2023 was a huge year for civil society in our region. Some great strides in terms of delivery, recognition in the development policy, and regional strategies, but there were also deep threats to civil space in the region. For our first InDev Leaders Interviews, we’ve chatted with the leaders of the Pacific, Australian and New Zealand Peak bodies for NGOs to hear their thoughts on last year, and thoughts for the year ahead.
Read on to hear from:
- Emeline Siale Ilolahia (Siale), Executive Director, Pacific Islands Association of Non Government Organisations
- Jessica Mackenzie, Chief of Policy and Advocacy (and at the time Acting CEO), Australian Council for International Development.
- Peter Rudd, Executive Director, Council for International Development New Zealand Aotearoa
1. Reflections on 2023, what were the most significant developments or challenges in the global development sector?
By the end of 2023, we were exhausted, says Siale. The effects of Covid-19 continued to impact development programs, with many activities that were delayed being delivered in 2023. However, the implementation starting on the 2050 strategy was her highlight, with civil society engagement and the opportunity to engage in the region’s long-term priority setting.
“I felt like, because of everything that’s happened, it has given civil society the demand to claim that. And we are development actors in our own right, so we should be recognized as that.”
For Jess, the backward trend in contributions to international development assistance struck her. “We all know that the need for development assistance and cost of delivery is increasing yet funding is decreasing.” But the revived political and departmental ambition in Australia with the New Development Policy was a welcome reprieve along with the announcements of a much-needed new humanitarian strategy, a new civil society partnership fund, the recommitment to the SDGs, and the introduction of new climate targets.
Looking globally, Peter reflected on 2023 as the era of the polycrisis. The pandemic, conflict and war, climate extremes, energy shortage, inflation, and cost of living all shaped how we navigated the world. Three key themes, persistent inequality in all domains, geopolitical tensions across the globe, and climate change were the key things from 2023.
2. Key Ideas for 2024, what do you believe should be the primary focus areas for the global development sector in the coming year, and why are they crucial?
For Peter and Jess, 2024 is the year of elections. Jess focused on whether this will lead to the flourishing of democracy and civic space or to a backslide. “I think it’s undeniable that a critical issue for us to fight against in 2024 as a sector is shrinking civil space.” But beyond the elections, 2024 is also a big year for locally-led development, with Jess highlighting that we are still at the starting line. There’s consensus that it’s a priority, with DFAT (and other donors like FCDO) announcing new locally-led strategies for their departments. But we are still defining what it means to be doing localization well.
For Peter, the year of the election is a test of democracy, and one that will have a lasting impact. Beyond the general elections, many have legislative votes that can impact not just their own nations, but human rights, economies, and the prospects for peace. Crucially, and sadly, for “some countries balloting in elections are neither free nor fair.”
Siale underscored the need for a people-centred approach to development and embedding the 2050 strategy into the Pacific. For each strategy, and government policy, funding is crucial, but linking funding to policy and community is her focus. How development actors partner with communities needs to shift, and NGOs and PIANGO have a key role to fill. “It’s to make sure that we are in there and make those development ecosystems, all of it, have a sense that it is accountable to people.”
Beyond this, for Siale, the new role of community data is a key idea for 2024. While traditional actors seek to validate and control the data, seeing communities as being able to develop and own their data and knowledge is key. As governments move to more e-gov approaches, data from communities is crucial to ensure that any activity links to the community.
3. Technology, Innovation, and Transformation, What trends do you see in terms of innovative thinking in the development sector in 2024? Do you see technology playing more (or less) of a role in development in 2024?
Building from her last answer, Siale focused on the legislation needed for technology. Technology is here, but the community isn’t connected. Policy and legislation need to be adequate to ensure access by communities, otherwise, they face more barriers to information, to services, and to transparency.
For Peter, technology is certainly going to play an even greater role. AI, machine learning, IoT, will all continue to reach further into the sector. From fundraising to media. But, cybersecurity is increasingly critical for actors to be aware of and manage.
This idea of access and security fits with Jess’s focus on while tech is great, we still need to get the basics right before we look at shiny new ideas. There’s still a lot of bad practice; in the end, it’s behavior and the way we interact, design, and measure that needs work.
“Technologies can support what we do, but fundamentally we need to make sure the design, management, and measurement of impact in this work is right before you layer on more tech to that process.”
4. Localisation, How will the discussion move to action this year in localisation?
Localisation has been referenced already in our chats, but for Siale, there is still a way to go. The language of localisation can be a tool to push back on large development actors and ask questions on how they engage in the region. PIANGO uses 7 dimensions of localisation to understand how this happens, from funding to decision-making. But she still sees INGOs setting up offices in the Pacific, without local leadership, that serves to reduce the funding pool for local leadership.
For Jess, while the civil society partnership fund from DFAT offers one great path of turning the policy and words of localisation into action, more is still needed. The great work being done by NGOs in ACFID to meaningfully partner needs to be translated into the other aspects of development.
NZ NGOs are also leaders in this, with Peter highlighting the recent CID member survey showing many are already engaging with local leadership rather than fly-in models. But there is still a way to go for everyone. Crucially, all three spoke on the need for agreement and clarity on what ‘localisation’ is defined as, and how it moves into action.
5. Personal Aspirations – what are your goals for 2024, and what role do you aim to play in achieving these goals?
CID is entering just starting its new strategy, which for Peter is his goal for the year. To drive and hit the ground running in supporting its delivery and the sector across NZ.
For Jess, seeing the Australian development policy translated into action is her focus. Seeing funding and programs flow and come to life. Alongside this, Australia’s intention to host COP31 offers great opportunities for climate finance, but ensuring that it doesn’t distract or displace from existing activities and commitments is critical.
Siale focused on the role of civil society in development. Her focus is on showing how civil society is critical actors in their own right and challenging donors and partners. Bringing community accountability and insights to development policy, and showcasing the ability of CSOs.
6. Hope for 2024, What are you most excited for in 2024 in Global Development?
Looking forward with hope, for Siale, the role of Civil society is a hope, that governments see civil society, not as the annoying bunch who call for changes, but governments can see civil society help build trust, and people need to trust their governments.
Jess’s focus shifted to Gaza, and the hope for a ceasefire. Trust is needed as well, building trust in the multilateral system, the Israel/Palestine conflict may give us a chance to rethink how we respond to these disasters and crises to intervene more immediately, better fund the humanitarian responses based on need, and use the international architecture to greater effect. Her hope is to be part of “how we adjust course for the future so that our systems are stronger. I want us to be fit-for-purpose for the coming ten years, and what they hold.”
This agrees with Peter’s view on the sectors opportunity, and ability to “step up and really prove to donors, investors, government, private sector and just the general public that their support, whether it’s financial support on donations or other support, is warranted and that it’s actually developing positive outcomes and impact to affected communities.”