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Taking Humanitarian Action for Those in Greatest Need

A man and his young boy work on a rope-making machine.

Baptist World Aid’s local Partner in Nepal supported Kamta and his wife to grow a rope-making business that provides a steady income for their family. Photo: Baptist World Aid 

Australia has a proud history of supporting people affected by crises. It has been a champion for the rights of women and girls, led the charge on disability inclusion, and been a steadfast supporter of disaster affected countries around the world. But as the global humanitarian landscape shifts, Australia must realign its strategy to ensure it continues to reach the people in greatest need. Humanitarian crises are today driven overwhelmingly by conflict and violence, and the persistent gap between needs and funding demands all governments increase their support to better respond to the most pressing global challenges.

The ACFID HRG

The ACFID Humanitarian Reference Group (HRG) is the independent voice of humanitarian agencies in Australia that conducts policy and advocacy work to address the above issues. The HRG is made up of ACFID’s members with significant operational involvement in humanitarian response, who have the capacity to contribute to the activities of the HRG It provides a mechanism for ACFID members working in international humanitarian assistance to share information, strengthen coordination, advocate to strengthen humanitarian response and engage in policy dialogue with DFAT. HRG members work across a range of areas including protracted crises, disaster risk reduction, humanitarian effectiveness, civil-military engagement, and protection.

ACFID and its HRG members have three primary goals:

1. To alleviate humanitarian suffering based on need

Between 2015 and 2021 a further 235.4 million people globally became in need of humanitarian assistance – with a worrying increase of 40 per cent in the past 12 months alone. In 2021, highest humanitarian needs remain in the Middle East and Africa. The 2017 White Paper highlights the importance of these regions to Australia’s conflict prevention and humanitarian objectives.

2. To address the underlying root causes of conflict and disaster

The COVID-19 pandemic has heavily impacted an already under-resourced global humanitarian sector and simultaneously intensified humanitarian needs globally, making emergencies even more complex. It is more important than ever for Australia to take a leading role in anticipatory action and risk reduction, to address the root causes of protracted crises and displacement, and contribute our fair share to increasing humanitarian needs across the globe.

Globally, more than 90 per cent of humanitarian funding is allocated to response, with less than 1% to anticipation, 3.8% to preparedness, and 5.5% to recovery and reconstruction despite being more cost-effective. Anticipatory action requires humanitarian financing to be more flexible, coordinated and predictable.

3. To ensure that humanitarian action is effective and inclusive

To be most effective, Australia’s humanitarian support must champion the rights of minority and marginalised groups. Humanitarian crises disproportionately affect women and girls, people with disabilities, and marginalised groups, including those experiencing discrimination based on age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or ethnicity.

Another way of improving the quality and efficacy of Australia’s humanitarian assistance is to make it more locally led. The purpose of localisation is to ensure that existing power imbalances within the humanitarian system are not compounded and perpetuated at times of crisis or disaster. Communities affected by conflict and disaster should be the ones to direct how assistance is used for their own recovery.

A growing body of evidence also demonstrates the broad benefits of multi-year approaches to protracted or recurrent crises. These programs build community resilience to protracted or recurrent crises, and when delivered with flexible funding, are highly efficient and effective. The efficiency gains of multi-year approaches also ensure that partners, both national and international, can maintain their responsive capacity and quickly scale up to deliver life-saving assistance in the event of a conflict spike, or recurrent drought.

Resources

Cover of Same Space Different Mandates Book. Features a picture of a man kayaking down a flooded street.

Same Space – Different Mandates: A Civil-Military-Police Guide for Stakeholders in International Disaster and Conflict Response

Same Space – Different Mandates is a joint ACMC / ACFID guide created to assist Australian responders to understand the various mandates (Civil-Military-Police) involved in international disaster and conflict response. The guide is written from an Australian perspective and is relevant to government, military, police and civil society organisations in the Indo-Pacific Region and the wider international community.

Read more.

Humanitarian Action for Those in Greatest Neex

Effective and inclusive Development

Supporting NGOs as Valuable Partners

Development at the Heart of Australia’s International Engagement

Preventation of Sexual Exploitation and Harrasment

About

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Annual Report 2022-23

Reporting on ACFID’s activities to ensure transparency and accountability

ACFID

ACFID is the peak body for Australian NGOs involved in international development and humanitarian action.

Our PARTNERSHIPS

ACFID works and engages with a range of strategic partners in addition to our members.

GOVERNANCE

ACFID is governed by its Board, ACFID Council, and various expert and governance committees.

Members

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Conference 2023

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT 2.0
disruptive dynamics, inspired ideas

18-19 October 2023

Meet our Members

The ACFID membership is comprised of Australian NGOs that actively work in the international aid and development sector.

Become a member

Joining ACFID means joining an experienced and powerful mix of like-minded organisations committed to good international development practice.

Membership types & fees

ACFID has two types of organisational membership: Full Membership and Affiliate Membership.

State of the Sector

The State of the Sector Report provides a comprehensive and robust analysis of the state of the Australian aid and development sector.

NGO Aid Map

ACFID’s NGO Aid Map allows the Australian public and stakeholders to explore the work of ACFID Members around the world.

Development Practice Committee

The DPC is an expert advisory group of development practitioners leading good practice within the sector.

Our Focus

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Federal Budget 23-24 Analysis

Facts and figures on how aid is presented in this year’s annual budget

Strategic Plan

ACFID prioritises a robust response to climate change and pressure on civil society in developing countries, as well as other key priorities.

Emergency Aid

ACFID Members provide vital life-saving assistance in the immediate aftermath of an emergency.

Climate Change

Action on climate change is one of ACFID’s highest priorities, as it is an existential threat to humanity and our development.

Civil Society

Civil societies are a cornerstone of regional stability and ensure that the voices of the marginalised are heard.

Supporting NGOS

Supporting NGOs as Valuable Partners.

Inclusive & locally led development

Walking the talk on inclusive development.

Humanitarian Action

Taking humanitarian action for those in greatest need.

Elevating Development

Elevating Development to the Heart of Australia’s International Engagement.

PSEAH

Improving standards, practice and culture to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

Code of Conduct

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2022-23 ACFID Code of Conduct Review

The ACFID Code of Conduct is periodically reviewed to ensure it continues to reflect good practice and the needs of ACFID and its members.

Code of Conduct

The Code is a voluntary, self-regulatory industry code of good practice.

About the Code

Find out more about the Code of Conduct and how it operates.

Good Practice Toolkit

Overview and practical resources, and examples to support the implementation of the Code.

Spotlight on the Code

Provides a thematic ‘deep dive’ into each of the nine Quality Principles in the Code

Compliance

This section outlines the responsibility to be taken by each Member to ensure compliance with the Code.

Complaints Handling

How to make a complaint and information on the Code’s independent mechanism to address concerns relating to an ACFID Members’ conduct.

Other Standards

Mapping the Code with other professional standards and principles in the humanitarian and aid sector in Australia and internationally

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