The Weekly

Matthew Maury, what is at the top of your mind this week?

This week, ACFID published a new report – From the Field: Impacts of the US-Iran Conflict on Communities Working with Australian NGOs. Drawing on direct insights from members and their local partners, the report highlights how the ongoing conflict is affecting communities, creating operational challenges and placing additional pressure on humanitarian and development efforts across the globe. I encourage members to read the report and consider how we can continue to advocate collectively for those most affected.

As we move through July and August, there are several important opportunities for members to engage with ACFID and each other. Next week includes a CEO Connect session in Melbourne on Wednesday (not too late to register!) which will be a chance to hear about the new ACFID Strategic Plan as well as a couple of presentations on mergers in the sector (Sydney CEOs can attend a similar event on August 4th).

Next Thursday there will be member events in Adelaide (see below for more information).

ACFID Members may also wish to save the date for the launch of ACFID’s State of the Sector Report 2026 on 6 August, which will provide important insights into how Australian NGOs are responding to a rapidly changing global environment and what this means for the future of our sector.

I also encourage members to join the upcoming ACFID Connect: A Call to Action on Locally Led Development session on 20 July. This discussion will include Dylan Mathews, a global expert on locally-led work. He will help us explore the newly launched global Call to Action, DFAT’s endorsement of the initiative, and practical ways Australian NGOs can strengthen their support for locally led development.

I look forward to connecting with many of you through these upcoming events and discussions. Further details and registration links can be found below.

Environmental Good Practice in Action

Approximately 57% of ACFID members that completed the CSA in FY2023–24 indicated they are going above and beyond Code reporting requirements by also adopting the Good Practice Indictor (GPI) of designating an environmental focal person within their organisation.

To Read

Report on Impacts of the US-Iran Conflict on Communities Working with Australian NGOs

Amid renewed escalation in the Middle East, ACFID has released From the Field: Impacts of the US-Iran Conflict on Communities Working with Australian NGOs. Drawing on evidence from Australian NGOs and their local partners, the report highlights the growing impacts of the conflict, including rising costs, disrupted supply chains, and increasing pressure on communities already facing significant hardship.

Read the report here.
Read ACFID’s media release here.

ACFID continues to monitor and collect examples from members on the impacts of the conflict. If you would like to share insights or case studies from your organisation, please contact Imogen Harper at [email protected].

To Action

Statistical Survey due date 4th August 

Need a hand with the ACFID Statistical Survey? We’re here to help!

As you work through this year’s Statistical Survey, just a friendly reminder that support is always available. If you have any questions or need assistance at any point, please reach out to us at ​[email protected]​.

To Join

Online Launch: ACFID State of the Sector Report 2026 

Join us for the launch of State of the Sector Report 2026, ACFID’s latest snapshot of Australia’s international development and humanitarian sector. Drawing on insights from a period of unprecedented global change, the report reveals how Australian NGOs have adapted, innovated and continued to deliver impact.

Hear from The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, and sector leaders as they unpack the report’s key findings and explore what they mean for the future of Australia’s international development community.

Date: 6 August 2026

Time: 11:00AM -12:30PM (AEST)

Registration ​here. ​

To Join

ACFID Connect: Strategic Plan 2026–2031 Rollout Session

Join us for an ACFID Connect online session to learn more about ACFID’s Strategic Plan 2026–2031. This session will provide an opportunity to hear about the plan, ask questions, and explore what it means for ACFID and our members as we move into the next phase of our shared work.

Date: 7 August 2026

Time: 11:00AM -12:00PM (AEST)

Registration ​here. ​

To Attend

ACFID Connect: A Call to Action on Locally Led Development

Join ACFID’s Locally Led Action Community of Practice for a discussion with Dylan Mathews (Peace Direct) on the newly launched Call to Action on Supporting Locally Led Development. Learn how this global initiative aims to turn commitments into action, what DFAT’s endorsement means for the sector, and how Australian NGOs can get involved. Discover practical ways to support locally led development and embed the Call to Action’s nine action areas in your work.

Date: 20 July 2026

Time: 4:00PM – 5:00PM (AEST)

Register on MyACFID here

To Attend

ACFID in Adelaide – July 2026

The ACFID Secretariat will be in Adelaide this July, and members and sector colleagues are invited to join us for two in‑person events focused on connection, learning, and engagement.

