The Weekly
Yesterday, we held the CEO Networking Dinner in Melbourne, bringing sector leaders together to discuss key topics like the changes to the sector ecosystem that are happening around the world and how agencies are responding. It was a great chance to exchange insights and build connections. Our next CEO Networking Dinner will be in Sydney on 12 March—another excellent opportunity to network and engage with peers across the sector.
Today, the Introduction to the Sector workshop is underway in Melbourne, featuring guest speakers from DFAT and ACFID member organisations. It’s a great opportunity for participants to gain valuable insights, connect with peers, and deepen their understanding of the sector.
For those of you who are interested, our weekly catch-up about the USAID changes and impacts for ANGOs will be on Monday and you can read about how to register below
To Attend
ACFID member meeting on impacts of Stop Work Order
This is a weekly meeting to share and discuss the impacts and updates of the US Stop Work Order on ACFID members and hear from ACFID on the work being done with DFAT and other stakeholders.
Next meeting: Monday 24 February 4:30 pm-5 pm
Register here
Media requests
ACFID is receiving a number of media requests on the impacts of the SWO. If your organisation has stories of impact or examples you are able to share publicly, please get in touch with Lisa Tadrosse: [email protected]
Survey on SWO impact – If your agency has not already, please complete this survey about the impact of the SWO on your organisation and partners. Note: please ensure only one survey response per agency.
Requests/suggestions for ACFID – If you/your agency has further requests for information/suggestions for ACFID please get in touch with Lanni: [email protected]
Connecting with other ACFID members in-country on SWO impact:
If you would like to have more detailed discussions with other ACFID members about the SWO at country or regional level, please join and utilise the existing ACFID Communities of Practice. For support joining CoPs email [email protected]. If you would like more detailed country-level discussions with other members about a country not included in one of ACFID’s CoPs, complete this form to be connected with others.
List of helpful resources on Stop Work Order:
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Name of Resource |
Link |
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ICVA list of resources |
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Overview of EO on non-profits in US (majority domestic) |
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The Impact of the USAID funding freeze: what we know so far |
The impact of the USAid funding freeze: what we know so far | Bond |
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To Note
CCC February meeting Communique is now available!
The ACFID Code of Conduct Committee (CCC) met in Canberra on 6-7 February. Please find the meeting Communique for your information. Information about the Code of Conduct Committee including Committee members and the Terms of Reference can be found on the ACFID Website. For more information about the Code of Conduct Committee, contact the Code Secretariat at [email protected]
To Action
Public submissions now open: Australia’s Bilateral Investment Treaties
The Australian Government will soon commence discussions with Argentina, Pakistan, and Türkiye to review and modernise Bilateral Investment Treaties with those countries. If your organisation is interested, public submissions to this process can be made here.
To Action
Public submissions now open: Costa Rica’s accession process to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific
DFAT is now welcoming submissions from interested individuals and groups on the opportunities and impacts of Costa Rica’s potential accession to the CPTPP. Stakeholders are invited to consider market access opportunities and challenges for goods and services trade with Costa Rica, including tariff and non-tariff barriers, and barriers to Australian investment into Costa Rica.
Please send submissions to [email protected]. More information can be found on the DFAT website here.
Are you running a conference, networking event, or sector briefing? The ACFID Events Directory gives you a highly engaged audience that cares about international development.
What makes it great?
– A single hub where sector professionals search for events.
– ACFID members can list for free—unlimited event postings.
– Stronger attendance from the right crowd.
Maximise your event’s reach—list it today!
To Attend
Public submissions now open: Costa Rica’s accession process to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific
DFAT is now welcoming submissions from interested individuals and groups on the opportunities and impacts of Costa Rica’s potential accession to the CPTPP. Stakeholders are invited to consider market access opportunities and challenges for goods and services trade with Costa Rica, including tariff and non-tariff barriers, and barriers to Australian investment into Costa Rica.
Please send submissions to [email protected]. More information can be found on the DFAT website here.
To Action
DFAT invites international NGOs to submit proposals for civil society strengthening in Kiribati
The Australian High Commission in Kiribati is looking for an intergovernmental organisation or international non-government organisation to deliver a project to strengthen the nascent NGO and civil society sector in Kiribati as part of the Kiribati Leadership, Engagement and Accountability for Development (KiriLEAD) program. The project’s objective is to build the capacity of local organisations, thereby allowing them to access increased funding from donors and deliver inclusive and effective programs.
At a high level, the Australian High Commission envisages the successful applicant would help local i-Kiribati NGOs/CSOs build their organisational capacity (e.g. finance manuals, governance structures, procurement procedures), and also provide some small incentive-based core funding (e.g. to fund an office/admin manager). There would also be involvement with the Ministry of Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs to help strengthen the policy framework governing the NGO/CSO sector in Kiribati.
The maximum grant amount available for this project is up to AUD 3 million, with completion by 31 December 2028.
We understand that DFAT has not advertised this invitation publicly. If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please reach out to Alan Hewson, at: [email protected] for further information.
To Note
ACFID in the Media
To Action
Civil Society Partnerships Fund
ACFID is continuing to engage with DFAT on the development and design of the Civil Society Partnerships Fund (CSPF). If you are interested in receiving news, updates and hearing about opportunities to engage on the CSPF – please register you interest with ACFID here.
We have no additional information to share on the CSPF at this time, but will build a mailing list from those who have registered and be in touch with the members of that mailing list.
