Direct Aid Program
The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a flexible, small grants scheme operating at 45 Australian posts funding projects in over 68 countries. DAP was designed to provide a flexible mechanism of support in the form of small grants for development activities. The emphasis of the program is on alleviating basic humanitarian hardships.
There is no designated minimum or maximum amount that a single project can receive, but consistent with the DAP being a small grants program for development needs; the Amman DAP committee would expect that most projects would likely fall within the JOD 1,000 to JOD 30,000 range.
DAP funding is available to individuals, community groups, NGOs, private sector entities, academic institutions, research bodies, libraries, museums, or other organisations engaged in development activities on a not-for profit basis.
Eligibility for funding
In selecting projects to fund, the Amman DAP Committee needs to ensure that projects have developmental outcomes, and are consistent with the international relations and public diplomacy objectives of the Post.
Attention should be given to projects providing direct benefits to those most in need in the local community, including vulnerable or disadvantaged groups, children and youth.
Eligible activities include community health, education, small scale infrastructure, sanitation, rural development, environmental development, gender equality, conferences and training activities, and cultural and sporting activities. All such projects must have a developmental outcome and be implemented within a relatively short period of time.
As a general rule, the following activities and inputs are not funded:
• items of a routine or recurrent nature, such as staff salaries, office rental and utility costs, spare parts, office supplies, routine maintenance and repairs and purchase of major assets such as property or vehicles;
• payment of salaries or fees for consultants and advisors, where they constitute a major cost component;
• generic conferences, training, cultural and sporting activities that cannot demonstrate a developmental outcome; and
• micro-finance projects or micro-credit schemes that involve a return of money.
The focus must be on activities that have a direct, practical, immediate impact.
Consideration may at times be given to small-scale community activities that have prospects of eventually generating commercial benefits where the community can demonstrate to the satisfaction of Post that proceeds from the activity will be reinvested in the project.
Project proposals
Applications should be directed to:
Australian Embassy
DAP Committee
41 Kayed Al Armouti Street
Abdoun
PO Box 35201
Amman 11180
or by e-mail to:
Further information can be obtained by telephoning: +962 6 580 7000
Proposals must be clearly defined with specific outputs. Where the proposed activity has been submitted to other possible funding sources, or is being implemented in conjunction with activities funded through other sources, this must be clearly stated in the application.
Selection Process. Assessments of applications the DAP Committee are made primarily on the basis of the supporting information supplied by applicants. Prospective applicants should contact the Australian Embassy in Amman for application forms and procedures.
In addition, consideration is given to the following issues:
• applications should clearly detail the expected developmental impact of the project, for example in terms of promoting community development, education, health, gender equality, disadvantaged groups, and environmental sustainability;
• DAP projects must be sustainable, oriented towards self-help and should not rely on future DAP grants. Submissions should demonstrate a commitment on the part of the local community to implement the activities and sustain them;
• appropriate institutional support arrangements must be described, for example, the level of recurrent costs generated and evidence of capacity to sustain these costs in the longer term;
• details of the extent to which the DAP activity might act as a catalyst for further development of the target community or a model for similar projects elsewhere;
• preference is given to innovative and creative projects, particularly those using low technology solutions.
Posts are required to advise applicants in writing of the project approvals and of the conditions relating to the grant as soon as possible after the completion of a selection round. If recipients are unable to commence and/or complete projects in the agreed timeframe, they should not proceed with the application. If the agreed terms and conditions of the grant are not met, DAP recipients may be required to repay the grant to the Post.
Badging and promotion of projects
Where practical and cost effective, Posts will seek to arrange with project recipients some form of permanent reminder of the role the Post has played in funding a project. Limited DAP funds may be used to fund such badging activities. The Australian Aid identifier can be used to badge DAP projects.
Work Health and Safety for Building and Construction projects
Post DAP Committees are asked to consider appropriate environmental, construction, and work health and safety standards in assessing projects that involve construction. This may include assessing the effectiveness of the administering organisation in its management of safe work practices and application of environmental and building code standards. Building and construction related projects should meet or exceed Australian standards wherever reasonable practicable to do so. Departure from Australian WHS standards should only be accepted where it is defensible to do so, supported by a clear, persuasive and documented explanation. Post DAP Committees should observe Australian Government guidelines, which do not allow the use of asbestos as a building material.
Acquittal Reports
As outlined above, 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. The Acquittal Report is the major vehicle Posts have for ensuring that recipients comply with accountability and evaluation requirements. Posts will provide recipients with details of the requirements for financial accountability and acquittals.