ACFID Connect: Adelaide – Members only

As part of ACFID’s 2026 series of in‑person networking events, ACFID Member Connect: Adelaide brings staff from ACFID member organisations together to share insights, strengthen relationships, and connect directly with the ACFID Secretariat.

This informal event provides a space to meet peers, exchange ideas, and strengthen connections across the international development and humanitarian sector.

Date: 23 July 2026
Time: 3:30PM – 5:30PM (AEST)
Location: St Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Wakefield St, Adelaide

Register here.

Introduction to the Sector – Adelaide

Open to all | Free for small ACFID members | Discounted for other ACFID members and students

ACFID is hosting a one‑day, face‑to‑face introductory workshop for staff, board members, and others who are new to the international development and humanitarian sector. This participatory workshop will include:

– An overview of the history of international development and humanitarian action

– An introduction to ACFID’s role and the ACFID Code

– Guest speakers from DFAT and ACFID member organisationsOpportunities for networking and further learning

Date:23 July 2026
Time: 8:30AM – 3:30PM (AEST)

Location: St Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Wakefield St, Adelaide

Register here.

To Action

Complimentary digital audits for ACFID members

ACFID members can now request one of two complimentary digital audit options from OSKY: a Website Cyber Security Audit or an SEO and Website Visibility Audit.The Website Cyber Security Audit reviews public-facing security risks and Essential Eight readiness. The SEO and Website Visibility Audit reviews search performance, technical SEO, content structure, page speed, accessibility signals and opportunities

to improve discoverability. Each audit includes a plain-English report with prioritised recommendations and an optional short debrief. 

Places are limited and opt-in.

Register ​here. ​

To Action

ACFID is collaborating with the Community Council of Australia on a new campaign to help make charities and NFPs influential and valued at least as much as Australia’s small business sector. Part of the problem is one our sector can help fix ourselves. 

​The Community Compass​ research highlighted that many Australians don’t have a clear picture of what the charities and not for profit sector is, the contribution it makes or even how to engage charities and community groups.

If we don’t tell our story and engage people with our value, no one else will.

That’s why CCA is launching #AusWeWant / #ImagineAustralia — a social media storytelling campaign to put a human face on the charity sector’s impact, community by community, organisation by organisation. We encourage ACFID members to get involved. Either by sharing stories with CCA, or by posting directly to socials and tagging CCA.

This campaign takes the aspiration and the values of the just, fair, safe, inclusive, equal of opportunity, creative, confident, optimistic, authentic, united, kind, generous and compassionate Australia we want – the kind of future our sector works for – and makes them tangible with an invitation to get involved.

Send stories and photos to CCA’s Communication and Media Manager, Rebecca Connell via email: ​[email protected]​

Consultants

Clear Horizon – 15% off MEL courses

Clear Horizon is a values-driven, B-Corp certified, women-led company. We support teams and organisations to monitor, evaluate, learn and ultimately to improve the impact of their strategies, programs and initiatives. 

We have nearly 20 years of experience in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) across the international development sector, including working with DFAT, MFAT, World Bank, United Nations, INGOs and managing contractors. We work across a range of sectors including social and economic development, gender equality, disability inclusion, democracy and civil society strengthening, health, education, infrastructure, climate change and disaster resilience, and agriculture.

We are currently offering the ACFID Network 15% off the following upcoming courses:

– Systems Transformation: Strategy and Evaluation – 24 July 2026

– Most Significant Change – 31 July 2026

– Complete Guide to Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) – 7 August 2026

– Evaluating Place-based Approaches – 2 October 2026

Clear Horizon also offers 30% off group bookings (5+ participants). 

Explore upcoming courses and register here. 

Consultants

Exclusive Offer –  10% off Athena Board software

Athena Board is proud to partner with ACFID to help not-for-profits save time, secure documents,and improve governance.

Trusted by charities, international aid agencies, and community organisations across Australia,Athena Board’s secure platform makes it easy to collate, produce, and share board materials while protecting sensitive information. ISO27001 certified and fully encrypted, it’s built to meet the highest standards of security – at a price designed for the NFP sector.ACFID members receive 10% off Athena Board’s already low NFP rates, giving you a high-performing,low-cost solution to:

• Reduce admin time and streamline meeting preparation

• Strengthen governance and compliance

• Provide directors with tools like digital voting, annotations, conflict registers, and offline access

Upgrade your governance with a platform your board will actually enjoy using. Read more here.

Upcoming Events