Deadline: 14-Nov-23
The Small Network Grants are now available to community organisations in regional and rural Australia to develop and deliver one-off events or initiatives to strengthen community networks and capabilities that build drought preparedness.
Through this initiative, with the support of the Australian Government, they are investing in the future by enabling agriculture-dependent communities to identify and act on their drought preparedness priorities at a grassroots level and in ways that best suit their communities.
The Small Networks 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.
Purpose
- The Small Network Grants (Round 1) are designed 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.
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;
- Demonstrated community readiness to support the project at a local level;
- Opportunities for collaboration with a diverse range of community-based organisations at a local or regional level;
- Initiatives that specifically engage local young people and First Nations people or communities; and
- Project alignment with other Future Drought Fund investments, or other community resilience initiatives.
Funding Information
- Two streams of grants are available:
- Up to a maximum of $20,000; or
- Up to a maximum of $50,000 (dependent on location).
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.
Outcomes
- 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.
- Strengthened individual leadership capacity and capability to support community and drought resilience.
- Growth and improved strength of community-based networks.
- In the long term, projects and initiatives will contribute towards:
- Stronger connectedness and greater social capital within communities, contributing to wellbeing and security.
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
- 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;
- Application is incomplete. Note: Due to the volume of applications received, applications are assessed based on the documentation received at the time of application. FRRR is unlikely to follow up missing documentation after applications have been submitted.
For more information, visit FRRR.