The Weekly
Marc Purcell, what is at the top of your mind this week?
This week, ACFID, along with the Australian Global Health Alliance (AGHA), the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA), and the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC), issued a statement urging the Australian Government to hold Israel accountable for blocking life-saving aid to Gaza and employing starvation as a weapon of war.
In an article published by The Guardian, ACFID highlighted the concerns of humanitarian groups regarding the Israeli military’s prior knowledge of the Gaza convoy tragedy and ongoing coordination and negotiation efforts with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) regarding aid and personnel movement.
In our joint media release, we call on the Australian Government to:
- Apply and implement targeted sanctions on Israeli officials who have called for the denial of aid, and military and civil servants denying essential food and materials to civilians of Gaza;
- End any trade for military purposes between Australian and Israeli companies;
Use all diplomatic measures to achieve a permanent ceasefire.
To Action
Sign on to the Joint Call for disability equity
The Australian Disability Development Consortium and ACFID invite your organisation to join the Joint Call for action for the Australian Government’s forthcoming disability equity and rights strategy to be ambitious and resourced. Over 40 agencies across the sector have signed on to the Joint Call. The joint statement includes a call for targets and resourcing to achieve disability equity in Australia’s development program. If your organisation would like to support and add its logo to the Joint Call, please contact [email protected]
To Note
Climate Justice Mobilisations on Finance
On 16-19 April 2024 a global week of Climate Justice Finance Mobilisations will hold governments, UN climate talks, private banks, the IMF, the World Bank, multilateral development banks – those that hold the purse strings – to account. Further information can be found here
To Action
ACFID Advocacy Agenda Refresh – Feedback due COB Friday 19 April
ACFID is in the process of undertaking a refresh of its Advocacy Agenda and we are seeking feedback from ACFID members on our Exposure Draft which can be accessed via this link: ACFID Advocacy Agenda Exposure Draft.docx If you/your organisation wishes to provide feedback please save a copy of this document, add your suggestions as comments and email through the marked-up version to [email protected]
Further information on the process is available in the Exposure Draft Cover Sheet in the above link.
Feedback is due by COB Friday 19 April 2024. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
To Attend
CEO Roundtables – Leading the Charge: Navigating a Path towards Racial Justice
ACFID will be hosting CEO Roundtables in Sydney and Melbourne as part of the Code Roadshow.
Abiola Ajetomobi, founder and lead consultant at Leading Impact NOW, will facilitate this important session and navigate CEOs through a discussion on what it will take to move the needle on Racial Justice within NGOs.
Over the past 20 years, Abiola has invested in and nurtured her strategic thinking strengths and capabilities in supporting organisations along their journey to authentic social inclusion. She believes that opportunities for profound transformation, when leveraged by visionary leaders, will create impact today and shape legacies of positive change for generations to come.
Member CEOs and their Boards are invited to attend. It will include networking drinks.
Melbourne: Tuesday 23 April, 4 – 6:30pm
Venue: AVI, 160 Johnston Street, Fitzroy
Register your interest here
To Attend
Introduction to the Sector Workshop
When: Monday, 22nd April
Time: 9am-5pm
Where: Fitzroy, Melbourne
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 Melbourne. 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.
Register here
To Action
Expressions of Interest in Communities of Practice – Disability Equity Cop, Africa CoP and Nepal CoP
ACFID is glad to announce the creation of two new Communities of Practice – ACFID’s Disability Equity CoP and ACFID’s Africa CoP. The Disability Equity CoP will be a forum for members to share and discuss good practice in Disability Equity and Rights in their organisations and programming.
The Africa CoP is a forum for organisations that have programs (or an interest in programming) in African countries. This group will work together to bring attention back to the African region and, in the coming months, contribute to DFAT’s Development Partnership Plan (DPP) process for Africa.
To express your interest in ACFID’s Africa Community of Practice register here
The ACFID Nepal CoP is also going through a period of re-activation. If you are interested in joining this CoP, please sign up in MyACFID, or register here to be notified of the next meeting.
For any queries please contact [email protected]
To Attend
Introduction to the Sector Workshop
When: Monday, 22nd April
Time: 9am-5pm
Where: Melbourne, location TBA
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 Melbourne. 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.
