Australian Aid: Friendship Grants have commenced the second round and accepting applications. Many Australian organizations, including charities, local government groups, professional organizations, diaspora groups, and volunteer groups are already working hard to help communities in their region. Further, These organizations have unique, on-the-ground experience working in international development and have forged strong relationships with local communities overseas.

Moreover, Strong relationships between Australian communities and communities in their region are an effective way to promote inclusive development, regional security and poverty reduction. Also, The three-year Australian Aid: Friendship Grants competition will bring some of the best of these organizations into the Australian aid program by providing grants of $30,000 to $60,000, allowing them to expand or enhance their existing international development activities.

Further, In Round 1, more than 200 applications were received, with 46 community organizations awarded Friendship Grants from across Australia, enabling them to expand or enhance their international development work with their neighbors in 15 countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

In November 2017, the Australian Government released the Foreign Policy White Paper (the White Paper). Further,  setting out a framework for Australia’s future international engagement. The White Paper recognizes that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT’s) work with a wide range of partners will help to maximize the impact of Australia’s development assistance program. It will also help Australia to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 17: Revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

Benefits

• A grant of $30,000 to $60,000 will be provided to participating organizations to allow them to improve their international development activity.

Eligibilities

• To be eligible for a Friendship Grant, you must be a not-for-profit Australian community organization or a local government entity that:
• has a proven record in implementing international development work in the country of the proposed
• likewise, Friendship Grant Activity (refer to section 7. Location of Activities Funded) demonstrated by;
  documented evidence* of:

1. an existing relationship(s) with an in-country partner(s); and
2. support from an in-country authority.
   * Refer to section 9.2 Attachments to the Application for further information.

• Your organization must also be:

1. a legal entity able to enter into a legally binding agreement;
2. where applicable, registered for the purposes of GST;
3. permanently located in Australia;
4. an Australian bank account holder; and
5. able to provide the supporting documentation as outlined in ‘Attachments to the Application’.

• Further, eligible organizations must be not-for-profit and provide appropriate evidence of their registration with the Australian Charities & Not-for-Profits Commission, a state or territory regulator, or the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations. Organizations registered with a state or territory regulator must be an incorporated association. Also, a fundraising certificate is not sufficient.

1. The group of successful applicants will include, as far as possible, an overall mix of:
2. groups reflecting Australia’s cultural and demographic variety;
3. types and sizes of organizations;
4. Further, types of Activities being undertaken; and with a
5. the geographic spread of organizations from across Australia.

• Please visit the official link for more information on eligibilities.