The Weekly

Next week we are looking forward to being in Sydney with ACFID Members for a series of events. ACFID will host a CEO Connect session in Sydney on the afternoon of Wednesday the 4 March (a great networking opportunity and space for some shared learning for member CEOs). That same day we will have our Introduction to the International Development and Humanitarian Sector Workshop (highly recommended for new staff or Board members). It’s not too late for you to register and participate in either (see info below) and I hope to see you there.

This Friday we are holding an ACFID Special General Meeting in order to announce the election results to fill our current Board vacancy and also to share some sector updates. We are pleased to have our recently elected President, Virginia Haussegger, chairing the SGM.

As part of ACFID’s analysis of the recently released OECD DAC peer review report we will be holding an ACFID Connect session online next Tuesday to reflect on the report and implications for our sector. Info about how to register is below.

This week also marked the 4th anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine – one of many locations around the world that can get forgotten in terms of the continued humanitarian crisis.  ACFID members have made and continue to provide support to the people impacted by this tragic situation.

Weekly Data Shapshot

Our Communities of Practice (CoPs) continue to grow, bringing together 722 staff from our member organisations across 26 CoPs. These CoPs are member‑led groups that come together to share, learn and collaborate around a common area of practice. 

Any staff member is welcome to join, please ​click here​ for instructions on how you can do so!

To Attend

ACFID Connect: 2025 OECD DAC Peer Review of Australia

Last month the OECD Development Assistance Committee released their ​Report on Australia’s 2025 Peer Review​. Peer Reviews are an OECD DAC process that takes place every 5-6 years where DAC members review a donor country’s development assistance program, highlight good practice and recommend improvements. Join us to discuss ACFID’s summary of the Report including 10 key take aways of most relevance to Australian NGOs.

Date: 3 March 2026

Time: 12:00PM – 1:00PM (AEDT)

Venue: Online (Teams link will be sent)

Email: [email protected] for queries 

Register ​here

To Attend

ACFID Connect: Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) Design Update

ACFID is hosting a consultation with members and DFAT colleagues on the updated design of the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP).

The AIFFP team will provide:

– An overview of the AIFFP and its current activities

– An update on the Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership (PCIFP)

Australia is backing Pacific priorities and will invest an additional $550 million in official developmental assistance (ODA) grants through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), including for digital infrastructure development. The new commitment brings the AIFFP’s total facility financing to $4.55 billion, comprising a $3 billion loan cap and $1.55 billion in ODA grants.

Please join us for the presentation and Q&A:

Date: 13 March 2026
Time: 11:00AM – 12:00PM (AEDT)
Register​ here

To Attend

ACFID CEO Connects: Sydney and Melbourne

As part of our new ACFID CEO Connects series, we invite Sydney and Melbourne based CEOs to join us in March. 

Sydney: 4 March 2026 | 3:00PM-5:00PM |  Caritas Office |  Register ​here​

Melbourne: 25 March 2026 | 3:00PM-5:00PM | Save the Children Office | Register ​here

To Attend

Introduction to the Sector Workshops 

ACFID will be hosting a series of Introduction to the International Development and Humanitarian Sector Workshops in 2026. These participatory face-to-face events will include an overview of the history of international development and humanitarian action; an introduction to ACFID’s Code and role in the sector; guest speakers from a range of ACFID’s members; and, opportunities for networking and further learning. 

For queries and to access free registration for Small Members, contact ​[email protected]​

Sydney: Wednesday 4th March. Register ​here​

Melbourne: Wednesday 25th March. Register ​here​

Brisbane: Thursday 4th June. Register ​here​

Adelaide and Online: Register interest ​here

To Action

ACFID Conference 2026 – Call out for Photos!

As we prepare for the 2026 ACFID National Conference, we’re inviting members to help showcase the impact of Australia’s development and humanitarian sector.

If your organisation has recent, high-quality images that capture your work in action — whether in communities, partnerships, advocacy, or program delivery — we would love to feature them as part of the Conference. These images will be used across conference materials and visuals, highlighting the collective contribution of ACFID members.

Please send your photos to​ [email protected] ​including any relevant captions or photo credits.

We look forward to showcasing your work.

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 cost of five courses commencing in 2026. Check them out ​here!

Exclusive Offer – Free cyber security audits for ACFID members

​​OSKY have supported ACFID and its members since 2018 and are now generously offering a limited number of complimentary website cyber security audits. You will receive a plain-English report mapped to the ASD Essential Eight with a 30-day action plan, plus an optional 30-minute debrief.Places are limited and opt-in.

​​​Read more and reserve a place here.

Food for thought

Last week Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill launched a new paper from the ​Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue​: What does it look like for Australia to see Education as a tool of Statecraft.

In a difficult and contested world, achieving Australia’s international objectives requires using all tools of statecraft. Australia’s education sector – its schools, technical institutions, universities, research and policy expertise – is an extraordinary whole-of-nation resource to help achieve this.

The result of eight months of consultations with more 100 education practitioners and policy experts, the paper outlines how education contributes to Australia’s development impact, diplomatic links, trade relations and security.

​Click here​ to read, download and share the paper.

​Click here​ to watch a recording of the launch.

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