Register here
To Note
OECD Development Assistance Committee- New ODA Data
The OECD on the 11th April launched the 2023 preliminary figures on Official Development Assistance.Further information, including the data, can be found here
To Attend
DPP updates
In consideration of the frequently shifting timelines for DPP consultations, information often being provided at very short notice and the number of questions received, members are encouraged to register an expression of interest using the respective forms. This will ensure that in addition to using ACFID’s established communication channels relevant people can be contacted directly and more effectively when new information is shared.
Vanuatu
- Currently proposed for the last week of April. This will be both online and in-person (limited spots available). Please register your interest here
Pacific Regional
- The proposed timeline for this is mid-late May, no further details have yet been provided. Please register your interest here
Solomon Islands
- The proposed timeline for this is sometime in June. This will be both online and in-person. Please register your interest here
Please reach out to Stephanie Rowbottom, [email protected] with any further questions.
To Attend
Code Roadshow
The ACFID Code and Learning teams are on the road! Join us to ask all your questions about the new ACFID Code, explore ACFID’s new Locally Led Action Toolkit and network with other ACFID members.
In-person workshops:
Day 1 will focus on the ACFID Code of Conduct changes and how to help your organisation understand and prepare for the changes. Day 2 will focus on Locally Led Action and be a chance to learn from other ACFID members and explore ACFID’s new Locally led Action Toolkit.
Members are welcome to send more than one participant, and participants can choose to attend day 1, day 2 or both.
Online workshop:
The online workshop is primarily for personnel based outside Sydney and Melbourne. Some prep materials will be provided ahead of time, to allow sufficient space for discussion and Q&A during the session.
Who: Staff and volunteers of ACFID members.
When:
- Melbourne: 23 and 24 April, 9:30 – 4pm (AEST) – register here
- Online: 30 April (for personnel not based in Sydney or Melbourne), 2-5pm (AEST) – register here
To Action
ACFID Advocacy Agenda Refresh – Feedback due COB Friday 19 April
ACFID is in the process of undertaking a refresh of its Advocacy Agenda and we are seeking feedback from ACFID members on our Exposure Draft which can be accessed via this link: ACFID Advocacy Agenda Exposure Draft.docx If you/your organisation wishes to provide feedback please save a copy of this document, add your suggestions as comments and email through the marked-up version to [email protected].
Further information on the process is available in the Exposure Draft Cover Sheet in the above link.
Feedback is due by COB Friday 19 April 2024. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
To Action
DPP updates
In consideration of the frequently shifting timelines for DPP consultations, information often being provided at very short notice and the number of questions received, members are encouraged to register an expression of interest using the respective forms. This will ensure that in addition to using ACFID’s established communication channels relevant people can be contacted directly and more effectively when new information is shared.
Tonga
Confirmed for Thursday 11th April, 11am AEST (1pm in Tonga). DFAT will be sending through a scene setting document prior to the consultation. Please register your interest here
Vanuatu
Currently proposed for the last week of April. This will be both online and in-person (limited spots available). Please register your interest here
Pacific Regional
The proposed timeline for this is mid-late May, no further details have yet been provided. Please register your interest here
Solomon Islands
The proposed timeline for this is sometime in June. This will be both online and in-person. Please register your interest here
Please reach out to Stephanie Rowbottom, [email protected] with any further questions.
To Attend
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food: The food crisis and starvation in Gaza
More than 1 million Palestinians face “catastrophic” levels of hunger, and one in three children below the age of two are “acutely malnourished” (IFSC report, March 2024). UN Secretary-General António Guterres warns that “Palestinians in Gaza are enduring horrifying levels of hunger and suffering”. Join the University of NSW Australian Human Rights Institute for a conversation with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Professor Michael Fakhri, on the man-made humanitarian disaster in Gaza, its root causes, implications, and the collective obligations of the international community towards Palestinians in Gaza. More details and registration can be found here.
To Note
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
| Date | Event |
| 16 & 17 April | Introduction to Feminist Principles and Practice |
| 16 & 19 April | Climate Justice Mobilisations on Finance |
| 19 April | ACFID Advocacy Agenda Refresh |
| 22 April | Introduction to the Sector Workshop |
| 23 – April | CEO Roundtables – Melbourne |
| 23 – 24 April | Code Roadshow – Melbourne |
| 4 April – 24 May 2024 | Crisis Leadership Program- Centre for Humanitarian Leadership |
| 10-12 July | Development Studies Association of Australia (DSAA) 2024 Conference |
| 23-24 October | ACFID Conference 2024 Save the date |