Direct Aid Program (Dap) Guidelines

AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION NAIROBI DIRECT AID PROGRAM (DAP) GUIDELINES The Direct Aid Program is designed to provide financial assistance to eligible groups or organisations undertaking suitable small scale developmental projects. Projects can be in any sector (eg community health, education, small scale infrastructure, sanitation, rural development, environmental development, gender equality, conferences and training activities, and cultural and sporting activities) but must aim to alleviate basic humanitarian hardships, have a developmental outcome and be implemented within a relatively short period of time. In certain cases, consideration may be given to contributions to disaster relief operations. Guidelines to the Direct Aid Program can be found on the following website: http://www.dfat.gov.au/direct_aid_program/dap_guidelines.html. It is imperative that projects have defined and realistic objectives and clear outcomes. Funding is generally in the range of AUD 5,000 to AUD 30,000. Projects seeking financial assistance at the lower end of this range are also encouraged. Projects must be self-sustaining and recurrent/ongoing costs will not be supported (e.g. salaries/rental/utility costs, micro credit schemes or any other project that involves return of money, etc). There is no specific form for applications. Requests for assistance under the Direct Aid Program should be submitted by way of a short application (2-3 pages). Applications should include:  background on the group/organisation requesting assistance  a description of the project and its objectives  an accurate financial breakdown of costs involved (invoices must be attached to substantiate costings)  where a project involves contact with children, provide: A Risk Management strategy that includes assessment of risks to children; Code of Conduct; Child Protection Policy; evidence that child-safe recruitment practices include background checks  details of any community contribution, either in terms of materials or labour from the community  timeframe for implementing the project  copy of organisation’s registration certificate  recommendation letters from local councils (eg DC, DO etc) and donors/well-wishers who have previously assisted the group/organisation Final decisions on funding of projects will depend on various factors, including the cost of an individual project, its merits in comparison to other requests for assistance, and of course, the availability of funds under the Direct Aid Program. Approved projects will be subject to stringent monitoring, including financial acquittal which should be complete and fully accounted by 30 May in the current financial year. Any funds not expended by that date must be returned to the High Commission. The applicant should undertake to keep the community in the project area informed that the funding was provided by the Australian Government and, where possible, some form of permanent reminder should be created, identifying Australian Government support for the project. Applications should be forwarded to: Hilda Ouma (Ms), P.O Box 39341 – 00623, Nairobi. Email: [email protected]

Australian High Commission, Nairobi, Kenya Telephone: 254 20 4277100 Facsimile: 254 20 4277139