Deadline: 26-Mar-2024
The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) has announced the Small Network Grants (Round 2) to support simple initiatives that build stronger connectedness and/or strengthen social capital that enables regional people and communities to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought.
Funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, this is part of the commitment to support Australian agricultural communities to build drought resilience.
Funding Information
- Stream 1
- An indicative funding pool of $1,175,954 is available for Stream 1. Applications up to $20,000 will be accepted.
- Stream 2
- An indicative funding pool of $1,296,352 is available for Stream 2. Applications up to $50,000 will be accepted. Cross-border (Federal NRM, State and Local Government) applications are allowable where locally relevant and will be considered on their merits.
Funding Priorities
- Priorities for program investment, which will be used to inform decisions about which applications receive support, include:
- Activities and initiatives that focus on long-term social connection, capability building and an increased capacity for people and communities to adapt to change over time;
- Activities and initiatives that can make a clear and distinct linkage to building drought preparedness in local communities;
- Simple, one-off, or seed-type initiatives that are tailored to meet local needs and the unique geographical, climatic and community context;
- Delivery locations with higher potential for drought impact and outside the geographical reach of existing Future Drought Fund investment locations through the Community Impact Grants component of the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative.
Types of Projects Supported
- The Small Network Grants will fund networks, community events, training initiatives, community infrastructure, development and learning initiatives that assist local people and communities to strengthen social capital and capability to prepare for future droughts.
- Projects may include:
- Networks: Initiatives to strengthen the capacity, capability and coordination of professional, social or community networks.
- Community Events: Field days, conferences, forums, summits and seminars that facilitate professional, social and community connection to build understanding of drought and climate change associated risks.
- Training: Initiatives to improve skills and capacity in community risk management, planning and project delivery in relation to drought.
- Community Infrastructure: Small scale community infrastructure projects to improve connectedness, wellbeing and facilities.
- Development and Learning: Initiatives to facilitate professional, personal and leadership related development and learning to support drought preparation.
- Small Network Grants are designed to support a wide range of locally relevant initiatives that will result in the following short-term outcomes:
- Improved communication, social connection and collaboration within and between communities to support drought preparedness.
- Improved access to and use of services, infrastructure and facilities by communities that support drought preparedness.
- A greater diversity of community members and organisations contributing to drought preparedness activities.
- Increased knowledge and understanding of strategies by communities, volunteers and not-for-profit organisations to prepare for and adapt to drought.
- Improved implementation of place-based practices by communities to build and enhance resilience to drought
Eligibility Criteria
- To apply, you must meet the following criteria:
- Applicant organisation must be a not-for-profit organisation with an ABN or Incorporation Certificate. 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.
Ineligible
- You will be considered ineligible if the:
- 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;
- 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 FRRR.