The Direct Aid Program Guidelines
The Direct Aid Program (DAP) of the Australian Embassy is a flexible, small grants program which focuses on relieving humanitarian hardship and advancing developmental objectives in Lebanon through projects that are consistent with Australia’s international relations and public diplomacy objectives. Each year, the Embassy’s DAP committee assesses proposals for small development projects from individuals, community groups and non-governmental organisations engaged in development activities on a not-for-profit basis.
We will look for projects that:
- Are participatory in nature, and have involved the beneficiaries in the identification, design and management of the project.
- Address the needs of vulnerable or disadvantaged groups, including women, children and the disabled
- Address poverty alleviation, community health, environment and education, human rights, rural development or gender equality.
- Have a lasting developmental outcome, either by creating infrastructure or building sustainable human or organisational capacity.
- Have a budget of maximum USD15,000
- Can be completed by 31 May 2023 (approval may occasionally be given for projects that span two financial years – this must be agreed prior to the commencement of the project).
We will not support projects such as:
- Those for the purchase of vehicles
- Those for any activities that cannot demonstrate a direct developmental outcome
- Micro-finance projects or micro-credit schemes that involve a return of money
- Those involving payment for items of a recurrent nature, such as staff salaries, office rental and utility costs, spare parts, supplies, routine maintenance or repairs
- Commercial ventures.
Terrorist financing
Australia has obligations under a series of United Nations Security Council resolutions to prevent terrorist financing and to freeze terrorist assets. The Committee will not recommend any project unless it is satisfied that the project will not, directly or indirectly, provide support to terrorism.
Child protection
If a project involves contact with children (orphaned, displaced, homeless, disabled), applicants should provide their current Code of Conduct, Child Protection Policy and/or child-safe recruitment processes, or appropriate assurances relating to the protection of children, as part of the application process. The Embassy is also looking to provide child protection training to grant recipients.
Funding obligations
All recipients are required to provide written documentation to prove that DAP funds were spent according to the project proposal. The Embassy will consider seeking reimbursement of funds if acquittals are not completed within deadlines. Embassy officers would expect to visit the project. The Embassy would expect recipients to make a clear reference to Australia in public relations material and, if the project involves infrastructure, mark it as a gift of Australia.
The project proposal should be written in English or Arabic and include:
- a brief outline of the applicant's activities and goals;
- a brief outline of the applicant's sources of funding;
- at least two referees who can vouch for the bona fides of the applicant;
- a list of other funding sources the project has been submitted to;
- a brief outline of the project;
- details of the beneficiaries;
- an explanation of how the project will assist beneficiaries to help themselves in a sustainable way; and
- a detailed budget for the project.
Our website (http://www.lebanon.embassy.gov.au/birt/development_cooperat.html) lists projects that have previously been funded under the Direct Aid Program.
The selection process is highly competitive and proposals will be assessed on the basis of the information provided. The Committee aims to support a geographic spread of projects and to balance support among different communities.
Indicative timeline
|
7 July - 7 August |
Applicants submit DAP project proposals. |
|
August - September 2022 |
Embassy assesses project proposals and conducts field visits. |
|
October - November 2022 |
DAP committee meets to discuss proposals. Successful and unsuccessful applicants are notified. Funds are allocated. |
|
31 May 2023 |
Applicants submit original receipts and End of Project acquittal report. |
|
July – September 2023 |
Embassy visits completed projects. |