Walk the Talk on Inclusive Development, Locally Led Development, and Racial Justice

As part of our commitment to advancing effective and inclusive development, ACFID has:

• Developed resources and materials to support our members to work in ways that support equality and inclusion, including through learning events, training, and good practice guidance.
• Included clear commitments and quality principles to support rights, protection & inclusion, and participation, empowerment & local ownership in the ACFID Code of Conduct.
• Delivered training to ACFID secretariat staff to support equality and inclusion, including Accessibility Training to ensure our work is accessible to people with disabilities
• Developed policy briefs on the rights and wellbeing of children, disability-inclusive development and gender equality as part of our Policy Platform for the 2022 Federal Election.
• Engaged in policy dialogues with members, government and other stakeholders to advance gender equality, disability-inclusive development and rights-based approaches to development.
• Undertaken advocacy to highlight the importance of a genuinely inclusive aid program, including by calling for increased investment in Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) programming.

Locally Led Development

You can read more about ACFID’s commitment to effective and inclusive development in our Strategic Plan and Advocacy Agenda.

You can also read about ACFID Council’s resolution to more equitable and just ways of working, which prioritises local knowledge, expertise, leadership and autonomy.

Read  ACFID’s consolidated response to DFAT’s Discussion Note on Locally Led Development here (December 2023).

Anti-Racism and Racial Justice

ACFID wish to initiate a vital dialogue amongst members about representation, participation, and access to decision-making. We are open to where members may go in the future with dialogue and options to address these critical issues,
but we believe it is not an option to not to discuss these matters.

As part of our commitment to racial justice, ACFID has:

• Resolved to build greater representation, participation and access to decision making with peoples of varied cultural and racial origins and intersections in the sector
• Supported the formation and development of the Racial Justice Community of Practice (RJCOP). Members are encouraged to join
• Delivered training to ACFID secretariat staff and Members to support inclusion and racial justice, including anti-racist training with the organisation Hue
• Amplified anti-racist practices within the Code of Conduct, including developing guidelines on good-practice for locally-led development
• In partnership with the RJCOP, developed a racial justice framework and resource hub for organisations. See below for the Racial Justice Resource Library Guide. An interactive format will be coming to Learn with ACFID soon.

Resources