Yes, 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 Consulate-General in Kolkata manages the DAP in east and northeast India. It supports projects that have a strong development focus, contributes to poverty reduction, and strengthen communities in India. Over the past decade, DAP has built linkages and fostered relationships between Australia and these communities.
What activities are eligible for DAP support?
DAP activities should aim to achieve practical and tangible outcomes of high development impact. They are committed to working with India to contain and combat COVID-19 and address the health, economic and social impacts of the pandemic. In 2020-21, they aim to work with partners on high-quality projects in five thematic areas:
- Education, innovation & entrepreneurship: under education, projects that work towards increasing access to education and learning opportunities. Under skills and entrepreneurship, projects that promote micro and small scale industries that have been impacted due to COVID-19.
- Gender equality and women’s empowerment: projects that address gender-sensitive COVID-19 issues including women’s health and nutrition requirements, economic empowerment and that help end violence and discrimination.
- Water and sanitation: projects that work towards access to safe drinking water and create awareness of good sanitation and hygiene practices. Projects that assist in better sanitation and hygiene practices to control the spread of COVID-19.
- Agricultural productivity: projects that directly support productivity in India’s agricultural sector and its communities.
- 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, specially tailored to COVID-19 requirements. Read More
