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</font><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">Dear supporters</font></div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"></font> </div><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">Covering the news at the
moment is the big delay in the Government’s promise to increase the aid budget
to 0.5% of GNI. As AID/WATCH pointed out in a </font><a href="https://theconversation.edu.au/beyond-aid-numbers-accountability-for-human-rights-abuses-6396"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">recent
article in the Conversation</font></a><font size="3" face="Calibri">, whilst we support the call made by other NGOs
to honour the aid commitments, we believe that the focus on the quality of our
aid program should not be forgotten.</font></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">The Government has been undergoing a process of reviewing
the quality and “effectiveness” of the Australian Aid program. Part of this
involved a review of donor or multilateral organisations that sadly but
predictably gave greater weighting to organisations like the World Bank due to
their pro-market economic mandates. As promised </font><a href="http://www.aidwatch.org.au/publications/tracking-the-independent-review-measuring-up-the-multilaterals"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">AID/WATCH
undertook our own assessments of Multilateral performance</font></a><font size="3" face="Calibri"> based upon human
rights and social indicators (many thanks to all those who came and made our
launch of our Assessments in April a great night!) Our assessments are now all available
on the A/W website </font><a href="http://www.aidwatch.org.au/publications/tracking-the-independent-review-measuring-up-the-multilaterals"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">here</font></a><font size="3" face="Calibri">.
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</font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">In the past AID/WATCH has helped to successfully change or
halt damaging aid projects through working with local organisations. One such
success was around the Pacific Lands Program which threatened to displace and
alienate Indigenous people from their land through </font><a href="http://www.aidwatch.org.au/sites/aidwatch.org.au/files/IssuesPaperLand.pdf"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">an
ill-conceived reform of customary land across the Pacific</font></a><font size="3" face="Calibri">. The </font><a href="http://www.aidwatch.org.au/campaigns/pacificwatch"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">Melanesian Indigenous
Land Defence Alliance which formed in response</font></a><font size="3" face="Calibri"> has recently launched a new
website to support their ongoing work against development processes that
exclude community voices and promotion of customary alternatives </font><a href="http://www.mildamelanesia.org/"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">www.mildamelanesia.org</font></a><font size="3" face="Calibri">. It has heap of fantastic documents and videos produced by local activists so check it out!</font></p>
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</font><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:14pt"><font face="Calibri">AID/WATCH are looking for new
Committee Members</font></span></b></div><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">Finally, A few long term AID/WATCH committee members are
stepping down this year, so this is an excellent opportunity for new members to
get involved. We are looking for enthusiastic and dedicated people to join our
Management Committee (CoM). As part of a dedicated group of volunteers, the
Management Committee provides a vital role in setting the direction for
AID/WATCH, driving campaigns and dealing with management issues. Go to our </font><a href="http://www.aidwatch.org.au/news/positions-vacant-aidwatch-management-committee"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">website</font></a><font size="3" face="Calibri">
to find out more.</font></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"></font> </div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">And one last thing - AID/WATCH will shortly be turning the
grand old age of 20! We’re in the process of organising a suitable celebration
and will be back in contact soon with details and invites. As part of this
celebration we’ll be re-launching our newsletter in an e-format with the first
issue set to cover some of our highlights and promote our latest projects. </font></div><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">But for now, don’t forget to like us on </font><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AIDWATCH"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">facebook</font></a><font size="3" face="Calibri"> for all the latest
information.</font></p><p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><div> </div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">AID/WATCH</font></div><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
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