AIDN’s core ethos is ‘more’ and ‘better’ global giving and we seek to foster an environment for the discussion and exploration of how we define these terms in an ever-changing international development ecosystem. Alongside our events, webinars and resources, The AIDN Beat is a key way to achieve this goal.

However, at AIDN we are aware that ‘better’ and ‘more’ are evolving and subjective terms. We are also deeply committed to amplifying diverse voices. Consequently, we accept submissions to The AIDN Beat – so that our dynamic network can shape the discussion too. If you would like to submit content for The AIDN Beat, then we would love to hear from you. Get in touch with us (via hannah@aidnetwork.org.au) and we will share our editorial guidelines.


The AIDN Beat strives to keep up with the rhythm of the international development sector and cover a broad range of subjects: from innovative development financing, to leading case-studies of programs on-the-ground, to the need for a genuine commitment to localisation.

Each month subscribers of AIDN receive an email where we’ll share recent pieces from The AIDN Beat, alongside curated pieces from other international development platforms and provide a recommendation for a relevant text, film or podcast. If you’re are not currently signed up to receive The AIDN Beat or our newsletter, you can do so here.

NEWS & RESOURCES

Latest Stories and Developments

Developing development leadership? The value of purposeful leadership education for the development sector

Developing development leadership? The value of purposeful leadership education for the development sector

Jul 14, 2024
Dr Denisse Rodríguez, Dr Jaco Renken, Dr Matthew Mabefam and Dr Natalie Cunningham highlight how in a period of increasing complexity and challenge for international development, collaborative and critical leadership has never been more important to both navigate practical and ethical issues, and influence organisational decision making. The expert guest contributors argue for purposeful leadership education, such as the “Master of Leadership for Development”, moving forward.
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AIDN’s 2024 Insight Tour to Tanzania and Kenya

AIDN’s 2024 Insight Tour to Tanzania and Kenya

Jun 17, 2024
A wrap up of AIDN's 2024 Insight Tour to Tanzania and Kenya.
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Empowering girls in India – one meeting at a time.

Empowering girls in India – one meeting at a time.

Jun 11, 2024
The question as to what “empowerment” actually means or how it manifests on-the-ground remains a perennial question at the heart of international development. In this piece, Surbhi Mahajan shares with our network how she and her colleagues at The Hunger Project India have come to learn how “empowerment” emerges in many different and diverse compositions, extending to safety, mobility, food security and active citizenship. To illustrate this, Surbhi takes us to Bihar, India to meet various young women and girls who currently attend the Sukyana Club.
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Impact Investment in Bangladesh: A New Story

Impact Investment in Bangladesh: A New Story

11 June 2024
Bangladesh is at a pivotal moment where it will need to balance economic growth with social development and inclusion. In this piece, Lily Van Berkel and Nick Goryl from XSPI highlight the role that impact investing can play in navigating this key moment in Bangladesh’s rising economy. In particular, they examine recent moves by BRAC and the National Advisory Board for Impact Investment in Bangladesh (NAB), before unpacking the case study of Build Bangladesh.
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Why giving directly is not the path forward: The ongoing tension in Australian international philanthropy.

Why giving directly is not the path forward: The ongoing tension in Australian international philanthropy.

11 June 2024
In this piece, Anita Toy argues that the current parameters whereby Australian Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs) and Public Ancillary Funds (PuAFs) cannot directly fund overseas charities (without funding via an Australian registered DGR charity) is fit for purpose. This is because Australian intermediary organisations and local fundraising entities registered with the ACNC must comply with the ACNC’s External Conduct Standards to promote transparency, and reduce the risk of funds being misused overseas.
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Hard-edged choices in Ukraine’s survival war

Hard-edged choices in Ukraine’s survival war

27 May 2024
Gordon Weiss provides our network with a first hand account of the state of humanitarian response and the NGO sector in Ukraine in May 2024. Drawing upon his former role in Ukraine with the United Nations, Gordon is now heading a small-circle philanthropic organisation and currently in Ukraine determining how organisations are adapting and pivoting in the face of ongoing war. It is in this context that international funders, like Gordon, must make hard-edge choices concerning who to support and how to maximise impact in a war for survival.
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Why I do what I do (along with many other people I respect and admire).

Why I do what I do (along with many other people I respect and admire).

4 April 2024
Mark Cubit, AIDN Co-Founder, shares with our network what underpins his ongoing drive and commitment to the international development sector. Mark outlines two key reasons: first, because working in our sector affords him the privilege of working with and witnessing the incredible work of both the “doers” and the “funders” of international development. Second, because even whilst slow, the data shows that international development efforts are working.
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Swimming to end human trafficking: The power of individual fundraising.

Swimming to end human trafficking: The power of individual fundraising.

4 April 2024
Kim Miller, Schools and Partnerships Coordinator at Blue Dragon Children's Foundation, reflects on what her upcoming swim across the English channel has taught her about the role of individual fundraising in 2024. Whilst many of the key discussions in international development may now center around major development financing, Kim highlights the ongoing impact that individual fundraising can have professionally and personally - in addition to supporting urgent causes.
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Beyond cupcakes: why engaging young men in gender equality initiatives, such as IWD, is key.

Beyond cupcakes: why engaging young men in gender equality initiatives, such as IWD, is key.

4 April 2024
Following IWD 2024, AIDN's Communications and Research Lead, Hannah McNicol, asks: how do we ensure that gender equality initiatives and events like IWD also spark interest in men, are spaces that they are likely to attend, and can meaningfully engage in? To answer this question, Hannah calls for a reflection on several innovative international development programs that focus on engaging young men to achieve gender justice for all, including Dandelion Africa and Grass Skirt Project.
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For conservation efforts to move forward we must center Indigenous voices and take a human rights-centric approach.

For conservation efforts to move forward we must center Indigenous voices and take a human rights-centric approach.

2 March 2024
Mahum Qazi, Communications Assistant at Project Expedite Justice, outlines the tension between international accords that aim to protect the environment and the “fortress conservation model”. Whilst such accords strive to improve planetary health, in practice they can fail to consider how many Indigenous Peoples have fostered healthy ecosystems and can instead lead to human rights violations and land dispossession.
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Navigating complexity: the moment that defined how I conduct impact evaluations globally.

Navigating complexity: the moment that defined how I conduct impact evaluations globally.

2 March 2024
Matias Nestore, Research and Evaluation Associate at The Life You Can Save, reflects on a watershed moment that has defined how he conducts impact evaluations globally. Matias argues against simplified monitoring and evaluation practices. Instead, it is critical to implement a qualitative approach to impact assessment that understands participants as active agents with unique circumstances and agency.
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Women and girls are facing unprecedented hardship in Afghanistan, but international development organisations can play an important role in continuing to fight for their access to education.

Women and girls are facing unprecedented hardship in Afghanistan, but international development organisations can play an important role in continuing to fight for their access to education.

2 March 2024
Jackie Fristacky AM, President of AADO, provides an important update on women and girls’ access to education in Afghanistan. We must continue to support women and girls to achieve, flourish and learn even if it is a slow, multifaceted and complex process.
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