Code Focus Areas

Every three years, the Code of Conduct Committee (CCC) selects specific principles in the Code as focus areas. These are selected based on the following criteria:

• actual or perceived risk to the sector
• identified areas of low Code compliance
• in response to the needs of members, and
• in response to wider sector or external issues that may arise.

The purpose of choosing focus areas is to improve compliance with the Code and enhance good practice by providing additional support and verification for members. The CCC also uses the focus area process to review the Code standards and guidance to ensure they remain relevant and effective.

The current focus areas are outlined below.

Climate Change

Quality Principle 3 with a focus on:

• Commitment 3.2: We promote environmental stewardship, sustainability and climate action.

Climate change is a global priority issue, which is already impacting, and will continue to impact the work of ACFID’s members and the communities and organisations they work with. The revised Code acknowledges climate change as a critical issue, recognising that while not all members work in the area of environment and climate change programming, the impacts of climate change will be widespread.

This focus area builds on previous focus area work around environmental sustainability. ACFID has a range of resources to assist members with their compliance and to expand their knowledge around climate change. Members are welcome to join the Climate Policy and Practice Community to learn and share with other members.

A summary of all the Code requirements related to climate change can be found in this topic guide.

As part of your triennial Code Self-Assessment, you will be asked to submit documentation that demonstrates your compliance with Indicators 3.2.1 and 3.2.2. This includes:

• A policy, statement or guidance document which commits your organisation to promoting environmental sustainability, climate action and improved environmental outcomes in development and humanitarian initiatives.

• Design or planning framework, tools, templates which require, or a description of approaches, which consistently show evidence of the analysis of environmental risk and management, including risks associated with climate change.

• Policy, statement or guidance document which commits your organisation to minimising the environmental impact, including the carbon footprint, of their organisation’s internal operations.

Locally led development and humanitarian action

Quality Principle 2 and 5 with a focus on:

The international development and humanitarian sector is inherently shaped by politics and power. ACFID members recognise their shared responsibility to establish equitable partnerships, and to contribute to a more just system where local actors are resourced, supported and trusted, to lead and respond to the needs of their communities.

The movement towards locally-led action – reflected in global commitments such as the Grand Bargain, the Charter for Change and Pledge for Change – recognises the importance of redressing historic and ongoing imbalances in power and resources between local and international actors, including both donors and international NGOs.

Working in a locally-led way means transferring power and ownership of development activities and outcomes to local actors who are best placed to understand and make decisions about the needs of their communities. It is inextricably linked to the concept and practice of anti-racism.

Visit the online Locally-Led Action Resource Hub to explore the concept and practice of locally-led action further. A summary of all the Code requirements related to locally led development and humanitarian action can be found in this topic guide.

Members will not be required to submit any documents as part of their Code of Conduct reporting.

ACFID has a range of resources to assist members with their compliance and to expand their knowledge around locally led action. Members are welcome to join the Locally Led Action Community of Practice to learn and share with other members.