The AIDN Beat
The AIDN Beat is an inclusive space for thought leadership pieces that explore the complexities, trends, and future of the Australian international development sector.
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. 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.
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.
Subscribers of The AIDN Beat will receive a bi-monthly 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.
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NEWS & RESOURCES
Latest Stories and Developments
Rethinking localisation – Beyond the illusion.
Co-Founder of Cambodian Children's Trust, Tara Winkler, highlights the Village Hive model in Cambodia as a radical example of localisation in international development. Moving forward, Tara invites our network to an honest and open discussion about the future of localisation. What constitutes the most effective path to localisation in our sector? And can localisation ever be too radical... or does that just mean it is working?
Cross-sector partnerships: 5 years of lessons from Bangladesh.
Cross Sector Development Partnership Initiative (XSPI)'s Jessica Carter reflects on XSPI's ambition to foster social impact and forge partnerships between business, government, non-profits, philanthropy and research in Bangladesh over the past five years. Jessica shares three key lessons for practitioners: building relationships takes time, leveraging legislation can unlock progress, and impact investment deserves greater attention.
Reimagining rural healthcare in Timor-Leste: from the sky up.
Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) operates Timor-Leste’s only air ambulance, flying critical medevacs to the national hospital in Dili. MAF's Eleanor Rivers explores how the program’s impact lies not only in rapid transport, but in ensuring equal access to healthcare, upholding dignity, and building community trust. Close alignment with government priorities is also essential to keeping the service effective and sustainable.
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Two continents, one mission: How an Australian-Ugandan partnership sparked transformative change in rural Uganda.
This vignette style piece invites our network to explore the evolution of Help 'Us' Grow (HUG), an Australian NFP supporting Ugandan initiatives since 2007. Told through the perspectives of founder Helen Brown, on-the-ground leader Ssemwogerere David, and key funder Mark Cubit, the piece highlights the transformative impact of Aussie fundraising and philanthropy when driven by passion, reflection, and community ownership.
Exercising the governance muscle – why inclusive land governance matters.
In this incisive piece, Elizabeth Daley (Chair of the Board of the Land Portal Foundation) strips back complex debates on “good governance” in international development for our network. Drawing on over 20 years of work on land rights and governance globally, Elizabeth argues that inclusive land governance promotes fairness, reduces conflicts, and challenges harmful social norms by ensuring all community members, especially marginalized groups, have a voice in land use decisions.
Amplifying impact and holding the lines: the case of the Forest Glades centre and Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries in Ukraine.
In this latest piece from Gordon Weiss (Planet Humana), our network is given a unique on-the-ground insight into the ongoing war in Ukraine. Gordon reflects on the work of the Forest Glades centre that is treating Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries, and the significant impact that small philanthropic funds can have in this ecosystem.
Celebrating one year of The AIDN Beat.
Since launching last September, we have been amazed by the interest and uptake of The AIDN Beat. We’ve published twenty-four thought pieces over the last year. To celebrate, we’ve compiled all the pieces into this PDF booklet, so you can revisit the rich insights shared by our contributors.
AIDN Beat Spotlight: Fifi Rashando.
Through The AIDN Beat Spotlight series we hope to highlight a diverse range of sector experts and learn more about their journey in the international development sector. Meet Fifi Rashando, GEDSI (Gender, Disability, and Social Inclusion) and Safeguarding Manager at Opportunity International Australia, Executive Committee Member with the Australian Disability & Development Consortium (ADDC) and previous Board Director for the Leprosy Mission.
Building shared value for development outcomes: The importance of Cross Sector Development Partnerships (CSPs).
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.
Maximizing the impact of cardiac care in East and Southern Africa: The power of knowledge sharing, specialised training and fostering South-South partnerships.
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.
The only good development program is one you can leave behind.
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.
Developing development leadership? The value of purposeful leadership education for the development sector.
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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