Australian Embassy

The Philippines

Embassy address: Level 23-Tower 2 RCBC Plaza 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, 1200 - Telephone: 757 8100 - Fax: 757 8268

Direct Aid Program

The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a flexible, small grants program for selected recipient countries, funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and managed by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The goal of DAP is to address humanitarian hardship while at the same time advancing Australia’s international relations and public diplomacy objectives. The DAP is designed to support small-scale sustainable development projects and activities that are participatory in nature and which actively engage beneficiaries in the design, development, and implementation of the project.

DAP Philippines

DAP Philippines supports projects that alleviate poverty and contribute to developmental outcomes, address women’s issues and participation, give special attention to the needs of children, individuals with special needs, youth and disadvantaged groups within a local community; enhance the long-term productivity and sustainability of the physical environment, and have historical and cultural significance that contribute toward the development of a community and a sense of community identity. Examples of activities funded by DAP Philippines include construction of classrooms and community learning centres, solid waste management, acquisition of sewing machines for skills training programs, small water supply and sanitation projects, acquisition of special equipment for individuals with special needs, construction of livelihood/income-generating facilities, construction of shelters for disadvantaged children, promotion and preservation of indigenous handicraft, establishment of recyclable materials collection and processing facility, and construction of community health facilities and acquisition of common health/medical equipment.

Who may apply?

Any properly constituted non-government organisation (NGO) or People’s Organisation (PO) engaged in development work based in the Philippines and managed primarily by Filipinos and registered with either the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

Who administers DAP Philippines?

Project proposals submitted to DAP Philippines are considered by a Committee who recommend suitable projects for approval to the Ambassador of the Australian Embassy in Manila.

What selection criteria are used for projects?

Consideration will be given to project proposals where:

• the aim of the proposal is developmental, not charitable nor commercial. Priority is given to proposals that might act as a catalyst for additional development of the community or a model for similar development elsewhere;

• the proposal directly meets specific needs of disadvantaged groups (such as children, persons with disability, indigenous peoples, farmers and fishermen, youth and women’s groups), and the physical environment;

• activities can be implemented within a short period of time and the project will have an identifiable outcome by the end of the financial year in which the assistance has been granted;

• the resources of the group (either in the form of labour, technical support, administrative cost, materials, existing assets or cash) are put up as counterpart contribution;

• the proponent can demonstrate that it can effectively implement the project and provide accurate progress reports, and;

• women’s participation and sound environmental practices are highly encouraged.

What form does DAP Philippines assistance take?

• Assistance is in the form of grants to pay for durable items of long-term benefit to the beneficiaries. (e.g. construction materials for additional classrooms, acquisition of special medical equipment for persons with disability, construction of common social service facilities, and acquisition of equipment for income-generating projects). These are not to be repaid, but must be accounted for.

• The DAP funds requests up to a limit of about Php275,000.

What does the DAP Philippines usually NOT fund?

Any project without tangible humanitarian or developmental outcomes for a disadvantaged group of people, as well as commercial ventures that will not benefit the community concerned may not be supported by DAP.

In addition, the following items are not eligible for DAP funding:

• Project consumables (e.g. feeds, fertilizers, fingerlings, medicines, veterinary charges)

• Labour costs

• Routine, recurring running costs and administrative expenses including the following: salaries, honoraria, travel allowance office rental and utility costs (electricity, water, fuel), food, merienda, registration fees for training, some project office supplies and equipment, routine maintenance and repairs of equipment, communication and transportation expenses

• Large-scale infrastructure projects

• Study grants, researchers, scholarship programs

• Livestock and poultry production

• Revolving funds/relending programs/social credits/micro-credit schemes

• Transportation/vehicles

• Contingency/miscellaneous charges

• Promotional events associated with DAP projects

To whom should project proposals be addressed?

NGOs and community organisations interested to avail of assistance from DAP Philippines are required to submit a project proposal following this format:

DAP Project Proposal Format January 2010

Proposals and other DAP-related correspondence should be addressed to:

Ms. Teodora Avila
Resource Officer, Direct Aid Program (DAP)
Australian Embassy
Level 23-Tower 2, RCBC Plaza
6819 Ayala Avenue
Makati City 1200
Telephone: +63 2 757 8262
Fax: +63 2 757 8346
Email: teodora.avila@dfat.gov.au

Updated: January 2010