Julie Bishop address to Council 2010
ACFID Learning & Development news
Update on ACFID's 2012 Learning and Development strategy
Based on widespread consultation and the findings of the 2011 Individual Learning Needs Survey, ACFID will soon launch a new Learning and Development strategy. Key elements include:
- a more coherent, 'curricular' approach, with clear linkages between individual workshops and other learning events, and a move towards a 24-month curriculum cycle
- a strong focus on a core set of themes for capacity development. For some key topics falling outside this core we will recommend external learning partners
- greater emphasis on the inter-relationships between programming, management, leadership, values, research and compliance as central to development effectiveness
- deepening our understanding of 'inclusive development' and mainstreaming and ensuring that this is reflected in our learning programmes
- provision of more in-depth learning opportunities on selected topics
- the introduction of online components to support ongoing learning, peer sharing and extend our reach by offering more flexible learning options
- opening up access to ACFID learning resources to wider audiences.
As you can imagine, these initiatives require a long planning process, and our complete programme for 2012 will not be released until March. In the meantime, we are providing details of our first-quarter workshops (all targeted at introductory level), along with a broad overview of plans for other areas.
Overview of plans for 2012
Core areas on which ACFID will be offering learning events
Programming effectiveness
- Introduction the aid and development sector
- Introduction to monitoring and evaluation
- Participatory design, planning, monitoring and evaluation (this will take the form of a series of face-to-face workshops and online learning events spread over the year)
There are a number of additional areas of key importance to us including rights-based approaches, gender, disability, and humanitarian issues. These will be mainstreamed throughout our learning events and will continue to be addressed through a range of other ACFID activities and networking spaces. Where appropriate, we will suggest trusted external training providers.
Managing yourself, managing others, managing your organisation
- Managing yourself: personal leadership
- Supervising others
- Project management basics
- Planning and facilitating learning ('Train the trainer')
There are a number of additional areas of key importance, including human resource management and financial management for which we will suggest trusted external training providers.
Compliance-related
- Introduction to the ACFID Code of Conduct
- ACFID Code Compliance Self-Assessment
- ACFID Code financial reporting
- ACFID Code-compliant marketing and fundraising
- Child protection
- OAGDS
- AusAID accreditation
Other ACFID learning spaces
As usual, we will be organising two Member Information Forums this year, in the first and third quarters. These will provide members and others with updates about ACFID and AusAID activities and priorities, and offer the opportunity to share insights on 'hot topics' in development.
ACFID working groups offer ongoing platforms for peer learning, organising and advocacy, and we will continue to participate in shared spaces through the Australian Civil-Military Centre.
Free workshop places for smaller ACFID agencies
With the financial support of AusAID, ACFID is able to offer its smaller members and Code signatories free places at selected workshops between now and 30 June 2014. Category 7, 8 and 9 agencies which disburse monies under $1 million annually may register free of charge for the upcoming Introduction to the Aid and Development Sector, Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation, and Introduction to the ACFID Code of Conduct workshops. Information about free places at other workshops will be sent out in March. Contact Ann Tothill for futher information: atothill@acfid.asn.au.
