Development Practice Committee (DPC)

 

The Development Practice Committee (DPC) is an expert advisory group where learning and development practitioners from the not-for-profit sector meet to:

  • Lead good practice within the sector
  • Undertake applied research and development of tools and processes
  • Provide relevant advice to ACFID on key issues around development effectiveness affecting the sector
  • Engage with DFAT on development effectiveness practice.

Membership and Meetings

DPC meetings take place at least three times each year over either one or two days, rotating between Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra (Currently being held online in shorter sessions).

Members are expected to come to meetings well prepared and to bring the support of their organisation with them.

The DPC has eight members plus two co-chairs. DPC member terms run for three years which is renewable to encourage continuity.

The membership is open to anyone from an ACFID Member organisation with an interest in organisational learning in the international development sector and experience in program implementation and monitoring and evaluation. The group may also include external experts such as academics, engaged consultants or subject matter experts from think tanks.

Current DPC members are:

Co-chairs

Colin Scott, Global Mission Partners (Acting Chair)

Matthew Maury, Tearfund Australia, Board Champion (leave of absence)

Fiona Tarpey, Australian Red Cross (leave of absence)

Committee members

Tracy McDiarmid, International Women's Development Agency

Anthony Zwi, UNSW

Stav Zotalis, ActionAid

Charlotte Sterrett, World Vision Australia

Elsa Carnaby, Oxfam Australia

Ai Leen Quah, Quaker Service Australia

Suzi Chinnery, CARE Australia

Vacant

Advisor, Dr Linda Kelly

Work

In 2021 the Committee is prioritising work around Climate Change and Localisation, Performance and Effectiveness.

  • Climate Change member scoping workshop outcomes (coming)
     
  • ACFID Member Climate Action Framework (coming)
     
  • Localisation Thinkpiece - input to the HAG/ACFID work around Localisation (coming)
     
  • ACFID Conference session on localisation (coming)

 

In 2020 the Committee prioritised work in the following areas:

  • Providing strategic advice and learning opportunities for members around implementation and demonstrating impact of our work, including against the Sustainable Development Goals (supporting the work of the MELCOP (ACFID's Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Community of Practice);

  • Building a closer program of work between the development and humanitarian sector in areas such as localisation and demonstrating impact;

  • Supporting and advising ACFID members and the ACFID Secretariat in the rollout of new Australian Government development cooperation priorities and Partnerships for Recovery Strategy;
    See the ACFID/DPC/RDI Network/MEL COP Submission to the Government on the Policy Performance Framework, February 2020.

  • Advising as required on implications of COVID-19 on program effectiveness and quality and working with Sector Leaders to explore new ways of working;

  • Continuing to update and refresh/drive new Practice Notes to support member practice.

DPC has played a key role in progressing the sector’s work on:

Contact

For more information see the DPC TOR or contact Kate Angus on 02 8123 2231.

Meetings

The last meeting was held virtually on 31 March 2021.

The next meeting will be held virtually on 24 August 2021.