ATTACHMENT B
DAP GUIDELINES
DAP
The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a small grants program funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and administered by the Australian Embassy in Hanoi. DAP’s principle aim is to alleviate hardship through grants of up to USD8000 for small-scale development projects in disadvantaged communities in Vietnam.
The Australian Embassy is responsible for DAP projects north of, and including, Thua Thien Hue Province. The Australia Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City manages a DAP scheme for projects south of, and including, Danang City.
Eligible Applicants
DAP funding is available to individuals, community groups, international or Vietnamese NGOs, academic institutions, research bodies, libraries, museums, or other organisations engaged in development activities in Vietnam on a not for profit basis.
Timeframe
The Australian Embassy will launch an initial call for DAP applications in September 2009. Initial applications should be received by the 23 October 2009. If sufficient funding is available, the Embassy may request additional applications mid-financial year (January-February).
Eligible Projects
As a basic DAP criteria, all projects must have a clearly identifiable, tangible humanitarian or development outcome for a disadvantaged group of people. Some examples of areas where grants may be given are: poverty alleviation; community health; education; environment; human rights; rural development; disaster relief operations; family planning; women’s or children’s issues; cultural preservation.
Where there are tangible developmental benefits for disadvantaged people or a focus on skills transfer and employment creation, grants may also be given for: sporting equipment and activities; training workshops.
Eligible projects must be implementable over a short period of time - within 6 to 12 months of receiving funds - but with a focus on long-term sustainability.
Examples of projects which successfully received DAP funding in the 2008-2009 financial year include:
• Funding for community-based services in support of children with HIV/AIDS conducted by For A Bright Future Group (Bac Ninh)
• Provision of facilities and equipment for training rooms for children and youth with disabilities (Centre for Social Organisations and Community Development, Hanoi)
• Support for a red worm raising project in Dong Tho Commune (Bac Ninh)
• Support for the learning and teaching of poor ethnic minority children in Muong Ang District (Dien Bien)
• Post-natal health care for ethnic minority women and babies in Chieng Bom Village (Son La)
Please note, all family planning or reproductive health projects must comply with AusAID guidelines, available at http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/pdf/GuidingPrinciples.pdf.
Ineligible projects
Ineligible projects
Funding would not normally be given to the following projects:
• Cash grants
• Grant projects run by other governments or organisations
• Micro-credit schemes
• Routine running costs and administrative expenses
• Religious activities.
Funds
Funds may only be distributed via an official (i.e. non-personal) bank account belonging to the recipient organisation.
Acquittal
All project funds must be acquitted by the recipient organisation. Appropriate acquittal materials would include financial statements, official receipts, letters of commendation from local government organisations, photos. For large and complex projects, the DAP Committee may request regular progress reports. The DAP Committee may also request to visit the project location to ensure funds have been disbursed appropriately.