The Weekly

CEO Top of Mind

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

ACFID has been in close discussions with members and the Government on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We have put up the following advice on our website, and shared it with agencies running appeals for their consideration in their public communication: ACFID-Code-of-Conduct-emergency-appeals.pdf . The ACNC is referring members of the public to our website and member appeals: Updated advice on donating money for humanitarian relief to the conflict in Gaza | ACNC
Our Myanmar Community Practice is making a submission to the current Senate Foreign Affairs Defence Committee Inquiry into Myanmar and DFAT due diligence, and ACFID will also make a confidential testimony to the Inquiry hearings next week.

To Action

ACFID 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.

To Action

DFAT- ACFID Climate Finance Roundtable

ACFID Members have a chance to meet with DFAT’s Climate Resilience and Finance Branch to share perspectives with and hear from DFAT on their approach to Climate Finance in the lead up to COP28.

When: Wednesday 15th November
Time: 2:30-3:45pm
Where: Online – to register, email Jessica at [email protected] or Anne at [email protected]

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 Action

Save the Date

ACFID Member Briefing with Reena Ghelani, UN Famine Prevention & Response Coordinator, (OFPRC)

• When:  Wednesday 13th December
• Time: 4pm – 5pm AEST
• Where: Online – Register Here

To Action

Registration for Locally Led Action Community of Practice

ACFID is activating a Locally Led Action Community of Practice in the MyACFID Communities Platform. We welcome any interested staff of ACFID members to join this CoP.

For the first 6 months, the focus will be on

• Providing input and feedback on DFAT’s Locally Led Guidance and related resources
• Engaging with piloting aspects of a Locally Led Action Toolkit that ACFID is developing
• Providing input to ACFID’s positioning on DFAT’s proposed Civil Society Fund
• Supporting the collation of case studies and examples of good practice from ACFID members and their partners.

If you are not sure of how to register for this CoP in MyACFID contact [email protected]

For more information about the Locally Led Action CoP contact [email protected] or [email protected]

To Action

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 Action

Development Practice Committee (DPC) Nomination

Staff of ACFID member’s are invited to nominate for the Development Practice Committee (DPC).

The DPC is an expert advisory group where learning and development practitioners from the not-for-profit sector meet to provide advice to ACFID on key issues around development effectiveness. Nominations close 20 November 2023.  Read more about the vacancies here and the committee Terms of Reference here.

To Action

Webinar – Shifting power: championing rights at the intersection of gender equality and disability equity

In the lead up to International Day of People with Disabilities, the Australian Disability Development Consortium (ADDC), CBM Australia and Disability Rights Fund invite you to join a conversation on engaging and partnering with women and people of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) with disabilities in development and human rights initiatives.

Please register here to attend the webinar on Tuesday 21 November 10:30am – 11:30 am AEDT.

Auslan sign interpretation and live captioning will be provided.

To Action

Deadline extended: 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 November 17. The Joint Call can be accessed via this link.

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. Public submissions are open until the 15^th December 2023. 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

AP4D Dialogue | Media, Youth and Civil Society in the Pacific

Speaking to students at the Solomon Islands University in July 2023, Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy said that “Your generation will shape the future of your country, and our region. Your voice and your aspirations matter.” Yet despite the potential to be powerful agents of change, young people, civil society and media in the region face many challenges and barriers to meaningful participation.

This interactive dialogue will explore the power and responsibility of media, civil society and youth in shaping the future of the Pacific region. Discussion will focus on challenges and opportunities and how Australia can proactively partner with these sectors to shape a shared future.

Who: Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue
When: Wednesday 15 November
Time: 11am – 12pm (AEDT)
Where: Online – register here via Zoom

To Read

Sudan Emergency: Six-month Impact Update (As of 6 November 2023)

UNHCR has published a six-month impact update on the Sudan Emergency. It can be found in full here.

To Action

AP4D Webinar | Improving Australia’s Pacific Literacy

Australia has deep historical, social and economic connections to Pacific island countries, with many describing the region as “Pacific family”. But how well does Australia really know it’s Pacific neighbours? Join us to hear from a panel of experts about how Australia can improve its Pacific literacy and build a better cultural understanding of and connectedness to the Pacific region.

Speakers include:

• Ms Ema Vueti, President at Pacific Island Council of Queensland

• Mr Jesse Martin, Executive Chair at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander International Engagement Organisation

• Dr Tess Newton Cain, Senior Research Fellow at Griffith Asia Institute

• Faleagafulu Inga Stünzer, Executive Producer at ABC Radio Australia

Who: Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue
When: Wednesday 22 November
Time: 10 – 11:30am (AEDT)
Where: Online – register here via Zoom

To Attend

Virtual Roundtable with Ms 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.

This virtual roundtable on November 17th 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. For access to Ms. Albanese’s biography, please click here. 

Date: Friday 17th November  
Time: 10:00-11:30 am AEST 
Registration link: https://wkf.ms/3FFRf8u

Please note that a zoom link will be sent 24 hours prior to the event date to those that have registered. 

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