Australian International Development Network

Fun fact – one of the top 10 most read stories on Philanthropy Australia’s website in 2024 was a blog that was actually published two years earlier on the phrase ‘Majority World’. The guest blog was by Director of Systemic Change and Partnerships at the International Women’s Development Agency Dr Salmah Eva-Lina L., who is a strategist working to decolonise international development. She outlines why she first coined the term in 2013 and how it has been used more widely to critique some of the ‘othering’ unintended consequences of language used in international development. The analytics highlights the issue’s ongoing relevance and Philanthropy Australia is pleased our contributors’ work continues to offer such engaging insights for our community.

ACFID is excited to share the Sakharov Fellowship 2025 – Call for Applications! 🌍 Applications are open for 14 human rights defenders to join a two-week training in Brussels & Venice (15-27 June 2025). Enhance your skills, expand your network, and cover your travel, accommodation, and allowances! ✈️ ⏳ Deadline: 10:00 AM AEDT on 27 January 2025 – 26 January 2025 (midnight CET). 📩 Results: 4 March 2025 Apply now! https://lnkd.in/gMmxKqYp European Union Delegation to Australia #HumanRights #SakharovFellowship

"To fully participate in this complex world of funding, grants and proposals from the local level, one is forced to “internationalise”. You must learn to read the language of power to participate in the resources of that power. Donors assume that anyone participating in this fundraising ecosystem is knowledgeable in terms and usage. They likely don’t even see it as jargon. And it speaks to the fundamental disconnect between funders and independent organisations on the ground." In this fantastic new piece on The AIDN Beat, Tamar Kosky Lazarus (Chief Development and Communications Officer at IsraAID) argues that the current process for development organisations to apply for major grants needs rethinking. It is time that the process becomes less onerous, less jargon-filled and more accessible. This would not only allow organisations to focus on their essential programmatic work on the ground, but also play a crucial role in advancing genuine localisation efforts within our sector. Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/gtYVgsGu #globaldevelopment #grants #proposals #funding #impact #localisation Shachar May

"The efforts paid off. Nepal’s maternal mortality ratio, or MMR, dropped from 536 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 1996, to 151 in 2021 — a reduction of 72%". In this detailed recent analysis from Devex, Catherine Davison provides the latest update on development efforts to reduce maternal mortality in Nepal. The piece spotlights how the government of Nepal's "Safe Motherhood Program" has introduced several initiatives to decrease maternal deaths by improving access to care in the country's remotest regions, alongside other key organisations such as One Heart Worldwide. However, despite initial improvements in the number of women delivering in health care facilities, the Safe Motherhood Program is now funded entirely by Nepal’s limited health budget, putting that progress at risk. Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/g9Mkv58G #globaldevelopment #nepal #maternalhealth #fundraising #womenshealth #sdgs

Big aid brands: stop the aid-vertising. Crisis is not your campaign. Struggle isn’t your stage. Poverty is not your PR. It’s a carnival of names and flags and logos on aid supplies, says Jan Egeland at Norwegian Refugee Council. “It is increasingly distasteful, the excessive branding by donors, UN agencies, and us in INGOs.” “Children in need should not have to advertise their donors.” This overboard branding causes multiple issues, as I’ve detailed in the comments below. Like stealing the fundraising awareness from local nonprofits doing the real work. The crux of the problem. ⤵ “Yet another example of centering a savior behavior...” says Charlotte King, MS Sustainability. “Shady at best and imperial exploitation in its purest form.” And no. Please don’t argue that branding is required for taxpayer accountability and awareness. If the only way to recognize your work is through labels, it’s time to rethink your communications strategy. It’s not just my opinion. The Center for Global Development says the impact of branding by donor agencies on aid effectiveness is unclear, therefore logos should only be used in specific cases like disaster relief and governance assessments. So “if a donor feels the need to advertise, then it’s not a donation. It’s marketing,” says Josh Goralski, CNP. “Let’s at least call it what it is.” Aid isn’t a branding battleground. Favor dignity over decals. Lives over logos. 💪🏽💛 ______________________________________ Follow Kevin L. Brown to get fundable & findable. Then repost ♻️ if you agree.

