The Weekly
Marc Purcell, what is at the top of your mind this week?
The Australian Government has tabled the final report of the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into philanthropy in Australia: Future foundations for giving. The report makes several recommendations to strengthen the foundations of philanthropy, supporting the Government’s goal of doubling giving by 2030. These include overhauling the Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) system, which determines the eligible charities to receive tax-deductible donations. ACFID is currently analysing the report and will be offering a response shortly. The report in full can be found here
Aditionally, the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) released their 2024 Publish What You Fund Report, ranking Australia’s aid transparency as ‘poor’ for the first time. Australia is 48th among 50 donors, down from 41st in 2022. DFAT attributes this to a reporting ‘pause’ starting in 2019, continuing under the current Government. Aid transparency is critical for accountability and understanding spending flows. ACFID’s media release on the report can be found here. Read more in the sections below.
Also this week, ACFID, alongside a number of our members, submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade inquiry into Australia’s response to the priorities of Pacific Island countries and the Pacific Region, which commenced in May 2024. Our submission focused on Australia’s development program in the Pacific, engagement with and between Australian and Pacific civil society actors, and ways Australia can continue to improve these efforts. Read more more in the sections below.
To Note
Inquiry into Australia’s response to the priorities of Pacific Island countries and the Pacific region
ACFID and the Humanitarian Reference Group have finalised their submissions for the Inquiry into Australia’s response to the priorities of Pacific Island Countries and the Pacific region.
- ACFID’s submission contains a total of 24 recommendations to the Committee and urged Australia to continue to build on the strong foundations of Australia’s development program in the Pacific, by:
- Listening to Pacific CSOs and other Pacific actors, particularly those who work directly with the most marginalised, to identify and respond to the key priorities and concerns of the region, building on its strengths.
- Addressing the deleterious effects of climate change, which is an existential threat felt keenly by the Pacific region. Australia should increase our provision of climate support to the quantity and quality required to address mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage needs faced by Pacific Island countries.
Increasing sustainable, long-term, flexible and core support for Pacific CSOs – whether directly or through an ANGO – to combat shrinking civic space in the region and maximise development outcomes. Prioritising development investments that target the most marginalised in the Pacific – including the Pacific Island populations with the lowest incomes – rather than targeting geostrategic objectives. - Continuing to embed inclusive development, including promoting gender equality, LGBTQIA+ rights, disability equity and children’s rights through increased investment.
HRG submission can be found here.
HRG submission can be found here.
To Attend
2024 International Aid Transparency Index
This week, the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) released their 2024 Publish What You Fund Report, ranking Australia’s aid transparency as ‘poor’ for the first time. Australia is now 48th out of 50 donors, down from 41st in 2022, trailing behind non-DAC OECD donors like Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
DFAT attributes this low ranking to a ‘pause’ in ODA data reporting to IATI, which began in 2019 and has continued. Aid transparency has been under-resourced.
Minister Conroy has committed to increasing transparency with resumed IATI reporting, annual publishing of the Performance of Australian Development Cooperation report (PADC), and a new online transparency portal by year-end.
Australia’s reporting pause has impacted our scores in both the 2022 and 2024 IATI reports. Our ranking has declined since 2018 and has never been higher than ‘fair.’ Aid transparency is crucial for accountability and improving our efforts. We expect improvements in the 2026 IATI report, but continued pressure on the government is necessary to adequately resource aid transparency.
ACFID’s media release on the Publish What You Fund report can be found here and a Canberra Times article quoting Jocelyn Condon, ACFID’s Chief of Policy and Advocacy can be found here.
To Attend
ACFID Annual Conference
Sustainable Development Report 2024
ACFID opened early bird ticket sales for our Annual National Conference! Join us again this year to explore what solidarity and resilience currently mean within the sector and what collective action and innovative partnerships are required for sustainable development and upholding human rights throughout the world.
Register here and if you’d like to stay up to date with announcements related to the Conference, subscribe here.
To Attend
Celebration event – launch of the new ACFID Code of Conduct!
Join us to celebrate ACFID’s new Code of Conduct and the amazing work that ACFID members do to meet their commitments under the Code. The launch will include an address by the ACNC Commissioner and be followed by drinks and nibbles. All personnel from ACFID member organisations are welcome.
When: Tuesday 20 August
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm, including drinks
Where: Donkey wheel house, 673 Bourke St, Melbourne
Please note this is an in-person event only.
Register by 14 August. This will assist with the catering and event logistics.
Contact [email protected] with any questions.
To Action
A friendly reminder that the 2024 ACFID Statistical Survey will close COB on 2nd August
ACFID’s Annual Statistical Survey is the only one of its kind in Australia, focusing exclusively on the country’s international aid and development sector. Our member organisations have been contributing to this survey for decades, and it plays a crucial role in advocating for and highlighting the vital work being undertaken in the sector.
To see one of the many ways that this data is visualised, check out our Interactive Aid Map
If you need assistance with completing the survey or have any questions, please do not hesitate to email us at [email protected]
To Attend
Disability Equity Community of Practice August Meeting
The ACFID Disability Equity Community of Practice is hosting a learning event for CoP members, “Meaningful Engagement of Organisations of Persons with Disability (OPDs)” with two special guests.
The first is Cucu Saidah. Cucu has over 19 years’ experience working on disability rights issues in close partnership with organisations of people with disabilities, government, international NGOs, the media and the general public. She founded the Persons with Disability Independent Living Center in Bandung and Jakarta Barrier Free Tourism. She is now a Disability Inclusion Advisor with CBM, providing technical assistance in the development and humanitarian sectors.