To Attend
ACMC Protection of Civilians Course
ACMC will be holding a Protection of Civilians course in Canberra from 1-2 April 2025 at the QT Hotel. Register your nomination by 7 March 2025. Successful nominees will be advised by COB 12 March 2025 and provided joining instructions.
Further information can be found here.
To Attend
Upcoming ACFID Briefings: Hanoi and Palau Heads of Mission
ACFID is coordinating briefings with the incoming Heads of Mission for both Hanoi, Vietnam, and Palau. The Hanoi briefing will take place online, with a prep meeting scheduled for 25 February to discuss key areas of focus. The Palau briefing will be held at the ACFID Office in Deakin, with virtual participation available. Both briefings will be chaired by Matthew Maury, Interim CEO of ACFID. If your organisation is involved in these regions, please complete the relevant registration form to participate.
Hanoi HOM Briefing
Date: Friday 28 February 2025
Time: 4-5:30 pm (AEDT)
Registration form
Prep Meeting for Hanoi Briefing
Date: Tuesday 25 February 2025
Time: 2-3 pm (AEDT)
Palau HOM Briefing
Date: Monday 17 March 2025
Time: 9-10 am (AEDT)
Registration form
To Action
Blended finance survey: How would your organisation like to engage with DFAT’s INGO Accelerator program?
In November 2024, the Australian Government launched a new $10 million initiative called the Innovative Indo-Pacific NGO Accelerator to support NGOs to start, scale and “pioneer new approaches” to blended development finance.
The first round of grants for NGOs could be released as soon as the second half of this year. ACFID is in communication with DFAT about the best way to equip our members with the information they need to fully take advantage of the opportunities presented by the INGO Accelerator program.
This survey is designed to see which members are interested in further consultation and what specific information would be most useful.
To Attend
Hanoi HOM Briefing
ACFID is coordinating a briefing with the incoming Head of Mission to Hanoi, Vietnam. The briefing will take place at 4-5:30 pm online. Matthew Maury, Interim CEO of ACFID will chair. To register for the briefing please fill out this form
A prep meeting for members attending the briefing will be held on Tuesday 25 March 2-3 pm to discuss key areas of focus for the briefing. A teams link for both meetings will be sent following registration via the above link.
Date: Friday 28 February 2025
Time: 4-5:30pm (AEDT)
To Attend
Palau HOM Briefing
ACFID is coordinating a briefing with the incoming Head of Mission to Palau. The briefing will take place at 9am on 17 March at the ACFID Office in Deakin, and virtually for those who are unable to attend in person. Matthew Maury, Interim CEO of ACFID will chair. If your organisation has programs in Palau or Pacific regional programs relevant to Palau and your agency wishes to participate, please fill out this form
Date: Monday 17 March
Time: 9-10 am (AEDT)
To Action
Opportunity to input into submission for Commonwealth Data Retention Review
The Department of Home Affairs has reached out to ACFID’s members to provide a submission for the review on Commonwealth legislative data retention provisions that place obligations on industry. Input will be discussed and collated by ACFID’s Data Governance Community of Practice. The discussion paper can be found here. To contribute to this submission, join the ACFID Data Governance CoP, or contact [email protected] for more information.
To Action
Join the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue (AP4D) for the online launch of a new paper, ‘What does it look like for Australia to promote compliance with international humanitarian law and protection of civilians
In 2023, 33,000+ civilians died in conflicts, making it the deadliest year for humanitarian workers. UN Secretary-General Guterres calls this an “age of impunity.”
Join AP4D’s online launch of What does it look like for Australia to promote compliance with IHL and POC?
Based on 70+ expert consultations, the paper examines Australia’s role in strengthening these frameworks.
When: Friday 28 February, 1:00-2:00pm (Canberra time).
Registration here
To Action
Child Rights CoP – Restarting!
The ACFID Child Rights Community of Practice is meeting on the 26th of February for a “RESTART” meeting after a quiet period. The CoP is for organisations and staff with a focus or interest in children and child rights, to share information, best practice and collaborate on policy and influencing.
Date: Wednesday 26th February
Time: 11:00-12:00
To join: Join the CoP through MyACFID, or add the meeting to your calendar through the event page at Child Rights CoP – restart kick off meeting – Australian Council for International Development
Food for thought
Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue (AP4D) Executive Director Melissa Conley Tyler and intern Viet Dung Trinh write in East Asia Forum that “Despite the challenges that 2025 will bring, Australia’s economic statecraft cannot focus only on domestic industry policy — it must also promote open trade and investment.”
“Australia has actively supported and played a leading role in the creation of global rules that underpin the rise of global trade, even being one of the founding members of the World Trade Organization. Particularly during the second Trump administration, Australia should focus on cooperating with like-minded states to ‘save the furniture’ of the global trading system.”
The article draws on recent consultations AP4D held with more than 40 experts from Australia and across the region. Click here to explore the resulting report, ‘What does it look like for Australia to navigate a new era of economic statecraft in the Indo-Pacific’.
Can Australia stay resilient in an unpredictable 2025?
Upcoming Events
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Date |
Event |
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24 February |
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25 February |
Code online drop-in sessions |
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26 February |
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28 February |
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05 March |
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11 March |
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12 March |
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13 March |
ANCP Insights Webinar- Introduction to ANCP for new applicants |
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17 March |
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13 March |
ANCP Insights Webinar- Introduction to ANCP for new applicants |
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17 March |