The Weekly
CEO Top of Mind
Marc Purcell, what is at the top of your mind this week?
We are in the final push to the ACFID National Conference 2023 on October 18-19. Registrations will close this Monday the 9th, so please read on for more information! I’d personally be delighted to welcome as many members as possible to what may well be our most important conference yet.
Events like ACFID Conference find their real value in the conversations and life-long connections we make, the collective experience of our inspiring, diverse, purpose-driven community, and the support we give to each other.
ACFID AGM
ACFID’s AGM will also occur and will be an opportunity to hear what ACFID has been doing to lead, unite, and support its members.
Voting is open for ACFID’s Board and Code of Conduct Committee elections here. All member organisations’ CEOs will have received an email with voter codes to be able to vote, if your CEO did not receive a voter code email, please contact [email protected] or 02 8123 2213. Voting closes Friday 13 October, and results will be announced at the AGM.
Feeling a little FOMO? ACFID National Conference 2023
This year’s ACFID conference is just around the corner with 11 days to go until we connect once again in person and online. ACFID is thrilled to have Oaktree’s Zahra Al Hilaly hosting Day One, along with an exceptional lineup of speakers, panels and over 30 concurrent sessions that will disrupt thinking, challenge and inspire delegates across two days. Speakers include Dylan Mathews (CEO of Peace Direct), Sharan Burrow AC (Former General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation), Amonge Sinxoto (Co-Founder of Blackboard Africa), David Roach (Director and Co-Founder of Catalpa International), Siale Ilolahia (ED PIANGO) and many more. View the program here. We have international guests physically joining us coming from Johannesburg, Nigeria, Indonesia and the Pacific.
Plenary panel discussions will deep dive into critical topics including the importance of technology in helping to sustain a strong sector into the future, inspired ways of achieving systems change, and the disruption of the anti-gender movement and how we can work together to counter growing opposition and harm, securing human rights for all.
Celebrate the achievements of the sector as we announce this year’s ACFID Awards and enjoy a night of networking, food, and music as we hear from Mehreen Faruqi, speaking on her personal experiences as a Muslim, immigrant woman in the white halls of politics, and what is required to participate in the system, influence change and fight for the rights of people of colour in today’s world. Then it’s time to shake off the past 3 years as we groove to Blanche, a highly talented First Nation Wiradjuri musician from Sydney. Should an attendee wish to come to dinner only, or add dinner to an existing conference registration, you can register here.
There are networking breakfasts, an interactive wall where you can express your current feelings about the current state of global development, and a wide array of concurrent sessions both virtual and face-to-face. When you purchase a ticket, you can also access all the sessions you missed later – delivering incredible value for our members and delegates!
Book your ticket before COB 9th of October to avoid missing out. Delegates can choose to attend in person at the Roundhouse UNSW in Sydney or virtually from across the world.
Click here to register: https://acfid.arinex.one/
To Note
Updating Climate Advocacy Asks
ACFID is currently updating its policy and advocacy asks on Climate Change. If you would like to provide input, please do so by joining the Climate Policy and Practice Community on the MyACFID Communities Platform. Alternatively, please email the Policy and Advocacy Team at [email protected]
Climate Action Peer Learning Program
ACFID and its Development Practice Committee (DPC) are excited to announce a unique learning opportunity that will be available to members in the first half of 2024. The Climate Action Peer Learning Program will bring together small groups of members to share, learn, reflect and plan together for strengthening climate action within their organisations. To read more about this planned program go to Combatting Climate Change – ACFID. Expressions of Interest for members who would like to stay informed about the Program can be registered here
Development Practice Committee Nomination
Staff of ACFID member’s are invited to nominate for the Development Practice Committee (DPC).
The DPC is an expert advisory group where learning and development practitioners from the not-for-profit sector meet to provide advice to ACFID on key issues around development effectiveness. Nominations close 20 November 2023. Read more about the vacancies here and the committee Terms of Reference here.
To Attend
Introduction to the Sector Workshop
ACFID invites member and non-member staff, board and other personnel who are new to the International Development and Humanitarian Sector to a one-day introductory workshop in Sydney. This participatory face-to-face event will include an overview of the history of international development and humanitarian action; an introduction to ACFID’s Code and role in the sector; guest speakers from a range of ACFID’s members; and, opportunities for networking and further learning. Free for small members. Contact [email protected] for more information.
When: Sydney, Friday 17 November
Time: 9am-5pm
Where: Sydney, location TBA
To Read
“Australia rejoins global climate fund, reversing Morrison decision” by Matthew Knott, Sydney Morning Herald, 5th October 2023
Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced on Thursday morning that Australia would rejoin the fund and announce a “modest contribution” before the end of the year. “We have taken on board feedback from our partners in the Pacific on the best ways to direct our climate finance efforts and ensure all elements deliver for Pacific priorities,” a spokeswoman for Wong said. “We recognise that the GCF is the most prominent global climate finance fund, and we will work with partners to improve the GCF’s effectiveness.” Read the full article here.
Come to ACFID Conference and listen to Bapon Fakhruddin from the Green Climate Fund as he discusses plans for climate financing in the Pacific.
To Attend
2023 Alfred Deakin Institute Oration
Held in Melbourne on October 10, this year’s topic will be “The Power of aid: Australia’s international development program as a statecraft tool” delivered by The Hon. Pat Conroy MP, Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Minister for Defence Industry. Further details including registration can be found here.
To Read
Consultations open on legislation to improve the integrity of the charity sector.
The Australian Government has opened public consultations on proposed amendments to secrecy provisions which presently limit the ability of the charities commission to disclose investigations to the public. Public consultations will remain open until 16th October 2023. Read the Government’s media release here.
To Read
Security Council authorizes ‘historic’ support mission in Haiti.
On Monday 2nd of October- the UN Security Council authorised the deployment of an International Security Mission to help Haiti’s National police quell surging gang violence and restore security. Read the United Nations media release here.
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
| Date | Time (AEST) | Event |
| 10 October | 5:30pm – 7pm | 2023 Alfred Deakin Institute Oration |
| 18-19 October | ACFID National Conference 2023 (Sydney) | |
| 8 November | 2pm – 3:30pm | Implementation of the amended Code – member info session |
| 17 November | 9am – 5pm | Introduction to the Sector Workshop |
| 16 November | 2pm – 4pm | Understanding Race & Racism Workshop |
Food for Thought
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly last week, Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong spoke at length about the importance of the development program to Australia’s engagement with the region. Grant Wyeth notes how Australia’s new “International Development Policy produced something of a realignment of approach to Australia’s development assistance – recognizing that development is an important tool of statecraft that works in unison with Australia’s other foreign policy goals”. But he also observes that it “included no great increase in actual funds.”
“What a country funds is the most direct indication of what that country values. Or, to put it another way, what it funds is an indication of how it understands its place in the world. As a wealthy country in a developing region, it would make sense that development assistance would play a greater role in Australia’s neighborhood engagement. The sooner both Southeast Asia and the Pacific transition to high income countries the sooner the security, economic, and diplomatic benefits will accrue for Australia.”