The Weekly

CEO Top of Mind

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

Humanitarian agency leaders and ACFID Board members, including Lyn Morgain (Oxfam), Samir Bennegadi (Islamic Relief), Michelle Higelin (ActionAid), Kate Lee (Union Aid Abroad), as well as Amy Lamoin (ChildFund), CMEFU and ACFID, jointly released a petition calling for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza at a press conference at Parliament this week. The petition garnered signatures from 71,000 individuals, and was presented to the Senate by Senator David Pocock.

Following this, we presented the case for a ceasefire to the ALP Caucus, the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Birmingham, the offices of the Foreign Minister and Minister for International Development, the crossbenchers and Greens.

To Note

Episode 2: A Little Less Conversation, featuring Australia’s Climate Ambassador

Australia’s Climate Ambassador Kristen Tilley has been in the job for just over a year, and in that time has worked to drive Australia’s climate ambitions, whether in decarbonising or ambitions to become a renewable energy superpower. She speaks with ACFID’s Jess Mackenzie and WWF’s Dermot O’Gorman about harnessing foreign policy, trade and development policies to drive climate outcomes internationally.

Listen to the podcast here. Read the ABC story here.

To Attend

Exclusive: ACFID Member Briefing with Reena Ghelani

ACFID invites you to a virtual briefing with Reena Ghelani, United Nations Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator, who will provide an update on the system-wide response to rising food insecurity, drought and famine, and discuss the role of civil society in supporting this.

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

To Note

Productivity Commission Inquiry into Philanthropy

The Productivity Commission released its draft report into philanthropy yesterday. ACFID will consider the interim findings. ACFID’s submission can be found here.

To Note

The United Kingdom’s International Development White Paper

The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have released their long-awaited international development white paper. Read the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) analysis here. The paper in full can be found here.

To Note

Annual Climate Change Statement 

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, tabled the Australian Government’s second Annual Climate Change Statement in Parliament. Read the media release here.

To Note

New Partnership to Support Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Pacific

The Australian Government is supporting the Pacific to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights, with a $37 million investment in the second phase of a program being implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Read the government’s media release here.  ACFID has welcomed the announcement on social media here.

To Action

Climate Action Peer Learning Program

ACFID and its Development Practice Committee (DPC) are excited to be providing 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 Note

DFAT Humanitarian Strategy Consultations

Consultations with DFAT are ongoing regarding DFAT’s Humanitarian Strategy. ACFID and DFAT have agreed to stand-up Technical Advisory Groups, with the first discussion on Disaster Risk Reduction and Anticipatory Action held with DFAT on Monday 13^th November. An additional discussion on protracted crises technical Advisory Group discussion will be held 1:30-3:30pm 5 December. Please refer to the Humanitarian Reference Group’s submission to the New International Development Policy to give you an idea of the scope of discussions.

If you would like further background information, please reach out to DFAT at [email protected]

To Note

DFAT’s International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy: Call for Submissions

The call for submissions for DFAT’s International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy is live and open until until 15 December 2023. Please see this link for further information. 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 Note

World AIDS Day

Ahead of #WorldAIDSDay, the Government is investing up to $12 million in a new partnership that will support local communities and governments in Southeast Asia and the Pacific to improve HIV testing and treatment, reduce stigma and discrimination, and lower transmission. ACFID welcomed the announcement on social media here. Read the media release here.

To Note

The 2023 Australasian Aid Conference

The conference for 2023 will be held on 5-7 December in partnership with The Asia Foundation, held at the Australian National University. Further information can be found here.

To Note

Podcast: Humanitarian Conversations, hosted by RedR Australia

Humanitarian Conversations is a podcast about what it means to be a humanitarian in today’s world, hosted and produced by RedR Australia’s Sally Cunningham and Jill Farrar. Catch episode 4 with Kathryn Harries. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or head here.

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