Direct Aid Program (DAP)

DAP- Direct Aid Program

The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is part of the Australian Government's global social development assistance program. The DAP was established to provide Australian Government diplomatic missions around the world with a flexible funding assistance mechanism for sustainable development activities.

The DAP is a flexible small grants programme that supports projects with a strong development focus. DAP projects must primarily promote practical and tangible development results with direct and immediate impacts and should publicly highlight the results of their work.

What is the process for obtaining DAP funding?

Applicants will have to fill out an Expression of Interest form on the Smarty Grants platform which will ask for general details about their project including objectives, location, themes, and costs. Shortlisted organisations will be notified through the platform and official channels and will move on to a second phase in which they will have to fill in a more extensive and detailed application through the same platform. At this stage it will not be possible to give feedback to the projects.

For both forms, the information, budget, and proposed activities must be clearly defined and the results or objectives to be achieved must be duly detailed.

For the second phase it is important that the organisation submits the requested documents, including:

• Quotations of the components to be financed with DAP funds expressed in their budget
• Two letters of recommendation
• The organisation's articles of incorporation and legal document proving legal representation,
• Child protection policies in case the project involves work with children and adolescent
• Plans in case there is construction work

Quotations and letters of recommendation should be current and have names of suppliers, as well as telephone numbers and email addresses.

DAP round 2023-2024

Click on each country to access the application form. In the form you will find all the details on how to use the platform and on the program guidelines.
The call for applications for Mexico and Guatemala opened on 23 October at 10:00 a.m. and closes on 5 November 2023 at 11:59 p.m. (Mexico City time).
The results to find out which organisations will move on to the next stage will be published on this website. 
You can keep up to date with the process through our website, Facebook, or Twitter.

Program guidelines

Who can apply?

Projects must be submitted to the Australian Embassy in Mexico by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), cooperatives, civil associations, academic and research institutions committed to the development of Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, and which are formally constituted as such in the country concerned. DAP does not provide funding to individuals or governments.

Projects can have a more specific focus as long as the primary focus is one of the previously mentioned sectors. For example, a project covering gender equality could focus on direct humanitarian aid, gender-based violence, education, or capacity building, LGBTIQ rights, or disappearances, among others.

All projects should have a strong and clear gender focus.

Projects must promote the self-sufficiency and economic development of the beneficiary communities. Proposals will be evaluated on their merits and their adherence to the overall objectives of the DAP. The DAP committee will consider projects that meet the specified areas of interest. Projects should normally be carried out and completed within a period of not more than one year after the release of the approved funds. Projects must be completed within a period of no more than one year after the delivery of the approved funds.

What are the funding amounts?

Funding amounts per project will generally be AUD5,000 up to a maximum of AUD20,000. The DAP Committee may on occasion decide to provide funding of a higher amount.

What is NOT eligible for funding through the program?

Salaries, grants or micro-credit schemes or projects that involve repayment; commercial enterprises; major asset purchases such as vehicles; trips to Australia or overseas; sponsorship of major sporting tournaments or cultural events that do not have a clear developmental benefit; routine and recurrent running costs and administrative expenses such as office and utility rent, spare parts and routine maintenance; direct assistance to governments.

The committee will assess the security context at project implementation sites and consider the necessary measures in case the project is visited by embassy staff.

Special cases: Cuba and Nicaragua

Due to economic restrictions in these countries and legislation that directly impacts organisations, the Embassy will only be able to fund projects whose organisation is legally registered outside of these countries and can receive funds to a bank account in the same way. Projects that benefit people of these nationalities and that are based in another country, preferably in the region where the Embassy is accredited, will also be accepted.

For more frequently asked questions, please download this document:

FAQs DAP 2023-2024

If you have any questions that are not addressed in these documents, please send an e-mail to: [email protected]