The Weekly
CEO Top of Mind
Marc Purcell, what is at the top of your mind this week?
A huge thank you to all that attended the Development Policy Forum. We hope it was a productive day in bringing all international development stakeholders together to discuss Australia’s recently launched International Development Policy, accompanying Performance and Delivery Framework and the Development Finance Review.
We extend our thanks to ANU Development Policy Centre and the International Development Contractors Community for hosting, and for the participation of Minister Conroy and the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade.
It was an action-packed day, with representatives from DFAT providing frank insights into next steps after the launch of the New Development Policy, alongside members of the ACFID Board, the NGO sector, academics, and managing contractors on topics such as Investing in Resilience, Performance, Accountability and Transparency, aswell as locally led and inclusive development.
You can find a transcript of Minister Conroy’s opening address here, access a livestream of the forum here.
Cybersecurity Protecting your Agency: CEO Viewpoint: Lyn Morgain, CEO Oxfam Australia, Doug Taylor, CEO Smith Family; David Spriggs, CEO of Infoxchange
ACFID will present a webinar co-hosted with Community Council Australia (CCA) on 19th September from 12:30-2pm outlining steps charities can take to protect themselves and respond to cyber security breaches. This session is aimed at CEOs, Board Directors and Senior, and Executive level staff. Know more here.
ACFID- Policy & Government Relations Lead – applications extended.
ACFID has extended the deadline for applications for the role of Policy & Government Relations Lead. Please circulate within your networks, or suggest potential people for us to chat with. Salary negotiable.
ACFID Community of Practice Convening Survey
ACFID is seeking input, particularly from current, past and potential future Convenors of our Communities of Practice (CoPs), to help shape our work with CoPs over the coming year. For anyone who has or is convening a CoP, or who has been involved in supporting an ACFID CoP, or is interested in taking on a Convening role in the future, we welcome you to complete this short survey by the end of September.
ACFID Call for Nominations – closing today
Today is the last day to submit a nomination for ACFID Board members and for Code of Conduct Committee members. To nominate for the ACFID Board, or for the Code of Conduct Committee, please fill in the form attached in the notice of AGM, or get in touch with ACFID’s Returning Officer – [email protected] or 02 8123 2213.
Today is also the last day to submit a Resolutions for the AGM, please submit these to the Returning Officer. If you would like to discuss a resolution, please contact Marc Purcell. Nominations and Resolutions submissions close today, 15 September.
If your organisation did not receive the notice of AGM, please contact [email protected] or 02 8123 2213.
Walk for Yes
This weekend, at locations all around Australia, its the perfect opportunity to get outside in the sunshine and show your support for the Yes23 campaign. With so much disinformation coming from the No camp – lets boost the morale of those working tirelessly in support of a First Nations Voice. ACFID staff will be out on Sunday in Canberra!
AP4D Dialogue | Shaping the Information Space
The global information space is now a key part of Australian political, economic and social life, bringing with it new kinds of connectivity and opportunity. It is simultaneously a vector for serious threats to Australia’s national interests, its democratic political system and to global stability more broadly. While regulatory and civil society efforts have succeeded in raising awareness, political and security risks remain.
This interactive dialogue will explore how Australia can use and coordinate its tools of statecraft to address these risks and proactively shape the information space. We want to hear from those in the development sector with expertise related to the information space, including but not limited to mis- and dis-information, market manipulation, data theft, artificial intelligence, extremism and digital authoritarianism.
Who: Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue
When: Thursday 28 September 2023
Time: 1 – 2pm AEST
Where: Online via Zoom
Changing how we deliver our development assistance
This is an edited transcript of the speech delivered by Pat Conroy, Minister for International Development and the Pacific, at the Development Policy Forum, held by ACFID, DFAT IDCC and Devpol at the Australian National University, Canberra on 12 September. Read the blog here.
$3m-$10m development investments list now updated
For your visibility, DFAT has recently published it’s updated list of active development program investments valued between $3 million and $10 million AUD, available here.
Published bi-annually, this list increases reporting for investments below $10 million, covering around four of five per cent of annual ODA expenditure.
The list includes investment numbers to help auditors find more detailed information on programs of interest.
DFAT continues to provide information on all investments valued above $10 million, which can be located here: Where we deliver Australia’s development program.
For further information please contact [email protected].
Humanitarian Consolidated Appeals- Libya & Morocco
As you are likely aware, a devastating earthquake has hit Morocco and floods have caused widespread devasation in Libya. ACFID is considering launching consolidated appeals for both countries seperately. If your agency is intending to or has an appeal launched, please contact Will Devine, Policy & Advocacy Officer at [email protected] who will provide you with guidance.
Humanitarian assistance in response to Morocco earthquake
The Australian Government will provide $1 million in emergency humanitarian assistance to people affected by the devastating earthquake in Morocco. Read the media release here.
Moroccan Dirham (MAD) Update – Earthquake in Morocco
Following the devastating earthquake in Morocco, StoneX Payments would like to confirm that their ability to price MAD payments remains unaffected. Please note, however, that some local banks may have been impacted more by the earthquake than others, therefore, MAD payments onshore may experience settlement delays.
Should you have any questions, please contact the Client Management team at StoneX [email protected].
Australia’s South-East Asia Economic Strategy to 2040
The Australian Government launched Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 to deepen Australia’s economic engagement with the region.
The strategy, developed by Mr Nicholas Moore AO, Special Envoy for Southeast Asia, was announced by the Prime Minister at the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum in Jakarta on the 6th of September 2023. Read the media release here. Read ACFID’s submission to the strategy here.
To Action
Cybersecurity Protecting your Agency: CEO Viewpoint
Lyn Morgain, CEO Oxfam Australia, Doug Taylor, CEO Smith Family; David Spriggs, CEO of Infoxchange
ACFID will present a webinar co-hosted with Community Council Australia (CCA) on 19th September from 12:30-2pm outlining steps charities can take to protect themselves and respond to cyber security breaches. This session is aimed at CEOs, Board Directors and Senior, and Executive level staff.
Data breaches are unfortunately the new normal, in which reputable and respectable organisations in the community are being hacked by malicious actors. It is the responsibility of charities to inform donors once they know what data has been taken. It is also their responsibility to ensure they are operating under privacy act provisions. Cyber security, and the overall protection of your personal and business computer systems can be confusing, but there are lessons that can be learned from experience. Come and hear three battle hardened CEOs tell it as it is.
Date: 19 September 2023
Time: 12.30 – 2pm
This networking event will be recorded.
Previously in The Weekly:
- ACFID Conference 2023 – Register here!
- Proposed changes to the ACFID Code – Read more on the Code Review webpage.
- ACFID anticipates the release of the Government’s new Development Policy, led by DFAT in the coming weeks. Read our submissions below.
Upcoming Events
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Date |
Time (AEST) |
Event |
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19 September |
12:30pm – 2pm |
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20 – 21 September |
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28 September |
1pm – 2pm |
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18-19 October |
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16 November |
2pm – 4pm |
Food for Thought
Ships and seafaring are fundamental Pacific traditions, but Pacific Island countries have the most expensive shipping in the world, the longest transport routes, and often the oldest and least energy efficient ships. Given that the ocean is the most significant geographical feature of the Blue Pacific continent, access to safe and reliable transport is a crucial societal need and an important enabler for many of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Drawing on a recent paper from the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue, Heather Wrathall identifies three ways in which Australia can contribute to regional maritime safety: “Pacific Island countries have long raised issues of safety at sea as a critical consideration. There is a need for development partners to do more and the opportunity for Australia to engage is now.”
Three Ways Australia can Contribute to Improved Maritime Safety in the Pacific