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As the Australian International Development Network outlines in their Case For Global Giving, in the international development sector, issues of trust remain a significant obstacle to a sustained flow of giving to overseas causes. Organisations with overseas programs repeatedly encounter the same questions including ‘How do I know if my money gets there? How do I know if my money will be spent prudently? Who can I trust?’.

One of the clearest ways for an Australian charity working overseas to overcome this hurdle, and simultaneously ensure that their supporters feel empowered to give effectively and with impact, is through accreditation with the Australian Government.

In 2019, So They Can was proud to receive Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) base accreditation. In 2023, we were further awarded full accreditation — a status awarded to less than 1% of Australia’s 60,000+ charities. In short, it means that So They Can’s Education Program is delivered in partnership with the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

Crucially, the process of obtaining this accreditation is rigorous and a number of requirements related to governance, effectiveness, inclusion and impact must be adhered to within any accredited organisation’s development model. These requirements, adhered to at So They Can, include:

• Regular, rigorous, financial efficiency and effectiveness assessments that must be renewed and re-applied for every 5 years.
• Maintaining high governance and policy compliance standards which ensure the organisation remains highly credible and transparent.
• Membership with the Australian Council For International Development (ACFID) – the peak body for Australian NGOs involved in international development and humanitarian action.
• High awareness of program participants’ and environmental safeguards in all programming, including numerous avenues for safeguarding children, women and girls, and people living with disabilities.

This accreditation also reinforces So They Can’s position as a leading NGO within the sector, creating greater opportunities to engage with and influence Australian international development policy where appropriate.

The team at So They Can are grateful for the ongoing support of the Australian Government through the ANCP. To date, AUD $5,578,647 has been granted to So They Can by the Australian Government since 2019.

We now call on Australian funders to help us leverage and maximise the impact of this funding allocation from the Australian Government — as the more income we raise, the more funding from the Australian Government we unlock.

Together, we are working to reduce poverty through access to quality education.