The Weekly
This week, I attended the Australian Diplomacy Today symposium at Parliament House, organised by our amazing AP4D team. It was a valuable opportunity to engage with Australia’s thought leaders from the development, diplomatic and defence communities to reflect on the evolving role for Australia in the current international context.
We also announced that Jules Frost, our liaison between ACMC and ACFID, will be leaving to take on the CEO role at Hagar International. We wish Jules all the best in this new chapter and thank her for her immense contributions to ACFID, particularly in improving civilian protection and enhancing humanitarian knowledge within our defence forces. The position is now open, and we look forward to finding a passionate humanitarian to fill the role.
On another note, The Safer World for All forums began this weekend in Greenway, where Sudanese community members got to meet with Minister Michelle Rowland MP and Greens candidate Palani Subramanian to discuss the Sudan crisis as well as Australia’s commitment to international development. Next week, the forums continue in Parramatta and Wills. Please encourage attendance from anyone in greater Sydney and Melbourne who may be able to attend to support international aid. More details are below
And finally, remember to mark your calendars for the CEO Networking Dinner on 11 March and the Introduction to the Sector workshop on 12 March, both taking place in Sydney. In these challenging times, it’s essential that we stay united and connected as a sector to effectively navigate the complexities ahead. More details are provided below.
To Action
Safer World for All Forums Begin, Highlighting Humanitarian and Development Issues
The Safer World for All electorate forums were kicked off last weekend in Greenway alongside the Sudanese diaspora community. Minister Michelle Rowland MP and Greens candidate Palani Subramanian joined the community to discuss the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, and international development.
Next week, we have Parramatta forum with Andrew Charlton MP and Wills forum with Peter Khalil MP as the sitting members. Please encourage staff and your networks to attend and show big public support for aid! More information and registration details are at saferworld.org.au
To Note
Boosting Australia’s economic ties with India
The Government has launched a new roadmap designed to enhance Australia’s economic engagement with India. The announcement also includes an extra $4 million for Maitri (‘friendship’) Grants, which is available to NGOs. No further details are available yet on the implementation of these grants. You can read the Government’s media release here.
To Attend
ACFID virtual workshop on challenges and strategies for LGBTIQ+ equality: anti-rights movements and funding cuts
ACFID’s Gender Equity Community of Practice invites you to this workshop on the impacts of funding cuts and anti-rights movements on LGBTIQA+ communities globally.
This 90-minute session will cover the anti-rights movement, counter-movements’ responses, and the effects of funding cuts on LGBTQIA+ development and humanitarian programs. The final 30 minutes will be an interactive discussion on how Australia’s international development sector should respond to rising homophobia and transphobia.
For more information please reach out to [email protected]
Meeting Date: March 5th 12:00 pm- 1:30 pm
Register here
To Attend
ACFID member meeting on impacts of Stop Work Order
This is a weekly meeting to share and discuss the impacts and updates of the US Stop Work Order on ACFID members and hear from ACFID on the work being done with DFAT and other stakeholders. This week’s meeting will also include discussion on the impact of the UK’s recent aid cuts.
Next meeting: Monday 3 March 4:30-5 pm
Register here
Media requests
ACFID is receiving a number of media requests on the impacts of the SWO. If your organisation has stories of impact or examples you are able to share publicly, please get in touch with Lisa Tadrosse: [email protected]
Survey on SWO impact – If your agency has not already, please complete this survey about the impact of the SWO on your organisation and partners. Note: please ensure only one survey response per agency.
Requests/suggestions for ACFID – If you/your agency has further requests for information/suggestions for ACFID please get in touch with Lanni: [email protected]
Connecting with other ACFID members in-country on SWO impact:
If you would like to have more detailed discussions with other ACFID members about the SWO at country or regional level, please join and utilise the existing ACFID Communities of Practice. For support joining CoPs email [email protected]. If you would like more detailed country-level discussions with other members about a country not included in one of ACFID’s CoPs, complete this form to be connected with others.
List of helpful resources on Stop Work Order:
|
Name of Resource |
Link |
|
ICVA list of resources |
|
|
Global Freeze Aid Tracker |
Consultants Directory – The Right Expertise, When You Need It
Need a specialist? ACFID’s Consultants Directory connects members with trusted experts in aid and development.
