The Weekly
CEO Top of Mind
Marc Purcell, what is at the top of your mind this week?
It was a great opportunity and honour for the ACFID Board to meet Henry Puna, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, and his team. We shared our views about the Australian Pacific Islands bid for COP 31 and Australian CSO support for hosting; the need for a nuclear free Pacific and risk of releasing nuclear waste; and the Forum’s expectations around improving human rights in West Papua and the urgent need for a visit to West Papua by the UN Human Rights Commissioner. The SG said, “ For us security isn’t about buying submarines. Security is about being safe from climate disasters, transnational crime and having economies that allows us to be self-reliant….. the reason the Pacific is called Pacific is because it is a region of peace.”
The ACFID Board formally thanked Vice President Rosie Wheen, who is standing down from her role as CEO of WaterAid. Rosie has made a huge contribution to international development over 25 years in the sector, after starting out as a Australian volunteer in Timor Leste. Michelle Higelin, an existing Board Director, was invited by the Board to fill the casual vacancy created by Rosie’s departure and has become ACFID’s new Vice President. The casual vacancy created by Michelle becoming VP, was filled – under the Board’s powers in the constitution, by to Kate Lee, who was the candidate with the next most votes in ACFID’s October 2022 elections.
The ACFID Board discussed the forthcoming DFAT review of the ANCP criteria and funding criteria, and ACFID’s high level principles for approaching the review. The DFAT review is yet to get underway, but we expect that the DFAT Committee for Development Cooperation (CDC) will be the key contact point. Outcomes from the Board’s call for NGO nominations to the CDC were that seven excellent people were nominated, and results announcing the two Board appointees will be made to members next week, after all candidates advised.
The Board were consulted on the exposure draft of changes to the Code of Conduct review. Their input follows member consultations held face to face in Sydney & Melbourne and virtually for those who couldn’t make earlier meetings or were in other locations. A final draft will be released in coming weeks to all members; pending going to the Board in August to be approved to go to our Annual General Meeting in October. If you have missed consultation opportunities so far, fear Not! Any final comments can be made via the online feedback form.
To Action
Annual Statistical Survey – Open now
ACFID sent out the Statistical Survey template to all heads of agency and key contacts on the 14th June 2023 (Email subject: ACFID Statistical Survey 2023 – Template and guidance).
The data we are collecting through the statistical survey is crucial and ACFID is strongly encouraging members to complete the survey before the deadline (2 August 2023). By making the effort to complete the survey you help give visibility to your organisation’s efforts as well as provide a complete picture of the sector’s contribution. ACFID uses the data to update the Online Interactive Map and to produce snapshots for stakeholders (such as DFAT) wanting information on which of ACFID’s members work in a specific country, region or sector. Unfortunately, ACFID will not be able to include members who do not return their statistical survey on the map and snapshots.
If you have any questions about the survey, haven’t received your access or have any issues– please do not hesitate to contact Aina Studer on [email protected] or 02 8123 2250.
To Attend
ACFID Connect – New National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Act
The DFAT Counter Fraud & Anti-Corruption Section (FCS) is currently implementing departmental arrangements to ensure compliance with the new National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Act (commencing 1 July 2023, with a 28 day grace period). The NACC’s jurisdiction extends through to delivery partners and subcontractors, such as NGOs.
In this session, Andrew Lawrence from the Counter Fraud and Anti-Corruption section at DFAT, will be providing an update on the NACC Act and the proposed changes to contractual requirements for NGO partners and provide an opportunity for NGOs to ask questions.
Don’t miss this important session. Register here.
To Attend
ACFID Connect: DFAT Procurement Session 2
Please join us for an in-depth how-to of DFAT Procurement led by the Development Procurement, Agreements and Systems Branch, DFAT. This builds upon a session that was held on Friday 9th June to brief ACFID members on all the ins and outs of tenders, bids, grants and contributions.
When: Wednesday 28 June 2023
Time: 3.30pm – 5pm (AEST)
Where: Online
To Attend
CID Annual Conference 2023
Each year, the Council for International Development holds a conference, where their members, Pacific and global partners, business, government, academic institutions and members of the public come together. The event is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and a number of other partner sponsors.
When: 20-21 September 2023
Where: In person held at the Parliament Banquet Hall and Pipitea Marae, Wellington
Who: Everyone is welcome!
To Attend
Stronger Charities Alliance, Australian Progress and the #OurDemocracy Campaign briefing on electoral law.
We would like to brief you on the potential changes to the electoral law and what it could mean for civil society organisations, and their fundraising during the elections period.
Next week we are expecting the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters to recommend changes to our electoral laws. Join us for a briefing on the potential changes to federal electoral laws and what this means for civil society, co-hosted by the Stronger Charities Alliance, Australian Progress and the #OurDemocracy Campaign.
