1. Looking Back Looking Forward:
The Challenges for ACFID in its
second fifty years.
Dr Patrick Kilby

2. “Where did you go to, if I may ask?' said Thorin to
Gandalf as they rode along. To look ahead,' said he.
And what brought you back?„ Looking behind,' said
he.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
 Paper from a Book for the 50th Anniversary in
2015 – “The Politics of Aid”.
 Book is thematic but this session will be more
chronological loosely around four themes

3.  The changing nature of aid and development
 The changing nature of NGOs
 Relations with government.
 How does a peak body like ACFID respond to an
increasingly diverse constituency,

4. The Early Years 1960s-1970s

First Development decade - one of hope.

WCC and the 1% campaign in 1958 adopted by
UN in 1960 (became 0.7% in 1970 with FDI
dropped from it);

Global Freedom From Hunger Campaign (1962)
shifted NGOs and public awareness;

NGOs recognised as development actors by the
UN in 1963;

Social Justice Movement (Catholic and WCC)
SDAPAX led to AWD

ACFID proposed in 1963 founded in 1965.

5. 1960s-1970s contd

Govt relations weak in the 1960s (Vietnam
Project);

A more radical agenda in the 1970s (failure of
first Development Decade) social justice and
liberation movement supported; Global
Education the priority. Public funding high.

Whitlam govt introduced government funding as
a subsidy but remained at a low level; Harries
report (1979) dismissive of NGOs

Much shouting but little listening – division within
NGO community about the „radical‟ agenda –
Tasmania Summer School of 1976 last hurrah

6. The 1980s: a closer engagement
with Government

1979 Cambodian crisis and large appeal brought
NGOs into spotlight and gave govt „access‟ to
Cambodia;

1983 change of government led to massive
increase of aid to NGOs, and into bilateral
programs;

Code of Ethics 1986-1989;

Start of large Campaigns One World or None

7. 1990-2000s a New Set of Challenges

Biting the hand that feeds;

Criticising government publically – High Court Case
on tax deductabiilty, gag orders in contracts, ACNC
response;

Criticising government privately – letter to
submission to DAC Committee in 2004 resulted in a
„dressing down‟. Similar in Canada in early 1990s;

Too Close for Comfort („Dependency‟ on govt funding);

Drop in govt funding to NGOs 1990-2010 (as % aid
program); increase in public funding.

Vagaries of political cycle Domestic peaks defunded
2000-2002; CCIC (Canada) and CID (NZ) both
defunded in 2010s

8. Challenges for Future
Large and Small NGOs – whose voice?;


Government argues that 10 largest NGOs represent
80-90% NGO public funding so they should be
listened to;

ACFID argues diversity of sector improves the quality
of advice e.g. disability pushed by smaller niche
NGOs; likewise environment, and HIV/AIDS;

NGOs are more globalised

9. The Future

Participatory democracy not in favour - new
corporatism globally,

Poor people in middle income countries

pressure on NGOs on advocacy, becomes more
general; partners are squeezed;

Government funding of NGOs will fall as bilateral
relations take precedence and the role of new
donors (e.g China);

New NGOs and new media (24 hr news cycle)
dispersal of messages;

10. Thank You