What is the Direct Aid Program?
The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a small grants program funded from Australia’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget. It provides funding for locally led projects that deliver practical and tangible development outcomes in ODA-eligible countries consistent with Australia’s development priorities.
The DAP provides funding to community and grass-roots development projects which provide direct, immediate, tangible and high-impact outcomes for beneficiary communities.
Who can Apply?
Funding is available on a not-for-profit basis to community groups, non-government organisations and other organisations engaging in development activities in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo.
What activities are eligible for DAP Support?
Priority thematic areas for the 2026-27 DAP year include:
- gender equality, empowerment of women and social inclusion;
- climate change and environmental protection;
- disability equity and rights;
- water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH);
- poverty alleviation and rural development;
- healthcare;
- education; and
- human rights and governance.
Applicants may apply for funding for development projects in other thematic areas.
Competitive applications will:
- address multiple thematic areas in a single project;
- support vulnerable and marginalised communities;
- clearly articulate the positive change and impact that would occur following project implementation; and
- provide strong public diplomacy opportunities for the Embassy.
Projects should be self-contained with finite timelines. Consideration will also be given to activities in which the beneficiary community makes a significant contribution in terms of:
- labour,
- materials or funds,
- act as a catalyst for additional development of the community or a model for similar development activities elsewhere and/or have direct links with Australia will also be welcomed.
There is no minimum amount a single DAP project can receive but the maximum is AUD80,000 (or the USD equivalent).
Activities may run for a maximum of two years as specified in the Grant Agreement.
All applications must be accompanied by a fully costed project budget. A detailed budget is required and must be supported by two quotations for any budget line item between USD700 and USD7,000 and three quotations for amounts above USD7,000.
Two referees are required. Referees cannot be from the applicant organisation or from an organisation which stands to gain from the proposed project.
Additional documents may be attached if necessary. However applicants are strongly encouraged to be concise. The Embassy will seek further information if required.
Proposals must be clearly defined with specific outputs. Proposals will be considered based on the:
- cost and the development benefits of the proposal;
- soundness of the project's objectives and design;
- sustainability of outcomes;
- practicality of the proposed implementation arrangements;
- applicant’s consideration and approach to risk management including project implementation, governance and integrity systems, past performance, fraud and corruption controls, child protection, preventing sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, and environmental protection; and
- compatibility of the proposal with the objectives of the Direct Aid Program.
Expenses and costs ineligible for DAP funding
Generally, we cannot fund the following expenses and costs through the DAP:
- operating, overhead and administrative costs (staff salaries, allowances, office rent, utilities, etc.);
- workshops and associated expenses (e.g., venue hire, food/drinks, audio/video, etc.);
- cash grants or micro-credit schemes or projects that involve the return of money;
- commercial ventures or private for-profit business activities;
- purchase of major assets, e.g. vehicles or land;
- Australian or overseas study tours;
- international travel;
- sponsorship of major sporting tournaments or cultural displays that do not have a clear development benefit;
- consulting fees;
- construction projects that use asbestos or other materials that are hazardous to human health;
- direct support for governments;
- sponsorship of advocacy/fund-raising/commemoration events;
- landscaping and other cosmetic work around town squares and other public buildings;
- projects run by multilateral organisations such as UN agencies; and
- small/discrete components within a larger project managed by a multilateral organisation.
Applications that request funding for these expenses may be removed from consideration.
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