When: Thursday 22nd June 2023 at 10:00am-11:30am AEST (That’s 9:30 Central time and 8:00 Western)
Where: Online on Zoom. You will receive the link when you RSVP.
Save the Date: Policy & Advocacy Team Member Visits
Members of ACFID’s Policy & Advocacy Team will be meeting with members in Melbourne from 3-5 July and in Sydney from 5-7 July to discuss policy & advocacy strategies emerging from the upcoming New Development Policy.
Member Workshops will be held in the afternoon from 1.30pm – 4.30pm on 4 July in Melbourne, and 6 July in Sydney, followed by drinks. Please come and attend the drinks from 4.30pm onwards even if you cannot make the workshop to say hi.
On the 3rd July & 6th of July, we will be arranging a series of 1-1 catchups with colleagues for our member organisations.
Please register via the form here to indicate interest in both the workshop and if you would like to arrange 1-1 catchups with the Policy & Advocacy team.
We look forward to catching up and will be organising visits with members shortly!
To Attend
AP4D Symposium | Enhancing Australia-France Coordination in the Indo-Pacific
On Monday 19 June the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy and Defence Dialogue (AP4D) will launch a new paper: ‘What does it look like for Australia to Enhance Coordination with France in the Indo-Pacific’. The paper is the result of five months of consultations with more than 50 experts from Australia, France and across the region and outlines a vision and pathways for how Australia can capitalise on the current positive trajectory of relations and build a constructive relationship with France over the medium to long term.
Who: AP4D
When: Monday 19 June
Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm (AEST)
Where: Online via Zoom – Register here.
To Attend
How can Australia use its tools of statecraft in international engagement?
On Wednesday 21 June the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) ACT branch will host an event with Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy and Defence Dialogue (AP4D) Executive Director Melissa Conley Tyler, Founding Co-convenor Bridi Rice (Development Intelligence Lab) and working group member William Leben (ANU National Security College) to discuss a recent AP4D paper. The conversation will focus on how Australia can ensure its different tools of statecraft – defence, foreign affairs, development, trade, immigration, education, energy, and other policy areas – are pushing in the same direction.
Who: AIIA & AP4D
When: Wednesday 21 June
Time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm (AEST)
Where: Canberra and online
Save the date for the Momentum event in Canberra
On behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the New Colombo Plan (NCP) Secretariat, Cross Sector Partnership Initiatives (XSPI) and Accenture Australia, we would like to invite you and members of your ACFID network to attend an NCP Momentum event.
Further details of the expert panellists and an outline of the event will be provided early next week. You are also most welcome to forward this invitation to your network as we would like the NGO community. This special event will be attended by senior business and academic leaders, members of the Diplomatic community and senior DFAT officials.
When: Tuesday 27 June 2023
Time: 3:45pm – 7:30pm
Where: Canberra and online.
Previously in The Weekly:
- ACFID supports decision to take Australian government to court over stranded children in Syria – Read the statement here.
- Proposed changes to the ACFID Code – Read more on the Code Review webpage.
- ACFID National Conference 2023 Concurrent Sessions Expressions of Interest – Read more here and download the expression of interest pack here!
- 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 |
| 19 June | 4pm – 5pm | AP4D Symposium | Enhancing Australia-France Coordination in the Indo-Pacific |
| 21 June | 5:30pm – 7:00pm | How can Australia use its tools of statecraft in international engagement? |
| 22 June | 4pm – 5pm | ACFID Connect – New National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Act |
| 27 June | 3:45pm – 7:30pm | New Colombo Plan Momentum Event |
| 28 June | 3:30pm – 5pm | ACFID Connect: Procurement Step-by-Step with DFAT |
| 29 June | 11am – 1pm | Understanding Race & Racism Workshop |
| 3 – 7 July | Policy & Advocacy Team Melbourne & Sydney Member Visits | |
| 11 July | 12pm – 1pm | Preparing your ACFID Code reporting |
| 12 July | 2pm – 4pm | Understanding Race & Racism Workshop |
| 30 August | 9:30am – 11:30am | Understanding Race & Racism Workshop |
| 20 – 21 September | CID Annual Conference 2023 | |
| 18-19 October | ACFID National Conference 2023 (Sydney) | |
| 16 November | 2pm – 4pm | Understanding Race & Racism Workshop |
Food for Thought
“The U.S Agency for International Development in its report titled Moving Toward a Model of Locally Led Development, noted that it still “has a long way to go” in meeting Administrator Samantha Power’s ambitious localisation target of spending a quarter of its funding to local organizations. Omar Mohammed, Foreign Aid Business Reporter for Devex unpacks the report and the challenges that lay ahead for USAID in rolling out a localisation agenda.
USAID’s localization push has ‘a long way to go,’ agency’s report says
Devex | Omar Mohammed