Australian High Commission
South Africa
High Commission address: 292 Orient Street, Arcadia, Pretoria - Telephone: +27 12 423 6000 - Fax: +27 12 342 8442 (Admin & Consular)

AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION DIRECT AID PROGRAM (DAP)


GUIDELINES

DAP is a small grants scheme designed to assist organisations working at community level in fields such as poverty alleviation, education, sanitation, health, human rights, rural development and conservation.

DAP funding is limited to approximately R30,000 per project and has specific criteria.


DAP funds ARE NOT used for:
SALARIES
PURCHASE OF PROPERTY
RENT, ELECTRICITY CHARGES, TRANSPORT ETC.

OFFICE RUNNING COSTS


DAP funds ARE used for:
PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT - OFFICE OR OTHER
PURCHASE OF TOOLS AND MACHINERY
FUNDING OF WORKSHOPS, TRAINING ETC. (under certain circumstances)

FUNDING OF PUBLICATIONS OR PAMPHLETS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY
PURCHASE OF WATER TANKS, GENERATORS ETC.


DAP IS NOT USED TO GIVE CASH DONATIONS TO ORGANISATIONS

Applications for DAP funding are initially screened by the DAP Coordinator, and shortlisted projects considered suitable for funding are then presented for consideration by the DAP Committee, which meets approximately twice every year. Projects approved by the Committee are then forwarded to the High Commissioner for final approval. If your proposal is acceptable as it stands you can expect to be informed of the Committee's decision within four to six months.

If we have to ask you for further supporting information, this can significantly delay the processing of your proposal, so it is important that you answer all the questions in the attached guide and read the guidelines carefully. If we ask you for more information and we do not hear from you within three months, we will assume you no longer wish to pursue DAP funding, and your proposal will not be taken any further.

We receive far more applications than we are able to fund, so please understand if we are unable to assist you. We are unable to respond in writing to all proposals that are not considered suitable for funding.


HOW TO WRITE A SUCCESSFUL PROPOSAL


About your organisation
Give an overview of your organisation including proof that it is a registered charity, fundraiser, school, or other similar business working in the field of community development
provide detailed background information including:

when your organisation was established
exactly what your organisation does
your achievements to date, including the number of people who have benefited from your organisation's work
the number of people actively involved in the organisation.

About your funding proposal
Give us a detailed, itemised income and expenditure costing for the specific project you want us to fund.

Explain exactly what you want to buy/do with the DAP funds. Be specific - if you require a large amount of money and are applying to a number of organisation, identify the specific area in which we could help you (keeping in mind our limit of around R30,000 per organisation).

Include quotations from suppliers of materials or equipment*, and drawings or sketches if appropriate.

Include a timeframe for the project, including the start-date and end-date of the project, and an estimate of how long the benefits of the funding will last.

List all other organisations you are asking to funding this project (especially diplomatic missions), and provide details of their responses to your requests (as available).

Explain what your organisation and the community are contributing to the project (funds, labour etc.)

If your project requires more funds than the DAP funding limit of R30,000, tell us how you plan to obtain the rest of the money. (For example, you could show us that you have sought funding from a range of donors and that they have promised you funds, or tell us about any other plans you have to raise the necessary money.

How many people will be directly assisted by this project? How many of these are women?

Have you ever applied to DAP or AusAID for funding before? If so, when? Was your application successful, and what was the nature of the project?

Quotations will NOT be accepted by the Australian High Commission as a promise to pay. The High Commission does NOT accept responsibility for payment of any monies until the project has been approved by both the DAP Committee and the High Commissioner IN WRITING, and until suppliers have submitted up-to-date quotations on that basis.

Attach the following:
A signed copy of the organisation's constitution with a list of trustees/management

A copy of the organisation's audited financial statements, clearly indicating current sources of funding

An income and expenditure budget for the current financial year for the organisation including details of your proposals to meet the budget


Reference letters from other organisations and community leaders who know the organisation

A list of all donors you have approached in the past and a copy of their letters of response

A few photographs if possible

Any other supporting information, contact names and telephone numbers that may help us to understand the work of your organisation.


For further information please contact:
The Direct Aid Program Coordinator
Australian High Commission
Private Bag X150, Pretoria 0001
292 Orient St, Arcadia
Tel: (012) 423 6000
Fax: (012) 342 4202

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