Deadline: 10-Nov-22
Applicants are invited to submit their applications for the Direct Aid Program (DAP), 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 north east India. It supports projects that have a strong development focus, contribute 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
- DAP grants typically range up to 10 lakh INR, 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.
- Projects should be self-contained, with finite timelines. They must run for no longer than 12 months and should be self-sustainable beyond the term of the grant.
What activities are eligible for DAP support?
DAP activities should aim to achieve practical and tangible outcomes of high development impact. In 2022-23 they aim to work with partners on high quality projects on five thematic areas:
- Education, skills & 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.
- Women’s empowerment: projects that address gender-sensitive issues including women’s health and nutrition requirements, economic empowerment and that help end violence and discrimination. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) access for women and children is also a focus.
- Agricultural productivity: projects that directly support productivity in India’s agricultural sector and its communities.
- Environmental conservation: projects that promote sustainable conservation practices.
- Promoting gender equality and diversity: innovative and sustainable ideas that promote diversity in all its forms – indigenous inclusion, LGBTQI+ and disability rights.
Outputs
Projects must be clearly defined with specific outputs. Applications will be approved on the basis of:
- The costs and the development benefits of the proposal.
- Achievable and sustainable outcomes.
- Consideration of environmental impact.
- Soundness of the project’s objectives and design.
- The practicability of the proposed implementation arrangements.
- Whether the project conforms with the objectives of the Direct Aid Program, and
- Compliance with FCRA rules.
Eligibility Criteria
- 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.
- The Australian Consulate-General in Kolkata supports small-scale, sustainable development projects in east and north east India (see below for a list of states covered).
- 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.
For more information, visit https://kolkata.consulate.gov.au/kata/directaidprogram.html