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 by filling in the form below.

Sign Up

to receive the latest AIDN news to your inbox

NEWS & RESOURCES

Latest Stories and Developments

AIDN Beat Spotlight: Gill Whelan

AIDN Beat Spotlight: Gill Whelan

Mar 11, 2025
Gill Whelan is the General Manager of DECJUBA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of leading fashion retailer, DECJUBA.  Working closely with DECJUBA Owner & Chair, Tania Austin, Gill is establishing and steering partnerships with local and international charity organisations with the aim of positively impacting 25 million lives by 2025. 
Read more
Education for every girl: How community and data driven approaches are changing the game in India.

Education for every girl: How community and data driven approaches are changing the game in India.

Feb 28, 2025
Drawing on her experience in rural India, Nooreen Dossa (Director of Strategic Engagements at Educate Girls) argues that the key to driving long-term, sustainable change within communities —particularly in relation to gender equity and girls’ access to education—lies in combining community-led solutions with data-driven insights.
Read more
The untapped power of corporate Australia in global giving.

The untapped power of corporate Australia in global giving.

Feb 25, 2025
Rosemary Conn reflects on the key findings from AIDN's recent research project into the state of Australian corporate giving to international causes. Rosemary's piece highlights both the challenges Australian businesses currently face when it comes to global philanthropy, but also their strong desire to make a meaningful international impact.
Read more
No results found.
Building shared value for development outcomes: The importance of Cross Sector Development Partnerships (CSPs).

Building shared value for development outcomes: The importance of Cross Sector Development Partnerships (CSPs).

26 September 2024
Drawing on their roles as CEO and Senior Research Associate at the Cross Sector Development Partnerships Initiative (XSPI), Zoey Diaz and Jasmine Stephens highlight the importance of CSPs for breaking down institutional and sectoral silos, and disrupting traditional development models by fostering the mutually beneficial exchange of skills, knowledge and resources.
Read more
Maximizing the impact of cardiac care in East and Southern Africa: The power of knowledge sharing, specialised training and fostering South-South partnerships.

Maximizing the impact of cardiac care in East and Southern Africa: The power of knowledge sharing, specialised training and fostering South-South partnerships.

23 September 2024
Drawing on her role as CEO of Save A Child's Heart, Jo Star argues that external medical expertise and resources remain vital in cardiac care in many African countries. But impact is only maximized when coupled with investment in knowledge sharing and training.
Read more
The only good development program is one you can leave behind.

The only good development program is one you can leave behind.

13 August 2024
Tamar Kosky Lazarus, Chief Development and Communications officer at IsraAID, reflects upon her recent visit to two IDP (internally displaced persons) camps in Juba, South Sudan. Drawing on the example of one women-led community group that continues to demonstrate incredible resilience despite devastating circumstances, Tamar argues that the humanitarian community must do better. In particular, the development sector must work to ensure that development programs do not create external dependencies nor exit without a follow up plan. Instead, for any development program to be sustainable, it must be community-led and given the time and space to flourish under local leadership.
Read more
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.

14 July 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.
Read more
AIDN’s 2024 Insight Tour to Tanzania and Kenya.

AIDN’s 2024 Insight Tour to Tanzania and Kenya.

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

Empowering girls in India – one meeting at a time.

11 June 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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
Next Page
No results found.