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 and virtual.

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

The DPC has ten members.  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

Matthew Maury, Tearfund Australia, Board Champion 

Fiona Tarpey, Australian Red Cross

Committee members

Colin Scott, Global Mission Partners

Tracy McDiarmid, International Women's Development Agency

Anthony Zwi, UNSW

Charlotte Sterrett, World Vision Australia

Elsa Carnaby, Oxfam Australia

Ai Leen Quah, Quaker Service Australia (leave)

Suzi Chinnery, CARE Australia

Gemma Porter, The Fred Hollows Foundation

Advisor, Dr Linda Kelly

Work

In 2021 the Committee is prioritising work around Climate Change, Localisation and Performance and Effectiveness.  This is includes work and advice on:

  • Climate Change member scoping workshop and targeted support for member practice
     
  • ACFID Member Climate Action Framework
     
  • Localisation Thinkpiece and collaboration with the ACFID Humanitarian Reference Group Localisation Working Group (HRGLWG)
     
  • ACFID Conference session on locally-led development, with La Trobe University and the ACFID HRGLWG 
     
  • Discussion with DFAT on Performance and Effectiveness (ANCP Review and Partnerships for Recovery review)
     
  • Acting as a Evaluation Reference Group for the DFAT ANCP Review

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 Jessica Smith.

Meetings

The next meeting will be held virtually 9/10 December 2021.

2022 Meetings are:  4-5 May, Canberra / 16-17 August, Melbourne / 12 December, Virtual