DIRECT AID PROGRAM (DAP) GUIDELINES
The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a small aid program funded by the Australian Government and disbursed by the Australian Consulate-General. The goal of DAP is to address humanitarian hardship through funding small-scale development projects. Outlined below are some guidelines which should be considered when applying for a DAP grant, and some examples of projects which have been supported in the past.
Who may apply?
Any organisation may apply for a grant. In the past the Consulate-General has accepted proposals from provincial and district People\'s Committees, local government departments/agencies, non-government organisations (local and international), community organisations such as youth and women’s organisations, as well as from local hospitals and schools. Individual is not allowed to apply.
What sorts of projects are considered?
When considering project proposals, the Consulate-General prefers applications involving small grants (up to approximately USD10,000; however, applications for larger grants may also be considered) for clearly defined, stand-alone projects with specific outcomes which can be carried out within a defined time frame. All projects must be completed and acquitted by the end of the financial year in which they are funded (30 June 2015 for this year’s program).
Examples of areas where DAP grants may be given include: community health; education; small scale infrastructure; sanitation and rural development. In special cases, consideration may be given to contributions to disaster relief operations, activities of cultural significance and sporting equipment for disadvantaged communities.
The recipients of funds should be able to demonstrate commitment to the project and to its sustainability. In community groups, commitment is often best demonstrated by the provision of voluntary labour and resources from the community itself. In terms of sustainability, applications should demonstrate an applicant’s commitment and ability to sustain their project beyond the period of DAP funding.
Applications must include:
• Specific criteria used by applicants to select project beneficiaries;
• Clearly detailed expected developmental impact (for example in terms of promoting community development, education, health, gender (including the role of women), disadvantaged groups, and environmental sustainability)
• A clear and thorough cost analysis which accurately reflects the costs associated with the project and clearly identifies the component/s DAP funding is requested for;
• Two quotes for each major cost component of the project (if in doubt about what constitutes major cost component of your proposed project, please contact the Consulate-General);
• Photographs of existing facilities/equipment, where relevant;
• For construction projects only, design or layout details.
Application forms can be downloaded from the Australian Consulate-General’s website www.hcmc.vietnam.embassy.gov.au
Examples of projects supported by DAP in the past:
• Construction of classrooms, toilets, bridges
• Purchase of schooling or medical equipment (TV, video and computer purchases are low priorities)
• Construction of small bridges
• Clean water supply infrastructure
Building and construction projects:
Please note that for building and construction projects, applicants must demonstrate in their applications that they understand relevant national building and Occupational Health & Safety standards and commit to adhere to these. Also note, DAP guidelines prohibit the use of asbestos as a building material.
Training-related projects:
For projects with training aspects, all training materials (or at a minimum, the outlines and syllabus) should be attached to DAP applications. The trainers’ qualifications should also be indicated in the application; otherwise, the applicant should cover all costs for the training part of any project.
What cannot be funded?
As a general rule, the following activities and inputs cannot be funded: conferences in-country and in other countries that do not focus on development; overseas study tours; academic training in Australia; items of a recurrent nature, such as staff salaries, office rental and utility costs, spare parts, supplies, routine maintenance and repairs; grants programs run by other governments or organizations; and micro-credit schemes. Projects should clearly identify the costs involved, to ensure that the request for DAP funds is not being made for the above items.
Administration or staffing costs (including for trainers, consultants or advisors) are generally not funded. However in some rare cases, administration or staffing costs may be covered where they constitute only a minor cost component of the project.
Transparency Requirements and Acquittals
All recipients of DAP funds are required to submit an acquittal report that provides an accurate assessment of the actual outcomes of the activities (compared with the anticipated outcomes stated in the application), as well as financial information and photos of the project. All receipts provided must be red invoices (or copies thereof) unless prior approval has been sought from the Australian Consulate-General.
When can you apply?
DAP operates according to the Australian financial year from August 2014 to June 2015. The deadline for submitting applications for DAP 2014-15 is Friday 10th October 2014. We aim to notify successful applicants by early December 2014. The project should be completed as per the timeline in your application. DAP guidelines stipulate that projects must be completed and acquitted by the end of the financial year in which they are funded. If a project cannot be completed in that timeframe, funds must be returned to the Australian Consulate-General. Therefore, if your project is not completed by 15th June 2015, you must notify the Australian Consulate-General to discuss the progress of the project so that the DAP committee can decide whether the funds should be repaid.
Applicants should submit proposals to:
Direct Aid Program
Australian Consulate General
20th Floor, Vincom Center
47 Ly Tu Trong Street
District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Viet Nam
Please note that not all projects are able to be funded. We will only consider applications that meet all criteria and only the best applications will be selected. Applications submitted after 10th October 2014 will not be considered.
Queries:
For further information about the Direct Aid Program, please contact Ms Le Thi Khoi Cat by phone (+84 8 3521 8100, ext. 126) or email at [email protected]
Please note that DAP is administered in northern provinces (from Lai Chau to Thua Thien - Hue) by the Australian Embassy in Hanoi, and in southern provinces (from Danang to Ca Mau) by the Australian Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City. For operational reasons the application process and relevant deadlines are different for the programs administered by the Australian Embassy and Australian Consulate-General. For information about the Direct Aid Program related to the Australian Embassy visit http://www.vietnam.embassy.gov.au/hnoi/cooperation.html