Posted on 02 September 2019
The Council for International Development is an Associate Member of DevNet. In June 2019, to expand member engagement, nominations were called from the sector for representatives to sit on the DevNet Steering Committee and the DevNet Conference Committee. The call for nominations was advertised in the CID newsletter, and three nominations were received and accepted. This is a new arrangement and will be reviewed in December 2020, following the conclusion of the 2020 DevNet Conference. This Terms of Reference outlines DevNet and its activities, including the biennial Conference, and describes the roles and responsibilities of CID’s representatives on the DevNet Steering Committee and Conference Committee.
About DevNet
The goal of DevNet is to improve the quality of New Zealand research on international development and enhance the effectiveness of New Zealand’s contribution to international development policy and practice. DevNet’s aim is to facilitate the exchange of ideas, information and research between and amongst Development Studies staff and related departments and students in tertiary institutions, and key stakeholders in development. Such stakeholders include aid and development NGOs, private sector development practitioners, and government (particularly MFAT).
DevNet has a website (here), disseminates an occasional e-newsletter, and runs a conference once every two years. The Conference is the main DevNet activity and is a great opportunity to bring together the whole international development community in New Zealand. The next DevNet Conference is scheduled to be held in Palmerston North, 2-4 December 2020.
DevNet Steering Committee
DevNet is guided by a Steering Committee, which meets four times a year. The role of the Steering Committee is to set the direction for the activities of DevNet (including, for instance, oversight of the website, newsletter production, events, and feedback on MFAT policy).
CID’s representative on the DevNet Steering Committee is Angela Wilton, Partnerships Director, Oxfam NZ.
DevNet Conference Committee
The DevNet Conference Committee organises the biennial DevNet conference. Some members of the Steering Committee also sit on the Conference Committee to ensure alignment.
The CID representatives’ role on the Conference Committee is to help generate support, ideas and participation from amongst the CID membership to contribute to the delivery of a successful DevNet conference (as measured by participant feedback). CID has appointed two representatives to sit on DevNet Conference Committee, Shona Jennings, Director of Impact, ChildFund; and Jo Spratt, Advocacy & Campaigns Director, Oxfam NZ.
The representatives shall make themselves available for meetings, including at least three meetings in the non-conference year; and meetings at least every two months in the year of the conference.
Feedback mechanisms between CID representations, CID Executive Director and CID membership
- Prior to each DevNet Steering Committee meeting, the CID representative will correspond with the CID Director to seek member input into DevNet Steering Committee directions.
- Following each meeting, the CID representative will write a short note regarding key points from the meeting, and share this with the CID Director, for dissemination amongst the membership as the CID Director sees fit.
- Prior to each DevNet Conference Committee meeting, a CID representative (as agreed among the representatives) will correspond with the CID Director to seek member input into DevNet Conference directions.
- Following each meeting, the CID representative will write a short summary of key points from the meeting, and share this with the CID Director, for dissemination amongst the membership as the CID Director sees fit.