Why use it?
-Find sector-experienced consultants—researchers, strategists & more.
-Save time—trusted experts, all in one place.
🔗 Find the expertise you need today
To Action
Blended finance survey: How would your organisation like to engage with DFAT’s INGO Accelerator program?
In November 2024, the Australian Government launched a new $10 million initiative called the Innovative Indo-Pacific NGO Accelerator to support NGOs to start, scale and “pioneer new approaches” to blended development finance.
The first round of grants for NGOs could be released as soon as the second half of this year. ACFID is in communication with DFAT about the best way to equip our members with the information they need to fully take advantage of the opportunities presented by the INGO Accelerator program.
This survey is designed to see which members are interested in further consultation and what specific information would be most useful.
To Action
DFAT invites international NGOs to submit proposals for civil society strengthening in Kiribati
The Australian High Commission in Kiribati is looking for an intergovernmental organisation or international non-government organisation to deliver a project to strengthen the nascent NGO and civil society sector in Kiribati as part of the Kiribati Leadership, Engagement and Accountability for Development (KiriLEAD) program. The project’s objective is to build the capacity of local organisations, thereby allowing them to access increased funding from donors and deliver inclusive and effective programs.
At a high level, the Australian High Commission envisages the successful applicant would help local i-Kiribati NGOs/CSOs build their organisational capacity (e.g. finance manuals, governance structures, procurement procedures), and also provide some small incentive-based core funding (e.g. to fund an office/admin manager). There would also be involvement with the Ministry of Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs to help strengthen the policy framework governing the NGO/CSO sector in Kiribati.
The maximum grant amount available for this project is up to AUD 3 million, with completion by 31 December 2028.
We understand that DFAT has not advertised this invitation publicly. If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please reach out to Alan Hewson, at: [email protected] for further information.
To Note
Relaunching the ACFID Spotlight on the Code series
ACFID has relaunched its Spotlight on the Code series, focusing on the new locally-led action requirements in the ACFID Code of Conduct.
This week, Billy Gorter, Founder & Executive Director of This Life Cambodia, shares insights on their Community Driven Dialogue process and its alignment with ACFID’s Code principles.
Please check out the ACFID Locally-Led Action toolkit and resource hub for relevant tools, templates, and examples.
To Note
ACFID in the Media
ACFID’s Interim CEO Matthew Maury appeared on ABC Radio Canberra Morning’s to discuss the latest development news, including the United Kingdom’s cuts to the aid program. Listen to the interview here.
ACFID is also mentioned in a story for The West Australian, covering the ongoing impacts of the 90-day USAID pause. The story can be read here.
Additionally, ACFID’s Government Relations & Media Advisor Will Devine wrote a piece on the humanitarian crisis and conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for Devpolicy, which can be found here.
To Action
Clear Horizon Offers 15% Discount on Training Courses for ACFID Network
Enhance your skills in evaluation, strategy, and impact measurement with expert-led courses tailored for the international development sector.
Upcoming courses include:
Evaluating Place-Based Approaches: Learn how to assess localised development initiatives effectively. (March 14)
Measurement, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) – A deep dive into MEL frameworks and their application. (March 21)
Most Significant Change – Explore an engaging storytelling-based approach to impact measurement. (May 2)
💡 Gain practical insights, strengthen your organisation’s impact, and apply learnings immediately.
Clear Horizon is offering a 15% discount to the ACFID network. Use code SAVE15ACFID at checkout to claim your discount.
Browse discounted courses in the ACFID Training Directory
To Note
To Attend
ACMC Protection of Civilians Course
ACMC will be holding a Protection of Civilians course in Canberra from 1-2 April 2025 at the QT Hotel. Register your nomination by 7 March 2025. Successful nominees will be advised by COB 12 March 2025 and provided joining instructions.
Further information can be found here.
