Deadline: 20-Nov-20
The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a small grants program funded by the Australian Government and managed through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The Australian Consulate-General in Kolkata manages the DAP in east and northeast India. It supports projects that have a strong development focus, contributes to poverty reduction, and strengthen communities in India. Over the past decade, DAP has built linkages and fostered relationships between Australia and these communities.
Funding Information
- Grants are typically provided up to 2, 60,000 INR each, with some flexibility in case of justified project expenses.
- The majority of grant funding must be used to cover the direct project expenses (excluding staff salaries).
- Any administrative costs given by the application should comply with current FCRA rules. Funding recipients must meet some of the project costs from their own funds or in-kind support.
Funding Ineligibility
They will generally NOT fund the following:
- cash grants or micro-credit schemes or projects that involve the return of money;
- commercial ventures;
- purchase of major assets, e.g. vehicles;
- Australian or overseas study tours;
- international travel;
- sponsorship of major sporting tournaments or cultural displays that do not have a clear developmental benefit;
- staff salaries;
- routine, recurring running costs and administrative expenses including office rental and utility costs, spare parts, routine maintenance.
What activities are eligible for DAP support?
DAP activities should aim to achieve practical and tangible outcomes of high development impact. They are committed to working with India to contain and combat COVID-19 and address the health, economic and social impacts of the pandemic. In 2020-21, they aim to work with partners on high-quality projects on five thematic areas:
- Education, innovation & entrepreneurship: under education, projects that work towards increasing access to education and learning opportunities. Under skills and entrepreneurship, projects that promote micro and small scale industries that have been impacted due to COVID-19.
- Gender equality and women’s empowerment: projects that address gender-sensitive COVID-19 issues including women’s health and nutrition requirements, economic empowerment and that help end violence and discrimination.
- Water and sanitation: projects that work towards access to safe drinking water and create awareness of good sanitation and hygiene practices. Projects that assist in better sanitation and hygiene practices to control the spread of COVID-19.
- Agricultural productivity: projects that directly support productivity in India’s agricultural sector and its communities.
- Public Administration and Governance: projects that promote good governance models and facilitate access and awareness on government schemes and programs through advocacy and capacity building, especially tailored to COVID-19 requirements.
Who can apply?
- DAP funding is available to community groups, NGOs and academic institutions engaged in development activities on a not-for-profit basis. For projects in India, applicants must have current Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration and the applications should be in line with its latest Amendment Rules. Information about obtaining FCRA approval and notices.
- The Australian Consulate-General in Kolkata supports small-scale, sustainable development projects in the east and northeast India.
- States covered by the Australian Consulate-General in Kolkata: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal.
How To Apply
- The Australian Consulate-General Kolkata’s DAP operates on the Australian financial year, which runs from 1 July to 30 June. The 2020-21 DAP Application Round will open on Tuesday 20 October 2020 and close on Friday 20 November 2020.
- All DAP applications must be submitted through the online grants management system SmartyGrants. The portal operates on a web-based platform and can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Applications are usually reviewed through a one-stage process wherein all applicants are encouraged to submit a full application in the format available on SmartyGrants. Information on FCRA registration and financial audit statements for the previous two years is mandatory for all applicants.
- All applicants will be notified about the outcome of their applications via email by the end of January 2021.
For more information, visit https://kolkata.consulate.gov.au/kata/directaidprogram.html