This week, ACFID launched a media release welcoming the Albanese Government’s new ministerial appointments. We are looking forward to working with Minister Aly in her new role, and more broadly we are working on plans for engagement with all of the key parliamentary stakeholders in the near term.  

I want to again flag the important sector Summit on the 13th of June for ACFID agency CEOs to talk about the future of the Aid and Development ecosystem and what it means for each of your agencies and the sector as a whole.  If you have not registered yet, please see the information below.

This week, ACFID hosted a strategy day for the Safer World for All campaign along with the PECC and Micah. It was a chance to reflect on the campaign achievements to date and start to talk about strategic direction of our joint efforts towards the campaign goals. We are planning a day – probably in July – to invite all of you to be part of this process.

Finally, we were pleased to hold the second session of the AIDN webinar series on Humanitarian and Disaster Response. Details for the next two sessions—Sustaining Local Capacity and Health—are available in the sections below. 

To Attend

CCC Statement for Members: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the ACFID Code of Conduct

The ACFID ​Code of Conduct Committee​ (CCC) understands ongoing global conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion have raised questions for some members – particularly in relation to how these developments might impact reporting requirements and compliance with the ACFID Code of Conduct.

ACFID and the CCC remain committed to the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our collective work. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core to the values of our sector and central to effective international development. These principles guide us when tackling systemic inequalities to build stronger, more just partnerships and programs. There is a deep, shared understanding across our membership of the value diversity, equity and inclusion brings not just to individual organisations, but to the entire development ecosystem.

ACFID will continue monitoring and discussing any potential impacts with DFAT and other standard setting bodies. But there are no plans at present to review or amend the ACFID Code of Conduct in light of these global shifts

If your organisation has concerns about compliance with the Code or would like to discuss how these developments may relate to your specific context, we encourage you to reach out to the Code Secretariat for a confidential conversation: ​[email protected]​. We are here to listen, support, and work through these questions with you.

To Attend

Locally Led Action Policy Writeshop

ACFID invites members to register for the upcoming Locally Led Action Policy Writeshops, where we will learn together, share ideas and support each other in developing our policies, statements or guidelines that commit our organisations to locally led action. These online Writeshops will provide a collaborative environment to meet the recent revisions to the ​ACFID Code related to Locally Led Action​. 

Date: Wednesdays 28th May and 18th June

Time: 10 am – 1 pm on each Wednesday

Who should attend: Staff who have responsibility or input into policy development and/or for locally led commitments, and who can take carriage of this work over the longer term.

Registration: ​here

To Action

A Unified Call to Confront Famine in Gaza: Launch the Diplomatic Humanitarian Convoy Now

Palestinian civil society organisations are asking agencies to add their names to the linked letter in order to help speak up for action to address the significant humanitarian crisis unfolding due to the humanitarian blockade which is also impacting the work of many ACFID members.  

The ​call remains open ​for new signatories, and the list will be continuously updated via ​Google forms​ in the coming hours and days.  You can read the letter and consider adding your organisation’s name through the google link.

To Attend

ACFID CEO Members Summit: Shaping the Future Together

ACFID invites member CEOs to a one-day summit on 13 June at La Trobe University, Melbourne. The event will address major shifts in how global aid is conceived, funded, and delivered, offering a space for reflection, strategy, and collaboration. It will feature expert speakers, insights into global trends, and structured discussions to support strategic thinking among peers.

Date: Friday 13 June

Time: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

Venue: La Trobe University, Bundoora Campus, Melbourne

Audience: ACFID member CEOs (1 participant per organisation)

Registration ​here

To Action

ACFID Conference 2025 – Early call for International Speakers

ACFID is making an early call for possible speakers for ACFID’s National Conference, with the theme of ‘Driving Transformation in Development and Humanitarian Action’.

While the program is still being developed, we would love to know if any members will have international visitors or partners in Australia at the time of Conference (5th and 6th of November), who could be possible keynote or panel speakers.

