The first award is the ACFID Sir Ron Wilson Human Rights Award, which is given to an individual or an organization which has made an outstanding contribution towards advancing human rights in the international development sector. The award is presented annually and individuals such as Ms Jane Hunt, currently researcher at the Australian National University examining governance issues among indigenous communities of Australia, Mr Phil Glendenning, Director of the Edmund Rice Centre, David Bussau, who has been the co-foundater of Opportunity International, a nonprofit agency and Nalini Kasynathan -from Oxfam-Australia were distinguished past recipients of the award. Since both Australians and non-Australians have been awarded, it is clear that this competition is opened to all those individuals and organizations involved in international development around the world.
The second award given out by ACFID is the Outstanding Contribution to the Sector Award. This award is only for Australian individuals who have made outstanding contribution towards aid and NGO development over an extended period of time. The award is preferably given out to an individual who has made the contribution to the whole sector rather than working in a single agency. Past recipients of this award include Mr. Greg Thompson, who was also associated with ACFID, Mrs. Wendy Rose for her contributiont towards Australian overseas aid and Mr. Chris Franks. This award is reservered only for Australian nationals.
To be eligible for this award, the individual or the organization has to be nominated. There is only one nomination form made available for both the awards. The nomination form is fairly simple and runs for 4 pages providing details about the nominee. Information about the suitability of the nominee and brief biographical information has to be given in the form along with the references and the nominator’s name and contact details. It should also be specified if the form is being used to submit the nomination for ACFID Sir Ron Wilson Human Rights Award or for ACFID Sir Ron Wilson Human Rights Award.
The last date to submit the nominations is 5 June 2009. The nomination form can be sent both by email and mail. For more information about the award, visit this link.
