The Weekly

Weekly Data Snapshot

NGOs Partner for Impact

Data from the year 2023–24 found that NGOs part of the ANCP program partnered with over 2,200 organisations across 51 countries. Of these partnerships, 89% were either with a local or national actor. 

This is one of many interesting points in our new report titled ​NGOs as Valuable Partners.​

To Join

We’re heading to Women Deliver 2026.

ACFID will be in Melbourne at Women Deliver 2026 this April! We’re very excited to be co‑hosting a side event alongside RDI Network and First Australians Capital. The event will be from 12–1:30pm on Thursday 30 April.

On Our Terms: Indigenous Women Defining Economic Power and Self‑Determination brings together Indigenous researchers, development practitioners, entrepreneurs, young leaders, and government representatives to explore what economic empowerment looks like when Indigenous women define it on their own terms.

If you’re planning to be there, we’d love to hear from you. Please reach out to [email protected] if you’d like to know more about the event in Melbourne.

To Join

ACFID Connect: Webinar on Foreign Bribery

ACFID is pleased to host a webinar in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), with special guests from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Bribery Prevention Network. The session will cover Australia’s foreign bribery offences, the impacts of foreign bribery, and the AFP’s role in enforcement and awareness‑raising. It will also include practical guidance from the Bribery Prevention Network on preventing foreign bribery, along with DFAT’s perspectives on the challenges of operating overseas, why foreign bribery is an important issue for DFAT, and considerations for managing bribery risks in international operations.

Date: 29 April 2026

Time: 2:30PM – 3:30PM AEST

​Register here​

To Join

Advocacy in 2026: Get Involved

Last week, the ACFID Policy & Advocacy team presented our refreshed 2026 advocacy approach to the Government Relations Group. As part of this shift towards electorate‑based engagement, we are inviting organisations to support two key actions:

Participate in electorate based-lobbying

Join ACFID’s electorate‑focused lobbying effort as we ramp up engagement with key MPs ahead of the next federal election. If you would like your CEO to be involved in electorate based lobbying in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane, please complete​ this form​ by Thursday 30 of April. We will also be working on opportunities outside of the cities listed as they arise for key MPs in those electorates.

Support the development of updated electorate snapshots

We are requesting your support to develop updated electorate snapshots, which will contain de-identified aggregated data showing the reach of ACFID members for advocacy purposes.

Further information has been shared with heads of organisations and Government Relations contacts. For any questions on the content of the survey or data collection, please contact Aditri Saikia at​ [email protected]​ and for questions in relation to the advocacy and use of the snapshots, please contact Naomi Brooks at ​[email protected]​. 

To Join

Managing Contractor partnerships – Have Add Your Perspective  

ACFID is inviting members who are currently working with Managing Contractors to join a discussion on key issues, emerging opportunities, and creating healthy and strategic partnerships. This session is aimed at ACFID Member CEOs (or their delegates) and will help identify practical ways to improve the current system, ways of working and partnerships with MCs across the sector and to inform future engagement with DFAT and IDCC. 

The session will take place in April (date to be confirmed). If you are interested to join this discussion, please register your interest with Ujjwal Krishna at ​[email protected]​. If you have questions please feel free to reach out to Matthew at ​[email protected]​.

To Join

Racial Justice Training

A few sports are still available for Option 2 and Option 3 training dates in April. This training will (at a minimum) support your understanding and implementation  racial justice and anti-racism strategies in their workplace. The training will also support members meet the new ACFID Code Commitments related to Anti-Racism and Racial Justice.

There will be pre-reading required for this workshop.  

Training Option 2: Thursday 9th April 2026, 10:00AM -1:00PM AEST. ​Register here​

Training Option 3: Thursday 16 April 2026, 1:00PM -4:00PM AEST. ​Register here​

To Action

Nominations Open: Development Practice Committee

ACFID member staff are invited to nominate for up to four vacancies on the Development Practice Committee (DPC)—a key advisory group that provides an avenue for committee members to engage with and input to the thematic work of ACFID, develop thought leadership and practice guidance for ACFID’s members, and to deep-dive on policy and practice conversations that impact the work of our membership.

The new terms will run June 2026 – June 2029. The DPC particularly welcomes nominations from those with experience in climate action, locally led action, GEDSI, development policy, and staff from smaller member agencies.

Nominations close 10 April 2026.

Learn more about the committee ​here​ and view the Terms of Reference ​here​.

To nominate, please email your CV and a short (≤1 page) statement addressing the Terms of Reference to ​[email protected].​

To Action

Palestine Development Partnership Plan

DFAT has contacted us to coordinate engagement with members regarding a new Development Partnership Plan for Palestine. Please get in touch with ​[email protected]​ if you are interested in being involved. 