Our second guest is Ashrafun Nahar Misti – founder and Executive Director of the Women with Disability and Development Foundation in Bangladesh. Misti is widely known in Bangladesh as an award-winning Disability and Women’s Rights activist. She is also a member of Asia Pacific Women with Disabilities United and the Association for Women’s Rights in development.
Date: Thursday 25th July
Time: 10-11:30am
To join: members of the Disability Equity CoP will find the meeting details in the Communities Platform. New members to the CoP are always welcome. For assistance joining up, email [email protected]
To Note
Inquiry into Australia’s efforts to advocate for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty
The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade resolved to have the Human Rights Subcommittee conduct an inquiry into Australia’s efforts to advocate for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty.
The Committee invites submissions to the inquiry by Friday, 2 August 2024. Further information can be found here.
To Attend
World Humanitarian Day – Parliament House events
ACFID, along with other peak bodies and sectors, is hosting 2 events at parliament to commemorate World Humanitarian Day on the 19th of August.
Vigil on parliament lawns, 8 am
This vigil will commemorate all humanitarian workers who have lost their lives on the frontlines in the last 12 months. All MPs will be invited, and there will be a number of speakers. This will be a public event, so please share the invite far and wide once you receive it.
Panel discussion and Gaza live update on Protecting frontline workers: Gaza and beyond, 6.30-8 pm
We are organising for a live update from someone on the ground in Gaza, as well as a panel discussion representing multiple sectors, to discuss the importance of protecting our colleagues, both in Gaza and beyond. All parliamentarians and staff will be invited.
You will receive further information about this, but if you are planning on being in Canberra, please contact Naomi at [email protected].
We encourage all those who are able to come along in solidarity with those in humanitarian crises everywhere. As further details are confirmed, we will provide more information.
To Note
We Are Seeking an MC for the Conference: Nominate a Great Speaker
We are on the lookout for a dynamic and engaging MC for one of the days of the Conference, and we believe the perfect candidate could be someone from within our membership. This is a unique opportunity for your staff, board members, or associates to gain exposure and showcase their talents in front of leading professionals in the international development sector.
As an MC, they will play a pivotal role in leading the audience through the journey of conference, alongside other engaging speakers and industry leaders. They’ll connect with a diverse audience, and elevate their profile within the industry. If you or someone you know fits the bill, we invite you to send a brief bio and background of their speaking experience to [email protected].
To Action
Call Out: ACFID Annual Report Member Images
ACFID is currently compiling our annual report, highlighting the impactful work of our members in aid and development. We’re seeking high-resolution images showcasing efforts in climate change, locally led development, and humanitarian assistance. We’ll credit your organization and photographer, with captions up to 80 words. The images may appear on our website, social media, and publications for government, policymakers, DFAT, civil society, and others.
Submit by COB August 30 to Maria Herrera at [email protected].
To Action
Women & Leadership Australia: Scholarships Available
Partial scholarships for women in the Community Services Sector range from $1,000 to $5,000 per person for one of four leadership and workplace skill development programs.
These scholarships aim to encourage more women to increase their impact at work, progress their careers, and step into leadership roles.
Registrations of interest close on Friday, 6 September 2024, via the WLA website.
To Action
AP4D Webinar: Pacific Regionalism
Cooperation among Pacific countries is key to addressing shared challenges and capitalising on shared opportunities. Pacific regionalism is a primary mechanism through which this is facilitated, but it is being impacted by rapid geopolitical change.
You are warmly invited to attend the online launch of a new AP4D paper, ‘What does it look like for Australia to Support Pacific Regionalism’, on Monday 29 July, 3:00-4:00pm (Canberra time).
Join us to hear from an expert panel on how Australia can play a role not just as a partner or a supporter of Pacific regionalism but as a collaborative voice at the Pacific regionalism table.
Speakers include:
•Joel Nilon, former Pacific Regionalism Adviser at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
•Elizabeth Kopel, Senior Research Fellow at the National Research Institute of Papua New Guinea
Who:Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue
When: Monday 29 July
Time: 3 – 4pm (AEST)
Where: Online – register here via Zoom
These scholarships aim to encourage more women to increase their impact at work, progress their careers, and step into leadership roles.
Registrations of interest close on Friday, 6 September 2024, via the WLA website.
To Attend
Tax Wars Film Screening with Oxfam Australia and Wayne Swan
Cooperation among Pacific countries is key to addressing shared challenges and capitalising on shared opportunities. Pacific regionalism is a primary mechanism through which this is facilitated, but it is being impacted by rapid geopolitical change.
You are warmly invited to attend the online launch of a new AP4D paper, ‘What does it look like for Australia to Support Pacific Regionalism’, on Monday 29 July, 3:00-4:00pm (Canberra time).
Join us to hear from an expert panel on how Australia can play a role not just as a partner or a supporter of Pacific regionalism but as a collaborative voice at the Pacific regionalism table.
Speakers include:
•Joel Nilon, former Pacific Regionalism Adviser at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
•Elizabeth Kopel, Senior Research Fellow at the National Research Institute of Papua New Guinea
Who:Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue
When: Monday 29 July
Time: 3 – 4pm (AEST)
Where: Online – register here via Zoom
These scholarships aim to encourage more women to increase their impact at work, progress their careers, and step into leadership roles.
Registrations of interest close on Friday, 6 September 2024, via the WLA website.
To Action
ACFID is on Instagram: follow us!
ACFID is now present on Instagram. Follow us at @ACFID.AUS to stay updated on our latest news, projects and events.
Upcoming Events:
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22 July |
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23-24 October |