Australian Embassy

Vietnam

Embassy address: 8 Dao Tan Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi - Telephone: 3774 0100 - Fax: 3774 0111

ATTACHMENT B

DAP GUIDELINES 2011-2012

DAP
The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a small grants program funded by the Australian Agency for International Development and administered by the Australian Embassy in Hanoi. DAP’s principle aims are to alleviate hardship and support developmental outcomes through grants of up to VND 210,000,000 for small-scale development projects with specific outcomes which can be carried out within a defined time frame in disadvantaged communities in Vietnam.

Under special circumstances, grants of up to VND 350,000,000 may be available for more complex projects of high merit.

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.

Application and Project Timeframes
The Australian Embassy will launch an initial call for DAP applications in September 2011. Initial applications should be received by the 28 October 2011. We aim to notify successful applicants in December 2011.

Eligible projects must be implementable over a short period of time, and must be completed and acquitted by the end of the financial year in which they are funded. The project should be completed as per the timeline in the application. If a project cannot be completed in that timeframe, the successful applicant must notify the Australian Embassy to discuss the progress of the project in order for the DAP committee to determine whether the funds should be repaid.

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: training workshops; sporting equipment and activities.

Examples of projects which successfully received DAP funding in the past include:
• Funding for a water filtration system for a hospital (Hanoi)
• Provision of key facilities and equipment for training rooms and accommodation for children and youth with disabilities (Hue and Quang Binh)
• Support for the learning and teaching of poor ethnic minority children (Lang Son)
• Funding for medical/health station upgrades and equipment (Ha Nam and Phu Tho)

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. Also, for building and construction projects, applicants must demonstrate in their applications that they understand relevant national building and Occupational Health and Safety standards and commit to adhere to these. For training related projects, all training materials (syllabus/outlines) should be attached to DAP applications and the trainers qualifications indicated in the application; otherwise, the applicant should cover costs for the training fees associated with any 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
• Payment of consultants and advisors where they constitute a major cost component

Funds
Funds may only be distributed via an official (i.e. non-personal) bank account belonging to the recipient organisation.

Acquittal Requirement
All project funds must be acquitted by the recipient organisation. Appropriate acquittal materials would include an acquittal report that provides an accurate assessment of the actual outcomes of the activities, financial statements, official receipts, and 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.