Australians Investing In Women (AIIW) has launched an inspiring series of interviews featuring some of the Australian philanthropy sector’s most influential voices. The series – Empowered Giving for a Fairer Future – was created with the support of the Besen Family Foundation and features a range of sector leaders who share practical insights, lessons and case studies highlighting how gender-informed strategies can be applied to tackle complex social issues. We recommend checking out the videos here: https://lnkd.in/gzzYT4Df The gender-wise champions featured in the videos include: 👉 Jill Reichstein OAM; 👉 Eve Mahlab AO; 👉 Carol Schwartz AO; 👉 Maree Sidey; 👉 Cathy Scalzo; 👉 Ian Bird OLY; 👉 Lisa Keenan; 👉 Deanne; 👉 Mim Bartlett; 👉 Caitriona (Cat) Fay; 👉 Joanne Kirk; 👉 Hugh Belfrage; and 👉 Julie Reilly OAM #philanthropy #genderlens #genderlensinvesting #australianphilanthropy

ACFID welcomes the Gaza ceasefire as a vital step towards relief after 15 months of conflict. While this brings hope, it highlights the urgent need for ongoing humanitarian aid and a long-term solution. ACFID urges the Australian Government to support sustained efforts for peace, justice, and aid in the region. Read our media release here: https://lnkd.in/g4kANHpG . . #GazaCeasefire #HumanitarianAid #PeaceAndJustice #SupportForGaza #LongTermSolutions #AustralianGovernment #ACFID #GlobalRelief #EndConflict #HopeForPeace

Did you catch AIDN's annual international development, philanthropy and global issues themed “Summer Reading and Listening Lists” in your inbox before the break?! ☀️ 🎧 If not, it is worth checking out our "Summer Reading List 2024" here: https://lnkd.in/gUGmGvmV Drawing on our recommendations throughout 2024, the reading list included: 👉 "The Glass Palace" by Amitav Ghosh; 👉 "Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World – And Why Things Are Better Than You Think" by Hans Rosling; 👉 "Five Times Faster: Rethinking the Science, Economics, and Diplomacy of Climate Change" by Simon Sharpe; 👉 "War Doctor: Surgery on the Front Line" by David Nott; 👉 "Tread Brightly" by Sarika Bansal; 👉 "How China Escaped The Poverty Trap" by Yuen Yuen Ang; 👉 "The Rise and Fall of the Department for International Development" by Mark Lowcock and Ranil Dissanayake; and 👉 "The AIDN Beat one year e-booklet" by a selection of fantastic guest contributors in AIDN's network. Thanks to Emily Umbers, Anna Demant, Elizabeth Daley, Matias Nestore, Jeff Harris, Faith Considine, Hannah McNicol and Julie Rosenberg for their recommendations! #globaldevelopment #internationaldevelopment #impact #reading #equality #genderequality #health #war #ethicaltravel

Just before the holiday break, AIDN sent out our annual international development, philanthropy and global issues themed “Summer Reading and Listening Lists” for 2024 ☀️ 🎧 Have you checked out the "Summer Listening List" yet?! https://lnkd.in/gkRy9WcG Based on our 2024 episodes of #Philanthropod hosted by Anubha Rawat, episodes include: 👉 “Nourishing Rwanda: the story of Solid'Africa” with Isabelle Kamariza (President and Founder of Solid’ Africa). 👉 “Fortifying flour and harnessing hope” with Felix Brooks-church (Co-Founder and CEO of Sanku). 👉 “Africans creating African solutions: disability inclusion” with Maria Omare (Executive Director of The Action Foundation). 👉 “High-love, low-cost health care” with Sarah Rejman (Founder of Kafika House). 👉 “Pharma for Good: Inside Medicines Development for Global Health” with Mark Sullivan AO (Managing Director and Founder of Medicines Development for Global Health). 👉 “Unearthing and investing in African-change-makers” with Andy Bryant (Executive Director at Segal Family Foundation). 👉 “From growth to redundancy: Rethinking international charities with Weh Yeoh” (Author of Redundant Charities).  👉 “Scaling for impact: Safeena Husain’s journey to educate girls across India” featuring Safeena Husain (Founder of Educate Girls India).  👉“Uniting sport and gender justice in PNG” with Tahina Booth (Founder and Managing Director of Grass Skirt Project). #podcast #globaldevelopment #impact #health #equality #gender #nutrition #disabilityinclusion

Vanuatu is in a state of emergency following a devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake which struck near the capital, Port Vila on Tuesday December 17, 2024. This was one of the worst earthquakes to strike the islands of Vanuatu. It was followed by 5.5 magnitude aftershocks near the same location, and tremors continuing throughout the afternoon and evening. ActionAid Australia have launched a Vanuatu Earthquake Emergency Appeal in response. Any donations will provide food, water, shelter, and trauma support for people in urgent need. They will also ensure women and people with disabilities are protected in this vulnerable time. Donate here: https://lnkd.in/gYeFty9r Image: ActionAid Vanuatu supporting an emergency response in 2023. Photo: ActionAid Vanuatu. #vanuatu #emergency #appeal #urgent #earthquake