Deadline: 9-Jun-23
Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal is seeking applications for the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative – Community Impact Program.
Through this initiative, with the Australian Government’s support, FRRR is investing in the future, enabling agriculture-dependent communities to identify and act on their drought preparedness priorities at a grassroots level.
They will do this by investing in projects that seek to strengthen social and community networking, support, engagement and wellbeing by delivering a tailored package of support that includes:
- Community Impact Grants: Working with locally led community organisations to develop and deliver a program of support to strengthen community networks, capabilities and facilities that support drought preparedness (delivered by FRRR); and
- Community Leadership Activities: Supporting community members to develop their leadership skills to contribute to drought resilience in their community (delivered by ARLF).
Objectives
- The Community Impact Program is designed to support community members and not-for-profit organisations in remote, rural and regional Australia to drive local action that helps prepare for drought. It is part of the Australian Government’s commitment through the Future Drought Fund to support Australian agricultural communities to build drought resilience.
Priority
- Priorities for program investment that will be considered when selecting successful applicants include:
- Demonstrated understanding of drought preparedness as it relates to local needs and the unique geographical, climatic and community context;
- Demonstrated community readiness to support the project at a local level;
- Demonstrated collaboration and reach with a diverse range of community-based organisations at a local and/or regional level;
- Alignment with other Future Drought Fund investments, such as Regional Drought Resilience Planning, Drought Resilience Research and Adoption Program or other community resilience initiatives;
- Motivation and intent for participation in the program that is aligned with supporting long term social connection, capability building and an increased capacity for people and communities to adapt to change over time; and
- Engagement and participation of the local community, specifically young people, and First Nations community members.
- Applications that include locally based community organisations that have participated in the Future Drought Fund’s Regional Drought Resilience Planning, where applicable, will be prioritised. Where Regional Drought Resilience Planning is not yet underway, applicants will not be unduly penalised.
Funding Information
- The program will provide 35 grants – one for each region – with a maximum total value of $12.1 million, to be implemented over a two-year period.
- The grant size for each region will be negotiated as part of the multi-stage application process and may range between $200,000 and $500,000. Should total demand for funds exceed the grant funding available, grant values will be reduced proportionately.
Outcomes
- The Program is designed to support a wide range of locally relevant initiatives that will result in the following outcomes:
- Communities identify and adopt innovative and transformative ways to build drought resilience;
- A change in awareness of and attitudes to drought preparedness at the community level;
- Communities learn and share innovative ways to build drought resilience;
- An increase in the reach and activities of community leaders, mentors, networks, and organisations driving action on drought resilience;
- Improved access to and greater utilisation of community infrastructure;
- Communities build their local leadership, networks, and social support; and
- Community leaders, networks and organisations have stronger capability to undertake strategic drought resilience planning.
Eligibility Criteria
- To apply, your organisation must meet the following criteria:
- Applicant organisations must be a not-for-profit organisation with either an Incorporation Certificate and/or an ABN.
- Organisations with or without DGR-1 endorsement are eligible;
- The proposed project must be for charitable purposes and offer clear public benefit;
- Organisations can submit one application per grant round;
- Projects must benefit communities in remote, rural or regional Australia that are agriculture-dependent.
Ineligibility Criteria
- Application is submitted by individuals, sole traders, private or commercial businesses (as per the submitted ABN);
- Application is submitted by an organisation that is not a legal entity (i.e. a registered not-for-profit), without the written consent of the governing / partnering body who holds the ABN / Incorporation Certificate;
- Application is submitted without required financial documentation (see additional information on the second tab);
- Overdue final report/s from any FRRR grants awarded in the previous seven years have not been acquitted (delivery organisations should check with legal organisation to see if there are any outstanding final reports);
- Application is for a project or activity that has already occurred / is occurring prior to the announcement of funding;
For more information, visit Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal.