Abstract Session: An Invitation to Share Your Work

The Council for International Development (CID) invites our members to put themselves forward to present at the 2026 CID Annual Conference in Wellington. This is a chance to share a core piece of work, a tool, a system, or a policy that is making a difference in the sector — and to invite others to learn from it, build on it, or collaborate with you.

The 2026 conference theme, Stronger Together: Uniting for the Greatest Impact, recognises that in a time of tightening ODA budgets and rising complexity, our greatest strength lies in what we share. Member-led presentations are central to this, they put real practice from across our membership in front of the people best placed to use it.

What we are looking for

We welcome submissions from members across the breadth of the sector, small NGOs and INGOs, MFAT contractors, academic and research partners, and consultancies. The focus is on practical contributions that other members can take something useful away from. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Tools and toolkits — resources you have developed and are willing to share with the sector.
  • Systems and ways of working — operational, governance, or programme delivery approaches that have worked for your organisation.
  • Policies and frameworks — safeguarding, ethics, AI use, localisation, partnership, or similar.
  • Case studies of impactful work — a programme or piece of work that has delivered meaningful change for the communities you serve.
  • Collaborative invitations — a piece of work where you are actively looking for partners, contributors, or sector input.

Submissions do not need to be formal research. We are equally interested in practical resources, lessons from things that did not go to plan, and open invitations to collaborate.

Available speaking slots

There are six member-led speaking slots across the two days of the conference, split into two sessions:

  • One session on Day 1 (Wednesday 9 September) featuring three presenters.
  • One session on Day 2 (Thursday 10 September) featuring three presenters.

Each presenter will have 10–15 minutes, followed by collective Q&A and discussion at the end of the session.

Three of the six spots are reserved for smaller NGOs and INGOs to ensure the programme reflects the full breadth of our membership and that smaller organisations have a clear platform to share their work.

What to include in your submission

Please prepare a single submission that includes the following:

Title

A clear, descriptive title (up to 15 words).

Organisation

Name of your organisation and indication of size (small NGO/INGO, mid-sized, or large).

Presenter(s)

Name, role, and contact details for the lead presenter, plus any co-presenters.

Type of contribution

Tool, toolkit, system, programme, policy, framework, case study, or collaborative invitation.

Abstract

A summary of up to 300 words covering: what it is, why it matters, who can use it, and what delegates will take away.

Call to action

One or two sentences on what you would like the audience to do, try, or connect with you about.

Format preference

Indicate if you are open to presenting on Day 1, Day 2, or either.

 

How submissions will be selected

A small panel from the CID Secretariat and Conference Committee will review all submissions against the following criteria:

  • Relevance to the Stronger Together theme and the practical realities of the sector.
  • Clear value for delegates — something they can use, adapt, or build on.
  • Diversity of voices, organisation size, and thematic focus across the final line-up.
  • Strength of the call to action and openness to collaboration.

We will confirm all outcomes — successful and unsuccessful — within two weeks of the submission deadline.

How to submit

Send your completed submission to events@cid.org.nz with the subject line “CID Conference 2026 – Abstract Submission” by 5pm, Thursday 13 August 2026.

Submissions can be made as a Word document, PDF, or in the body of an email. If you would like to discuss an idea before submitting, please get in touch — we are happy to talk it through.

 

Key dates

Date

Milestone

13 August 2026

Abstract submissions close (5pm)

By 27 August 2026

Selected presenters confirmed and notified

9–10 September 2026

CID Annual Conference, James Cook Hotel, Wellington

 

Questions?

For any questions about your submission or the conference programme, please contact the CID Secretariat at events@cid.org.nz. We look forward to reading your submissions and to seeing the work of our members reflected on the 2026 conference stage.

 

Poster Session: Do you want to highlight your organisation to the sector?

CID members are warmly invited to register their organisation for the poster sessions running across both days of the 2026 Annual Conference. Poster sessions are a great way to showcase your organisation and its work directly to conference delegates — and we particularly encourage smaller members who may have limited visibility at sector events to take advantage of this opportunity.

Posters should be between A2 and A0 in size. Register your interest by emailing events@cid.org.nz with the subject heading "Poster Session Conference 2026" and CID will be in touch with further information once registrations have closed.

Registrations close: Tuesday 29 July 2026