The Weekly

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

Sunday 26th May marked the seven-year anniversary of the issuing of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Monday the 27th is a public holiday here in the ACT, giving myself and the staff of the Secretariat the chance to reflect on the occasion, and attend many of the community events being held to mark the anniversary.

Reconciliation week is marked within the same dates every year – May 27 to June 3. May 27 commemorates the 1967 referendum, which saw a 90 per cent yes vote for the inclusion of Indigenous Australians in the census. June 3 is Mabo Day, marking the anniversary of the High Court’s 1992 decision to overturn the existing legal fiction that Australia was “terra nullius” prior to European colonisation. The 2023 referendum on an Indigenous voice to Parliament may have left us feeling far less hopeful for the future of reconciliation in Australia. However, the theme of National Reconciliation Week 2024 “Now More Than Ever” urges us to do the opposite, reminding that it is more important than ever to push forward with the goal of reconciliation in the moments that make us want to turn away.

This year, as part of the Allies for Uluru and ACFID’s ongoing commitment to Reconciliation, we stand in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and continue to commit to actively building a shared vision for a just and equal Australia. Read the Statement of Commitment here and sign on.

To Action

ACFID Conference

Don’t miss your opportunity to get your ideas in to host a concurrent session at the ACFID Conference over 23/24 October 2024. Centered around the theme of solidarity and resilience, this is a fantastic way to showcase your organisation’s development practice and thought leadership and to share and engage with colleagues.  

Download the information pack here

To Action

PNG Landslide

ACFID is deeply saddened by the news of a landslide in Enga Province in Papua New Guinea and the grave loss of life becoming more apparent in its aftermath.

ACFID is considering launching a consolidated appeal. If your agency has an appeal running, please email Naomi Brooks, ACFID’s Humanitarian Advisor at [email protected]. Please also see our recent social media welcoming the Australian Government’s announcement of assistance here

To Note

ACFID Media Release- Rafah

To Note

Open Letter to Prime Minister Albanese- Loss and Damage

ACFID has joined Climate Action Network Australia, Climate Action Network Pacific and 30 civil society organisations to call on the Australian Government to utilise its voice and influence to advocate for Loss and Damage finance to be included in the new global climate finance goal. The full open letter can be found here

To Note

ACFID Hiring- Senior Media and Policy Advisor

ACFID is hiring a Senior Media and Policy Advisor to lead media relations for the secretariat. The position is 08-1 FTE, 2 years fixed term. Applications close on Sunday, July 16th, 2024. Further information can be found here.

To Note

ACFID Hiring- ICT and Operations Support Officer

ACFID is hiring an ICT and Operations Support Officer. Permanent part-time 0.6 FTE. Applications close Friday, 7th June 2024. Further information can be found here.

To Note

Vanuatu DPP

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Vanuatu DPP consultations on 28 May 2024. Your contributions were invaluable.

DFAT’s Port Vila Post has advised that they would appreciate written submissions from ACFID members prior to 11 June 2024. If you would like any assistance with making a submission or would like ACFID to provide your submission to DFAT, please reach out to Alan Hewson [email protected]

To Note

Pacific Regional DPP

The Pacific Regional DPP consultation has been confirmed for Tuesday, June 11, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This consultation is a joint ACFID member and PIANGO consultation. If you would like to take part in the consultation but have not yet registered, please do so here.

We have planned a pre-briefing session for Wednesday, June 5, 11:00-11:45 a.m., to share key messages for the DPP consultation. PIANGO plans to attend this pre-briefing session and will provide an initial overview of their key messages. All members who register using the above link will be added to the calendar invite for the pre-briefing meeting.

To Note

ACFID Connect: Introduction to LGBTQIA+ rights and inclusion in development

Please join us for this ACFID Connect learning event on LGBTQIA+ inclusion in development practice. Following an introductory discussion the session will include presentations on the issues facing LGBTQIA+ communities in our region, decolonising LGBTQIA+ language and entry points organisations can take in this area, followed by a Q&A session. ACFID is grateful to be joined by representatives from Many Coloured Sky Foundation, Equality Australia, ActionAid Australia, Plan International Australia and the International Women’s Development Agency to deliver this important learning session for ACFID members.

Date: 25 June 2024

Time: 10:00 -11:30 am 

Registration here.

To Note

ACFID Connect: AI for social good

ACFID Members are invited to a webinar co-hosted with Dalberg Advisors on the opportunities for artificial intelligence (AI) in the internal operations of NGOs and external impact creation. The webinar will address both traditional and Generative AI, recognizing the significant development of capabilities and use cases for the latter over the past 12 months.

The Dalberg team will present data and examples of how different types of stakeholders in the social sector are thinking about and using these technologies to accelerate progress towards SDGs and improve the efficiency and scale of their impact. This will include sharing perspectives on what this means for NGOs and the innovation required to thrive in the sector. Participants will also be invited to share their own experiences, questions, and learning around the opportunities for AI in the social sector, managing the risks of integrating AI, and how NGOs can prepare for an AI future.

No prior knowledge or experience using AI required!

When: Tuesday 18 June

Time: 1-2pm

Where: Online, register here.

About Dalberg

Dalberg Advisors is one of the oldest global strategy advisory firms focused on sustainability and social impact. Our mission is to help solve the most pressing challenges of our time through system change. To do so, we collaborate with local communities and global networks to create bold and equitable solutions that build towards a sustainable planet and inclusive societies where all people can thrive. Dalberg’s network includes 25+ locations across Asia-Pacific (including Australia), Africa, Europe, and the Americas, serving 110+ countries globally. The team combines a unique depth of sustainability and social impact expertise, complementary capabilities such as human-centred design, and 20+ years of experience bringing global perspectives to local challenges.

To Note

ACFID is on Instagram: follow us!

ACFID is now present on Instagram. Follow us at @ACFID.AUS to stay updated on our latest news, projects and events.

Upcoming Events:

To Note

Featured Jobs

Food for thought

Writing in The Australian Financial Review, the Lowy Institute’s Susannah Patton contrasts the government’s “all tools of statecraft” rhetoric with its “sweeping and abrupt new changes to international education,” concluding that “when it comes to international education, statecraft has been missing in action.”

“Since the 1950s and the era of the Colombo Plan, which funded scholarships for students from across our region, education has been a key source of soft power for Australia in our region. Students coming to learn here have developed deep personal connections with Australia and added to the development of skills and knowledge in their home countries.”

Australian Financial Review | Susannah Patton