To Attend

Where Do the Dollars Go? Understanding Cross-Border Payments and the Hidden Losses in Aid Flows.

Every year, NGOs move billions of dollars across borders to fund programmes in the region. Yet, a significant portion of these funds never reaches the intended beneficiaries in full. This webinar explores how cross-border payments actually work—why they are often slower, costlier, and less transparent than expected—and where hidden losses occur along the payment journey.

Join our Partner StoneX, who in collaboration with the National University of Singapore Global Research & Consulting Group and AVPN, will deliver this informative webinar.

Date: 22 April 2026

Time: 11:00AM -12:00PM (AEST)

​Register here​

We’re excited to share the 2026 National Conference Concept Note, centred on the theme ‘Mobilising the Collective: Reshaping Systems for a Just Future’. The program will focus on how the development and humanitarian sector can use collective voice, solidarity and systems change to respond to intersecting global and domestic challenges. 

We are inviting input into the conference through program suggestions, concurrent session submissions and nominations for our 2026 awards.  You can read the full conference concept note ​here​. 

See more about contributions below.  

Program Input 

Members are invited to recommend speakers and panels for the 2026 Conference. Suggestions that will enable us to amplify and platform diverse, underrepresented, and locally grounded perspectives are especially welcome.  

Suggestions should be aligned with the 2026 theme, ‘Mobilising the Collective: Reshaping Systems for a Just Future’, and at least one of the conference pillars, ‘Collective Voice and Solidarity’, or ‘Influencing and Adapting to Systems-Change’ 

Please submit your suggestions ​via this form​ by Friday 1 May 2026. 

Concurrent Sessions 

We are seeking expressions of interest for concurrent sessions at the 2026 National Conference! ACFID members and other organisations in the sector are invited to propose sessions that contribute to advancing this year’s theme, ‘Mobilising the Collective: Reshaping Systems for a Just Future’. Concurrent sessions breakout sessions from plenary that allow attendees to delve deeper into specific topics and are designed to be more participatory in nature.  

We are especially seeking proposals that: 

• Engage diverse voices and actors, including beyond the sector, 
• Have participatory elements for delegates, and/or, 
• Offer practical insights, actionable strategies, or are focussed on specific outcomes. 

More information here​ and please submit your EoI by Friday 5 June 2026 to Anne Fitzpatrick at ​[email protected]​.

Nominations for 2026 ACFID Awards 

Nominations are now open for the 2026 ACFID Awards, recognising outstanding contributions to human rights, the development sector, and media reporting. Awards include the Sir Ron Wilson Human Rights Award, the Outstanding Contribution to the Sector Award, and the ACFID Media Award. Recipients will be honoured at ACFID’s National Conference in Canberra. Submit your nomination by Friday, 28 August 2026.  

More information ​here​ 

Consultants

Clear Horizon – 15% off MEL courses

Clear Horizon is a values-driven, B-Corp certified, women-led company. We support teams and organisations to monitor, evaluate, learn and ultimately to improve the impact of their strategies, programs and initiatives. We have nearly 20 years of experience in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) across the international development sector, including working with DFAT, MFAT, World Bank, United Nations, INGOs and managing contractors. We work across a range of sectors including social and economic development, gender equality, disability inclusion, democracy and civil society strengthening, health, education, infrastructure, climate change and disaster resilience, and agriculture.

We are currently offering the ACFID Network 15% off the cost of five courses commencing in 2026. Check them out here!

Consultants

Exclusive Offer – Transform Your Board & Committee Governance

Athena Board is proud to partner with ACFID to help not-for-profits save time, secure documents,and improve governance.

Trusted by charities, international aid agencies, and community organisations across Australia,Athena Board’s secure platform makes it easy to collate, produce, and share board materials while protecting sensitive information. ISO27001 certified and fully encrypted, it’s built to meet the highest standards of security – at a price designed for the NFP sector.ACFID members receive 10% off Athena Board’s already low NFP rates, giving you a high-performing,low-cost solution to:

• Reduce admin time and streamline meeting preparation

• Strengthen governance and compliance

• Provide directors with tools like digital voting, annotations, conflict registers, and offline access

Upgrade your governance with a platform your board will actually enjoy using. Read more here.

Locally Led Action CoP – Meeting with DFAT

Locally Led Action Community will be meeting with Kirsten Hawke, DFAT’s Lead Advisor on Locally Led Development in May. To join this call, or the planning meeting to identify areas of focus and discussion with her, join the LLA CoP – instructions ​here​

Planning call: 21 April | 2:00PM -3:00PM AEST 

Meeting with DFAT: 13 May |  2:00PM -3:00PM AEST

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