Community Development Grant

The Australian Government is committed to partnering with Bangladesh in supporting its development priorities by placing a strong emphasis on protecting the most vulnerable, especially women and girls; people with disabilities and marginalised peoples and communities.

The grant aims to support innovative practices that align with the development priorities of Bangladesh and promote the practice of gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) at workplaces in the public, private and NGO sectors.

The intended outcomes of the grant are to:

  • enable alumni to test an innovative idea
  • support initiatives by alumni promoting GEDSI practice
  • facilitate alumni-hosted events (capacity building workshops, seminars, conferences) with a clearly articulated outcome aligning with one or more priority areas
  • enable alumni to conduct a capacity building activity with a marginalised group/community to improve their socio-economic wellbeing and/or livelihoods
  • support alumni to conduct a pilot study.

To be considered for this grant, applicants must:

  • be an alumni of the Australian Government funded Australia Awards Scholarships, Australia Awards Fellowships, or Short Courses, and
  • be a Bangladeshi citizen, residing in Bangladesh, and intending to use the grant in Bangladesh

Be applying to use the grant to:

  • try an innovative idea and approach on a small scale
  • host a workshop, seminar or conference, with a clearly articulated outcome aligning with the development priorities of Bangladesh
  • extend an existing project/intervention previously funded by the Australia Awards with a strong justification for further support
  • To establish a small ‘Community of Practice’ committed to a priority area

If successful, applicants must:

  • agree to participate in training/orientation prior to receiving the grant on: fraud management; gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI); child protection; and prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH)
  • use and acquit the grant according to Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Australia Awards Program guidelines.

Individual alums or groups of up to five alumni are invited to apply for grant activity. The grant amount that can be provided for each activity will range from AUD $3,000 – $4,000 excluding VAT/TAX (depending on the activity).

 

Applicants must complete the application form and required attachments (see below) and submit them online by 15 October 2023.

All the relevant documents (application and attachments) need to be converted into a PDF file and uploaded to the online application portal.

Incomplete applications or applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

Please download the application and other relevant documents from the section below.

Application & Recommendation Form- Individual

Application & Recommendation Form- Group

Attachment 1 – Risk Assessment

Attachment 2 – Certification

Attachment 3 – Scholar or Alumni Member Details

Attachment 4 – Budget Template

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

  • clear alignment with DFAT’s priority areas
  • clear alignment with DFAT’s new International Development Policy
  • clear alignment with DFAT’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Strategy and the Australia Awards GEDSI Approach and Action Plan 2021-22.
  • clearly articulated outcomes
  • plan to establish a small ‘Community of Practice’ in an identified sector
  • budget that justifies the planned outcome and offers value
  • clearly outlined outputs/deliverables and a timeline that is realistic and practical
  • clear outline of how the proposed activity will ensure equal opportunity for people with disability; and/or reducing and/or removing barriers for people with disability, marginalised and disenfranchised groups
  • have clearly identified the activity’s intended primary beneficiaries, providing estimates of numbers.
Date Milestone
15 September 2023 Call for grant proposals
15 October 2023 Deadline for submissions of grant proposals
1 November 2023 Send Selection Report to Post
16 November 2023 Receive Post endorsement on Selection Report
20 November 2023 Announcement of Results
23 November 2023 Induction on Fraud Control; GEDSI, PSEAH and Child Protection
23 November 2023 Singed Agreement Date
23 November 2023 Grant Project Implementation
26 November 2023 Grant Project Implementation
25 February 2024 Grant Progress/ Interim Report due
30 May 2024 Final Report and acquittal submission

 

GEDSI Approach and Action Plan 2021-22

For further information, contact the Australia Awards office in Bangladesh:
+880 9611 699 934 or +8801730338495
alumni@australiaawardsbangladesh.org