Direct Aid Program (DAP) – New Delhi
Application Closes on Friday 18 November 2022, 23:55hrs IST.
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 High Commission New Delhi manages the DAP in northern 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.
Who can apply?
DAP funding is available on a not-for-profit basis to NGOs and academic institutions engaged in development activities. 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 can be found here.
The Australian High Commission in New Delhi supports small-scale, sustainable development projects in north India. Projects should be self-contained, with finite timelines. Except in exceptional circumstances and only with prior approval, the projects may run for no longer than 12 months and should be self-sustainable beyond the term of the grant. Organisations with existing DAP grant are not eligible to apply.
States covered by the Australian High Commission in New Delhi: Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
If the project is in Goa, Gujarat or Maharashtra, queries should be directed to the Australian Consulate in Mumbai at MumbaiDAP@dfat.gov.au
If the project is in Andhra Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu or Telangana, queries should be directed to the Australian Consulate in Chennai at ChennaiDAP@dfat.gov.au
If the project is in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal, queries should be directed to the Australian Consulate in Kolkata at acg.kolkata@dfat.gov.au
What activities are eligible for DAP Support?
DAP activities should aim to achieve practical and tangible outcomes of high development impact. Under the Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, both countries are committed towards building a prosperous, rules-based and stable Indo-Pacific by promoting inclusive global and regional institutions and engagements that promote stability, innovation and economic and social security based on shared interests.
DAP 2022-23 will channelise this commitment through supporting developmental initiatives (across the sub-themes below) that have long-term, sustainable outcomes.
Education, innovation & entrepreneurship: under education, projects that work towards increasing access with the help of technology and introduce new pedagogies of learning; projects that develop models for a more value-based education and; holistic student-teacher development in line with India’s National Education Policy
Gender equality: projects that address gender-sensitive issues around urban infrastructure and safety in public transport, economic empowerment and help end violence and discrimination with objectives that are consistent with Australia’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment strategy
Environment and sustainable development practices: projects that introduce new-age and sustainable practices in agriculture, water and food security; local small scale business models involving community, education, and health
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 towards introducing good global practices and models
Inclusive development: projects that focus on accessibility, capacity building and inclusive educational and workspaces for persons with disabilities and vulnerable and marginalised groups. This would also include projects that work towards regional development through integrated community development programs
We 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 (allowed in exceptional cases only if integral to project outputs)
sponsorship of major sporting tournaments or cultural displays that do not have a clear developmental benefit
staff salaries with an exception to stipends/training or consultation fee paid specifically for a project activity
construction activities
routine, recurring or running costs and administrative expenses including office rental and utility costs, spare parts, routine maintenance
Kindly note that applicants are encouraged to co-contribute to the project for better advocacy and accountability and only 5 per cent of the total DAP budget can be used for administrative expenses.
The proposals must be clearly defined with specific outputs. The approval and rejection of a proposal might be on the basis of:
the costs and the development benefits of the proposal
achievable and sustainable outcomes
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.
Funding and timeframes
Grants are typically provided up to INR 15 Lakh. 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.
Expectations for accountability, transparency and reporting
We require a high degree of transparency and accountability in all projects. Applications must demonstrate that the risk of wastage, administration costs and other costs not delivering direct benefit to the target community will be minimised.
Should your project be successful, you will be required to:
sign a contract specifying the terms and conditions of the grant
follow all due diligence requirements of the High Commission including furnishing reference details and FCRA designated State Bank of India account details where the funds will be posted
keep full financial records of all expenditure, including receipts
submit a progress report within six months of receiving your funding
submit a final report at the project’s completion
allow and facilitate a visit by Australian High Commission representatives to the project site, where safe to do so.
Assessment of applications
Projects must be clearly defined with specific outputs. Applications will be approved or rejected on the basis of:
the costs and the development benefits of the project (in relation to the priority areas)
achievable and sustainable outcomes
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 domestic rules and policies regarding foreign funding
How can we apply?
The Australian High Commission’s DAP program operates on the Australian financial year, which runs from 1 July to 30 June. We will be commencing the 2022-23 DAP Application Round on Tuesday 11 October 2022, 10:00hrs IST and close it on Friday 18 November 2022, 23:55hrs IST.
All DAP applications must be submitted through our 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.
Apply here – follow the link to begin your application process – Link: https://dap.smartygrants.com.au/NDLI_DAP2022-23
If you have any questions while completing your application, please write to NewDelhiDAP@dfat.gov.au Make sure to include your application number in your email subject. For further details visit the link below:
https://india.highcommission.gov.au/ndli/DirectAidProgram.html