How to continue engagement and discussion following a development conference

MELBOURNE — A conference bringing together the development sector may start the conversation, but should not be the end. For Australian Council for International Development, their 2017 national conference — held last week in Melbourne — will influence its work and direction for the year to come. At the close, Devex sat down with ACFID CEO Marc Purcell to discuss the highlights and lessons from the conference and the work that follows. Purcell stressed that for Australia’s NGOs, government leaders, and activists, the discussion undertaken at the conference should be a catalyst for growth. Here are Purcell’s key takeaways from the two-day conference. The political message and opportunities to influence Although the politicians present at ACFID came from a range of parties, there was consistency in their calls to Australia’s development sector. The Minister for International Development and the Pacific Concetta Fierravanti-Wells represented the interests of the Liberal government with an emphasis on national interests and the benefit to Australia. For Labor, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong presented slightly different messaging around Australian values. And Richard Di Natale, leader of the Greens, presented a message focused on being active and pushing back. “But there was similar concern around the official aid program and the apparent lack of support both at the parliamentary level but also at a public level,” Purcell said. “And I think there was a commonality in the face of Trump and parties that are more chauvinistic or inward looking. Those political forces put pressure on politicians. “So from them I heard requests or a plea to actually work together and communicate around what the official aid program does and the difference it makes. They all said we need to get out and communicate to the public. And I think that is absolutely true,” Purcell added. Among the presenters were politicians who had participated on trips to developing countries — something they said improved their understanding and engagement with the sector. Purcell urged the government to create more opportunities for leaders to learn firsthand the value of foreign aid. “The Defense Department runs exposure programs for politicians to see their programs, and DFAT should do the same,” Purcell argued. “They need to do it urgently. I know they do it ad hoc, but it needs to be part of a consistent program. It is something we have raised at the highest levels, but if they don’t get behind it, the official aid program may remain vulnerable simply because politicians are ignorant about what it achieves.” Enabling NGOs to engage widely Bringing outside voices into the development sector is a key strategy of the ACFID’s annual conferences. Whether they are from external sectors or from outside Australia, ACFID encourages speakers who will challenge the norm of development thinking. But it can also facilitate new engagement, which may influence aid and development long term. “People can see the interconnectedness of issues, which I think was the strength of Noelene Nabulivou from Diverse Voices and Action for Equality. She had a great deal of passion [and] she was able to take systematic analysis and her passion to look at other issues, like ecology or the market and power structures. And she did it with a frame of reference that was highly useful,” said Purcell, by way of example. “Her main message was that you need to be an activist on these issues if you want to get change — and that theme has come through strongly in this conference that ACFID members are taking away.” The lessons for ACFID At the first day conference dinner, Professor Megan Davis, director of the Indigenous Law Centre at the University of New South Wales, spoke to the audience about her work with the Referendum Council. Its report to parliament recommended constitutional reform allowing indigenous Australians greater recognition and empowerment — although the government rejected key recommendations The talk inspired ACFID and its members to return to their roots. “It struck a chord with the ACFID membership,” Purcell said. “The way that they ran their process rang true. It was very much how nongovernment organizations seek to consult and get participatory view about change. Secondly, it reminded us that there are significant challenges of injustice, underdevelopment, and denial of rights and sovereignty in Australia. These are the issue we work on internationally [and] also here at home. It reminded us about our root in working with indigenous Australian.” He added, “I think it is time we heard a call to come back and work and take up the recommendation of the referendum council and campaign for them and not wait for permission from indigenous Australian but just to get on with it.” Calls from Nabulivou for NGOs to become more engaged in environmental challenges also rang true for Purcell. “There is a real concern for many development organizations on climate change. Their focus and tools will more likely be in developing countries and working in that context than here. But I think what Noelene highlighted was that you have to look after your own backyard, and Australia is one of the highest emitters per capita in the world of carbon dioxide. So we have to tackle and be bold and active in our own country to tackling climate change,” Purcell said. “For ACFID, we already work with the Australian Conservation Foundation and other environmental organizations domestically on common concern, and I can definitely see this alliance building work will continue.” Continuing action and progress beyond the conference confines For ACFID, it is important that discussion, engagement, and action continue — and this is built into the design of the conference “Our conference is not standalone,” Purcell explained. “We have been running a course through this year with La Trobe University called Making Change Happen. Some of the themes of this conference are done in micro with a smaller group of people in a more in-depth way.” And during the conference itself, discussion spurred action. “At the conference, we realized it was very important to give an outlet to members dismayed with the situation on Manus Island and with the Referendum Council,” Purcell said “So we provided the phone numbers for [the offices of Prime Minister] Malcolm Turnbull and [opposition leader] Bill Shorten for people to ring their office and urge change.” Longer term, the conference feeds into ACFID’s work for coming year, as well as their advocacy and campaigning work. “But equally our members will be active and we’re hoping from this conference for them to create their own advocacy.” Messages for old and new ACFID presidents The 2017 ACFID conference was the last for outgoing president Sam Mostyn, with new president — and former Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commissioner — Susan Pascoe welcomed soon after leaving her previous position. “I’ve been very privileged to work with some stellar presidents — Sam Mostyn, and Meredith Burgmann before her,” Purcell said. For the outgoing president, Purcell said Mostyn’s impact on ACFID and its members will be lasting. “She has been a champion of the sustainable development goals and bringing together disparate sectors — including the private sector, public sector, and nongovernmental organizations. And she has done that brilliantly in leading, chairing, and convening with government at a number of forums, such as the first SDG summit we helped last year where we had huge corporate buy-in. She has also been a fine chair and leader, and her immense experience in governance has really benefited ACFID and its board.” Purcell said he is also excited about working with Pascoe, who brings a wealth of knowledge in the operation of government. “I am really looking forward to Susan,” he said. “She obviously has a depth of knowledge about how government operates and how to move things along inside government — and I think that would be a great asset to ACFID. Above all else, she is a person with great public integrity and high repute so she will bring credibility in our interactions with government and other sectors like business.” Devex is supporting the ACFID National Conference as a media partner. Follow discussion from the conference which took place on November 1 and 2 using the hashtag #ACFID2017. Devex delivers cutting-edge insights and analysis to the leaders shaping and innovating the business of development. Make sure you don't miss out. Become a Devex Executive Member today.