To Attend
Upcoming ACFID Briefings: Hanoi and Palau Heads of Mission
ACFID is coordinating briefings with the incoming Heads of Mission for both Hanoi, Vietnam, and Palau. The Hanoi briefing will take place online, with a prep meeting scheduled for 25 February to discuss key areas of focus. The Palau briefing will be held at the ACFID Office in Deakin, with virtual participation available. Both briefings will be chaired by Matthew Maury, Interim CEO of ACFID. If your organisation is involved in these regions, please complete the relevant registration form to participate.
Hanoi HOM Briefing
Date: Friday 28 February 2025
Time: 4-5:30 pm (AEDT)
Registration form
Prep Meeting for Hanoi Briefing
Date: Tuesday 25 February 2025
Time: 2-3 pm (AEDT)
Palau HOM Briefing
Date: Monday 17 March 2025
Time: 9-10 am (AEDT)
Registration form
To Action
Blended finance survey: How would your organisation like to engage with DFAT’s INGO Accelerator program?
In November 2024, the Australian Government launched a new $10 million initiative called the Innovative Indo-Pacific NGO Accelerator to support NGOs to start, scale and “pioneer new approaches” to blended development finance.
The first round of grants for NGOs could be released as soon as the second half of this year. ACFID is in communication with DFAT about the best way to equip our members with the information they need to fully take advantage of the opportunities presented by the INGO Accelerator program.
This survey is designed to see which members are interested in further consultation and what specific information would be most useful.
To Action
Opportunity to input into submission for Commonwealth Data Retention Review
The Department of Home Affairs has reached out to ACFID’s members to provide a submission for the review on Commonwealth legislative data retention provisions that place obligations on industry. Input will be discussed and collated by ACFID’s Data Governance Community of Practice. The discussion paper can be found here. To contribute to this submission, join the ACFID Data Governance CoP, or contact [email protected] for more information.
To Note
Community of Practice Convenor Roundtable
ACFID CoP Convenors met together last week in a CoP Convenor Roundtable to share achievements from 2024 and planning for 2025 for their Communities. Convenors identified key areas of overlap and mutual interest and also had dedicated learning sessions on making CoPs more accessible, and effective approaches to engaging with DFAT and other external stakeholders
To Attend
Locally Led Action CoP March Meeting
The ACFID Locally Led Action Community of Practice will spend their March meeting sharing organisational updates on progress towards the new Code Compliance indicators related to Locally Led. There will also be a discussion session based on the Dylan Matthews presentation at ACFID Conference 2023 on Transforming Partnerships in International Cooperation (Maria – please link that title to: Dylan Matthews at ACFID Conference: Transforming Partnerships in International Cooperation)
Date: Wednesday 5th March
Time: 2:00-3:15pm AEDT
To Attend
Join the First Data Governance CoP Meeting: Shaping the Commonwealth Data Retention Review
The Data Governance CoP will be having its first meeting on March 7th! If you’re interested in data and AI, we’d love for you to join us! A key focus of this session will be gathering input for the upcoming Commonwealth Data Retention Review.
If you have any questions or wish to contribute to ACFID’s submission on the review, please reach out to a[email protected]
Jobs
Food for thought
Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue (AP4D) Executive Director Melissa Conley Tyler and intern Viet Dung Trinh write in East Asia Forum that “Despite the challenges that 2025 will bring, Australia’s economic statecraft cannot focus only on domestic industry policy — it must also promote open trade and investment.”
“Australia has actively supported and played a leading role in the creation of global rules that underpin the rise of global trade, even being one of the founding members of the World Trade Organization. Particularly during the second Trump administration, Australia should focus on cooperating with like-minded states to ‘save the furniture’ of the global trading system.”
The article draws on recent consultations AP4D held with more than 40 experts from Australia and across the region. Click here to explore the resulting report, ‘What does it look like for Australia to navigate a new era of economic statecraft in the Indo-Pacific’.
Can Australia stay resilient in an unpredictable 2025?
East Asia Forum | Melissa Conley Tyler and Viet Dung Trinh
Upcoming Events
|
Date |
Event |
|
28 February |
|
|
03 March |
|
|
05 March |
|
|
05 March |
|
|
11 March |
|
|
12 March |
|
|
13 March |
ANCP Insights Webinar- Introduction to ANCP for new applicants |
|
17 March |
|
|
1 & 2 April |