If you have any confirmed or possible visitors who will be here at Conference time, please let us know at [email protected] 

To Action

ACFID Conference – Save the Date

The 2025 ACFID National Conference has been confirmed for the 5th and 6th of November in Canberra. More details will be shared soon, please stay tuned.

To Attend

Racial Justice Community of Practice

To Attend

Introduction to Data Governance: Foundations and Best Practices

To Attend

ACFID Gender CoP Workshop- LGBTIQ+ Solidarity

ACFID’s Gender CoP is proud to host a free facilitated workshop on LGBTIQ+ solidarity in Melbourne. This event will bring together ACFID members who work on LGBTIQ+ issues or identify as LGBTIQ+

The purpose of the event is to: 

• Support members of the group to navigate the impacts of growing anti-LGBTIQ+ attacks in the countries where we work, including cuts to funding.  
• Exchange experiences of supporting their organisations to respond to these trends, and;  
• Establish a network of individuals who can collaborate and support each other going forward;  

Develop an initial advocacy plan post-election/ under the new government. 

This is a free workshop and a good professional development opportunity with professional facilitators.  

Date: Thursday, 22 May 

Time: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Where: Many Coloured Sky, 1/100 Drummond St, Carlton VIC 3053  (in-person) 

RSVP: here 

To Attend

IWDA event – Brave Space – How Principles from Feminism Can Be Applied to Transform Your Work, Life and Practice

Join this two-day interactive workshop to explore feminist principles that can reshape how you work, lead and live. You’ll gain tools for power analysis, a framework for collective care, and practical ways to apply 12 core feminist values. Visit the IWDA website to register.

Dates: 30 June – July 1, 2025 

Time: 9am-1pm AEST (over two consecutive days) 

Where: Online via Zoom.Please contact Clara at [email protected] to register. 

Cost: $450 + GST 

15% discounts for enrolment of 3 or more staff members from your organisation.

Full scholarships are available for First Nations people. 

To Attend

RDI Network Exchange 25

Join this two-day interactive workshop to explore feminist principles that can reshape how you work, lead and live. You’ll gain tools for power analysis, a framework for collective care, and practical ways to apply 12 core feminist values. Visit the IWDA website to register.

Dates: 30 June – July 1, 2025 

Time: 9am-1pm AEST (over two consecutive days) 

Where: Online via Zoom.Please contact Clara at [email protected] to register. 

Cost: $450 + GST 

15% discounts for enrolment of 3 or more staff members from your organisation.

Full scholarships are available for First Nations people. 

Request for information on Global Aid Freezes

Accountability Lab and Humentum are updating their global data on the impacts of Global Aid Freezes. They seek organisations (including INGOs, CSOs, Consultants, Contractors) to provide information on the challenges they are facing and how they are seeing the sector impacted. Earlier iterations of this data can be found here and the new survey to be completed is here. Please feel free to share with your networks and partners.

Food for thought

Australia’s new Minister for International Development, Dr Anne Aly, will be met with a flood of briefings, stakeholder demands and the relentless churn of social media. She’ll need to consider how to make the case for her portfolio—to the public and within the political class—while weighing Australia’s national interests and deciding which development priorities deserve focus.

To cut through all this noise, Development Intelligence Lab asked three leading thinkers and practitioners: What’s one thing a new minister for development should grasp about Australian Development Cooperation?

AP4D Executive Director Melissa Conley Tyler says “The Minister for International Development needs to be an advocate for Australia as a development actor that is invested in the success of its neighbours – for mutual national interest – and bring both the party and the public along with them.”

A Philippines development expert who requested anonymity due to the nature of their ongoing work suggests that “The new minister should grasp the critical importance of strategically investing in inclusive human capital development, which distinguishes Australia’s development cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.”

Matt Darvas, National Director of Micah Australia, thinks that the “incoming Minister for International Development should prioritise bipartisan engagement—working with DFAT to ensure MPs from all parties have meaningful opportunities to see our aid program in action.”

​What’s one thing a new Minister for International Development should grasp about Australian development cooperation?​

​Development Intelligence Lab 

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