The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), the peak body for international development and humanitarian organisations, welcomes the Government's announcement of $35 million over the coming four years for a Civil Society Partnerships Fund. This initiative, first flagged alongside the new International Development Policy in August 2023, demonstrates a renewed Government commitment to support civil society.
The fund is designed to strengthen the critical work of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) around the world, supporting them to address shrinking civic space and restricted freedoms. This initiative is part of the Government's broader commitments to locally led development and strengthening regional partnerships through increased direct investment in civil society.
In its 2023 inquiry into Supporting Democracy, the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) recommended the establishment of a Civil Society Organisations Hub and proposed a baseline target for the percentage of Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds directed to and through CSOs. Despite the report's acknowledgment of the crucial role CSOs play in delivering Australia's humanitarian and development assistance, direct Government funding to these organisations has continued to decline.
ACFID notes this is the first funded initiative under the new development policy that is injecting direct support to CSO partners to purse their mandate and purpose, recognising the importance of strong and capable civil society as a development outcome in and of itself.
ACFID's Chief of Policy and Advocacy, Jocelyn Condon said:
"The announcement of much-anticipated funding to the Civil Society Partnerships Fund is a welcome, critical signal of the Government's intention to fully implement its commitments to civil society in the development policy. This has come not a moment too soon at a time of rising illiberalism and shrinking civic space across our region.
"We're excited to see the Government embarking on this new era in the delivery of Australia's development program, recognising the value that a broad base of civil society actors brings to Australia's ambition for a stable and prosperous region.
"ACFID's members are privileged to work daily in close partnership with local CSOs and are eager to embrace this opportunity to work in closely with the Government on the delivery of important development outcomes while building local leadership.
"The previous Government drastically shrunk the opportunities available to civil society to work as partners to the development program. We see this announcement as the first step towards rebuilding strong connections with the civil society sector, and we're looking forward to welcoming more developments of this kind."
