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) #NOTCOLLATERALDAMAGE

Reducing the harm that civilians in conflict face and spreading awareness of how to do so is a more pressing concern now than ever before. In light of the events in Israel and Palestine, as well as other conflicts across the globe, reaffirming the importance of international humanitarian law has never been more important.

Be part of the solution and join the campaign #NOTCOLLATERALDAMAGE. Further information, including a campaign toolkit can be found here

To Note

Deepening connections in our region through the Pacific Engagement Visa

Last week, The Australian Senate passed legislation to enable the delivery of a new Pacific Engagement Visa. The Pacific Engagement Visa will enable up to 3,000 nationals of Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste to migrate to Australia as permanent residents each year. Read the government’s media release here.

You can hear ACFID Conference keynote speaker, Emeline Siale Ilolahia, Executive Director of the Pacific Islands Association of Non-government Organisations here.

To Action

Applications for Australia Awards Fellowships- Closing 7 November

Round 19 of the Australia Awards Fellowships officially commenced on 11 October.

Please start by reviewing the Application Fellowship Guidelines, and consider applying in Round 19 online via Smartygrants before the closing date of 7 November 2023. 

Applications submitted must align with only one of the following key priority areas and provide evidence of partnership with an overseas counterpart organisation(s) from eligible countries:

• Climate change, adaptation, resilience and green energy transition
• Gender equality, disability equity and social inclusion
• Health
• Digital economy including cyber, critical technology and media engagement
• Maritime and the Blue Economy
• Infrastructure and connectivity (also incorporating the Quad Fellowships)

For further details on eligibility can be found in the application guidelines and here.

Please note:  all submissions will be assessed on their merits as part of a transparent and equitable competitive grant selection process. All grants remain subject to DFAT approvals.

* Only Australian-based organisations with an ABN can apply

To Action

Implementation of the amended Code – member info session

This online session is aimed at staff and volunteers of ACFID members who are involved in their organisation’s reporting against the ACFID Code. Participants will:

• Learn about the amendments to the Code, timelines for implementation and implications for Code reporting.
• Learn about ACFID’s planned support for members.
• Have an opportunity to ask questions of the ACFID Code team.
• Provide input into the types of support and resources that will be most useful for their organisation.

When: Wednesday 8 November
Time: 2 – 3:30pm
Where: Online

Register here.

To Read

Climate Action Peer Learning Program

ACFID and its Development Practice Committee (DPC) are excited to announce a unique learning opportunity that will be available to members in the first half of 2024. The Climate Action Peer Learning Program will bring together small groups of members to share, learn, reflect and plan together for strengthening climate action within their organisations. To read more about this planned program go to Combatting Climate Change – ACFID. Expressions of Interest for members who would like to stay informed about the Program can be registered here.

To Attend

Charity Sector Town Hall Meetings

Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh is holding a series of Charity Sector Town hall meetings

• Tuesday 31 October | 10.30 am – 11.30 am, Sydney | Rydges World Square, Ballroom 1
• Wednesday 1 November | 10.30 – 11.30 am, Canberra | Albert Hall
• Wednesday 8 November | 10.30 am – 11.30 am, Melbourne | Yarra Room, Melbourne Town Hall

Further information can be found here

To Attend

Kakala Dialogue Tuesday 31 October at 3pm

On Tuesday the 31^st of October, Oxfam are hosting the next Kakala Dialogue. This month’s talanoa is on the theme “Indigenous is in the Details: Ideas on how to Initiate and Protect Indigenous knowledge and practices in your workplace.”  

We invite you all to register for this session by clicking the link here.

Upcoming Events