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Application Announcement Direct Aid Program 2011-12

The Australian High Commission is pleased to invite individuals, community groups, local NGOs, academic institutions, research bodies, libraries, museums, or other organizations engaged in development activities in Bangladesh to submit project proposals for funding under its Direct Aid Program for the year 2011-12.  

Please read Direct Aid Program: Bangladesh Guidelines below to find out more about the eligibility criteria, funding arrangements andapplication procedure.
Projects are expected to be self-sustainable and oriented towards self-help. Submissions should demonstrate a commitment on the part of the local authorities and/or people who will be the beneficiaries to implement the activities and sustain them. Projects that will offer direct and immediate benefits to target groups will be given preference.

The Australian contribution towards each project will be limited to approximately BDT 1,000,000 to 1,800,000.

The duration of the project should not be more than nine months

Application deadline: 15 October 2011

Direct Aid Program: Bangladesh Guidelines

Goal

The goal of the Direct Aid Program in Bangladesh is to address humanitarian hardship and to advance development activities.

Who can apply? 

Individuals, community groups, local NGOs, academic institutions, research bodies, libraries, museums, or other organizations engaged in development activities in Bangladesh are eligible to apply for the Program.

Project Eligibility Criteria

• The projects should involve small-scale development activities that are participatory in nature and involve beneficiaries in their identification, design and management. 

• Projects should primarily focus on –
  
  Good Governance – which includes activities aimed at improving economic and financial management, strengthening law and justice, increasing public sector effectiveness, developing civil society etc.
  
  Human Rights – defined broadly to include activities that enhance the rights of people and minimize the effects of discrimination. Projects could include support to areas such as community health, education, small-scale infrastructure, rural development, environment etc. 

• Projects should give special attention to the needs of women, children or other disadvantaged groups.

• Projects are expected to be self-sustainable and oriented towards self-help. Submissions should demonstrate a commitment on the part of the local authorities and/or people who will be the beneficiaries to implement the activities and sustain them. 

• The project must have clearly defined objectives. 

• The proposal should contain measurable performance indicators. 

• The proposal should be participatory in nature and involve beneficiaries in their identification, design and management. 

• Recipients of DAP funds are expected to make a reasonable contribution of their own to the activity in either cash and/or kind. The type and level of contribution must be indicated in the project proposal. 

• Appropriate institutional support arrangements must be described, eg, the level of recurrent costs generated and the evidence of capacity to sustain these costs in the longer term. 

• Duration of the project should be no more than nine months

What activities/items will not be funded?

The following activities and inputs will not be funded -

• Conferences in-country, Australia or overseas study tours

• Academic training in Australia

• Items of a recurrent nature, such as staff/consultant/trainer salaries, office rental and utility costs, spare parts, supplies, maintenance and repairs.

Funding Arrangements

• A Grant Agreement will be negotiated between the Australian High Commission and the recipient before funding.

• Funding is normally provided in advance and must be fully acquitted at the end of a project. It may be provided in installments, if the nature of a project so warrants. In these cases, second and later installments will be provided only on receipt of satisfactory progress reports. On receipt of the Australian High Commission's cheque, the cheque will be banked immediately and a letter sent to the High Commission confirming this action.

• Recipients of DAP funds must commence the project immediately after signing the agreement. If the recipient chooses to seek NGO Affairs Bureau clearance, this must be taken into account within the overall timeframe of nine months.

• Funding can only be used for the activities outlined in the agreement. Any excess funds through savings or other means, including interest earned on funds awaiting use, must be used for activities in line with those outlined in the proposal or refunded to the Australian High Commission.

• If, for whatever reason, the project cannot proceed as planned within the agreed timeframe, the remaining unexpended funds must be refunded to the Australian High Commission or, with prior approval of the Australian High Commission, redirected to other related activities. However, the recipient must fulfill the reporting requirements for the used fund.
   

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting Requirements 

• The organization receiving funds is responsible for project monitoring. However, Australian High Commission reserves the right to visit and review projects to evaluate its progress and success. Visits to the project will be conducted by personnel from the Australian High Commission or by independent financial auditors arranged by the Australian High Commission. If the project does not show satisfactory progress, the Australian High Commission will discuss its concerns with the implementing agency and if these concerns are not addressed to its satisfaction, the Australian High Commission will discontinue the project and recall the remaining project funds.

• A progress report in the format specified by the Australian High Commission must be submitted every two months and until the grant has been fully expended. The progress report must also include a financial statement and copies of any reports of a public nature on the progress of the overall program.

• Within thirty days of the completion of the Australian contribution, a final acquittal report must be provided to the Australian High Commission comprising:

• A financial statement providing a full acquittal of grant funds certified by an NGO Affairs Bureau registered audit firm at no cost to Australian High Commission.

• An evaluation of the performance of the program outlining achievements against activity objectives at no cost to Australian High Commission.

• A statement signed by a senior official of the organization stating that the grant funds have been applied for the agreed purposes.

• Where grants are provided for the purchase of specific assets, copies of invoices are acceptable for acquittal purposes. Ownership of assets purchased with grant funds shall become the property of the organization unless otherwise stated.

Application Procedures

• Organizations should submit their proposals based on the requirements listed in DAP application guidelines.

• Download DAP Application Form (Word)

• Proposals that are compatible to all aspects of DAP guidelines should be submitted using the prescribed application form to the Australian High Commission in Dhaka.

• Any attempt to exercise influence or make unsolicited approaches during the screening and selection period will result in the application being cancelled immediately.
  
  For further information, please contact:
  
  Senior Research & Communications Officer
  Australian High Commission
  184 Gulshan Avenue
  Dhaka 1212
  Phone: 88-02-8813105
  Fax: 88-02-8811125
  E-mail: ahc.dhaka@dfat.gov.au