ACFID is now calling for nominations, which will close at 5pm (AEST) on Wednesday 23rd April 2025 for the following roles:   

• Vice President: one position is available for appointment.  
• Board Director: three positions are available for appointment.  

Once elected, these terms will be held until the Annual General Meeting in October 2028.

For more information please reach out to Matthew ([email protected])

Nomination forms can be accessed below. Nomination forms must be received before 5 PM (AEST) 23 April 2025. The forms should be sent to the Returning Officer, Raewyn Lans via either means below:

Email: [email protected]

Post: Raewyn Lans, Returning Officer, ACFID, Private Bag 3, Deakin, ACT, 2600 

Voting will be open from 07th May until 21st May 2025. This will be conducted through a secure platform provided by Elections Australia. We will send further details regarding the SGM, which will be held virtually, including how to vote and attendance by proxy, on the 07 May 2025.

• Access the VICE PRESIDENT NOMINATION FORM
• Access the BOARD DIRECTOR NOMINATION FORM

ACFID is coordinating a briefing with Australia’s incoming Head of the Representative Office in Ramallah. The briefing will take place at 4-5 pm on Monday, 7 April virtually and in-person at ACFID’s office in Deakin. If you are interested in attending please be in touch with Naomi Brooks: [email protected]

Date: Monday 7 April

Time: 4-5 pm

Location: Via Teams or in-person at ACFID’s Office.

Dr. Anthony Swan, Director of the Development Economics Section of DFAT, will brief ACFID members on FfD4. The briefing will cover the process of producing the Outcome Document, engagement the Australian Government has had so far with the process, their approach going forward, and will be followed by a Q&A. Members with an interest in international financial architecture and debt reform will be particularly interested in attending. 

Date: Wednesday 9 April

Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Registration: from the MYACFID portal here.

ACFID has responded to the 2025-2026 Federal Budget. You can find our media release here and our analysis here.

We received media mentions in the AAP, SBS, Guardian and Yahoo News. You can find the articles on our website here.

Contribute to our upcoming webinar series, “Impactful Partnerships: Addressing Current Needs Together”, co-hosted by ACFID and the Australian International Development Network (AIDN). This timely series aims to foster connections between ACFID members and philanthropic supporters to address urgent challenges resulting from disruptions in global funding.

Each session will spotlight pressing issues and concrete opportunities for collaboration:

• Health – Thursday, 1 May
• Gender and Children – Thursday, 8 May
• Humanitarian Response and Disasters – Thursday, 15 May
• Sustaining Local Capacity – Thursday, 22 May

Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 PM (AEST, virtual)

ACFID members are invited to share specific examples of projects impacted by recent donor cuts, and identify opportunities where philanthropic support could make a significant difference. Register now to express your interest in participating.

Registrations close  one week before each webinar. ACFID will contact registered organisations to coordinate ACFID member participation. For inquiries, please contact Emily Moreton at [email protected].

This year is shaping as a potential inflection point in history. The actions of the second Trump Administration – which has imposed tariffs on allies, threatened to annex territory, and seemingly sided with Russia against Ukraine – are seen by many as signalling the end of the ‘rules-based international order’. To what extent is this correct, and what are the implications for Australia?

Join us on Thursday 10 April, 1:00-2:00pm (Canberra time) to hear from an expert panel on the current upheaval in trade and diplomacy, what it means for Australia’s interests and relationships in the world, and how the next government should navigate the turbulence.

Speakers include:

• Richard Maude, Distinguished Policy Fellow at Asia Society Australia
• Hayley Channer, Director of Economic Security at the United States Studies Centre
• Joel Nilon, Senior Pacific Fellow at the Pacific Security College
• Dr Fitriani, Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute

Who: Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue (AP4D)

Date: Thursday 10 April

Time: 1:00-2:00pm (Canberra time)

Register: via Zoom here

Facilitation Skills Training for International Development and Humanitarian Actors | Register here

Most Significant Change – Clear Horizon | Register here 

How are Western aid cuts impacting Southeast Asia?

AP4D’s Melissa Conley Tyler and Viet Dung Trinh write that the funding gap threatens regional stability and creates opportunities for China to expand its influence.

“The cuts to foreign assistance and dismantling of USAID tests whether other Western and democratic states can enhance cooperation while the global funding leader withdraws. Identifying at-risk projects and working together to maintain them is achievable, even if a coordinated response has not yet materialised. They will continue to be called on to do more.”

As Western aid dries up, Southeast Asia faces the fallout

East Asia Forum | Melissa Conley Tyler and Viet Dung Trinh