Australian High Commission
New Delhi
India, Bhutan

Direct Aid Program (DAP)

New Delhi and Bhutan Direct Aid Program

The Direct Aid Program is a small grants program in India and Bhutan funded by Australian Government and managed by the Australian High Commission in New Delhi and the Australian Consulate-Generals in Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai (India). Through the Direct Aid Program, we work with local communities on projects that achieve sustainable development consistent with Australia's national interest.

Direct Aid Program funding is available to not-for-profit individuals, community groups, non-government organisations (NGOs) and other entities engaged in development activities. The project activities and outcomes should reflect and strengthen the social, development and cultural ethos and Australia’s partnerships with India and Bhutan.

How can we apply?

All Direct Aid Program applications must be submitted through our online grants management system SmartyGrants. The portal operates on a web-based platform and can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. Information on FCRA registration and financial audit statements for the previous two years is mandatory for all applicants.

Further information on the 2024-25 New Delhi and Bhutan Direct Aid Program will be announced in due course. For any further queries, please write to [email protected]  

Eligibility criteria for Direct Aid Program projects

  • The project must be located in Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and/or Uttar Pradesh and Bhutan
  • The project must deliver strong developmental outcomes that are clearly defined, specific, achievable, and sustainable
  • Project timeline should be 12-months or less
  • Applicants must adhere to local legislation including Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) requirements (only India-based applicants)

Applications must:

  • be submitted through the online grants management system, SmartyGrants
  • include a clear, fully itemised, and fully costed project budget
  • clearly outline the development benefits of the proposal
  • demonstrate the applicant’s capacity to effectively implement the proposed project
  • demonstrate the applicant’s capability and capacity to manage any identified project-related risks
  • demonstrate soundness of the project's objectives and design
  • demonstrate that the project is technically feasible and practical
  • demonstrate that the project aligns with the objectives of the Direct Aid Program (see above)
  • where co-funding is involved, the other partners must be identified in the application
  • include a suggested format for a possible visit by Australian officials

We will generally NOT fund the following:

  • staff salaries 
  • loans, cash grants or micro-credit schemes or projects that involve the return of money
  • commercial ventures, purchase of major assets, e.g. vehicles, or property
  • international travel
  • sponsorship of major sporting tournaments or cultural displays that do not have a clear developmental benefit
  • construction activities
  • routine, recurring or running costs and administrative expenses including office rental and utility costs

In some cases, limited Direct Aid Program funding can be used to for renovation of Direct Aid Program project sites as well as pay for professional consultants and advisors exclusively for their work on the project. The program can also support domestic travel expenses when they are directly related to project implementation. However, such funding should be in small proportion relative to the overall project and should not constitute a major cost component.

Selection process

Along with above requirements, the selection committee will favourably consider projects that:

  • include a contribution of their own or other donor contributions to the project
  • have a sense of community ownership (i.e., a significant community contribution in terms of labour, materials or funds)
  • will have tangible, enduring results
  • catalyse further development of the community or provide a model for similar developments elsewhere.

Should your project be successful, you will be required to:

  • sign a contract specifying the terms and conditions of the grant
  • follow all due diligence requirements of the Australian High Commission including providing reference details and FCRA designated State Bank of India account details where the funds will be posted (only for India-based successful applicants)
  • keep full financial records of all expenditure, including receipts
  • submit a mid-term and final project completion report
  • strictly adhere to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Child Protection Policies while implementing the project
  • maintain timely and regular project related correspondence with the Australian High Commission
  • facilitate a visit by Australian High Commission representatives to the project site when requested.

Partner obligations

We require a high degree of transparency and accountability in all projects. Recipients of DAP funding must ensure that the work conducted in relation to the project is undertaken in a safe manner and complies with all applicable local laws, standards and policies that relate to health and safety.

The Australian Government does not tolerate the exploitation, abuse or harassment of children or adults. For projects likely to involve contact with vulnerable people, the applicant must comply with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Child Protection Policy and/or Preventing Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) Policy. DAP recipients are expected to apply an appropriate policy commensurate with the level of risk associated with the activity and their organisation. Recipients will be asked to demonstrate that they have a Child Protection and/or PSEAH policy or other documented policies and procedures, including, reporting and investigation procedures to manage these risks.

The Australian Government is fully committed to full implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions relating to sanctions, including United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) and related resolutions against the financing of terrorism. Consistent with applicable Australian laws, the High Commission seeks to take reasonable precautions, and to exercise due diligence, to ensure that none of its funds are provided, directly or indirectly, to individuals or entities designated by the UN Security Council, its committees or the Australian Government for targeted financial sanctions, or otherwise used to provide support to individuals or entities associated with terrorism.

Australian Direct Aid Programs elsewherein India

If the project is in Goa, Gujarat and/or Maharashtra, queries should be directed to the Australian Consulate-General in Mumbai at [email protected]

If the project is in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territories of and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry., queries should be directed to the Australian Consulate-General in Chennai at [email protected]

If the project is in Karnataka and/or Telangana, queries should be directed to the Australian Consulate-General in Bengaluru at [email protected]

If the project is in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tripura and/or West Bengal, queries should be directed to the Australian Consulate-General in Kolkata at [email protected]