Friendship Grants: Australian community organisations helping the Indo-Pacific

Today we launch Australian Aid: Friendship Grants to enable Australian community organisations that are working at the grassroots level in the Indo-Pacific expand their support for economic and social development in our regional neighbourhood.

Australian community organisations such as charities, not-for-profits, diaspora organisations and volunteer groups have a proud record of providing development assistance in our region. These organisations have unique, on-the-ground experience in international development and have forged strong relationships and people-to-people links with local communities overseas.

The Friendship Grants program will harness this experience and build on these connections by supporting eligible organisations extend their activities to support long-term security, prosperity and growth.

The Australian Government will provide $10 million over three-years through grants of $30,000 to $60,000 for a range of activities, including education, healthcare, water supply and sanitation, rural development, and projects that promote economic sustainability through the empowerment of women and girls.

Australian Aid: Friendship Grants will be awarded to organisations through a competitive, merit-based process. Round One opens on 18 June 2018, with the first grants announced from November 2018. We encourage all interested and eligible community organisations to apply for this exciting initiative.

To find out more about Australian Aid: Friendship Grants or to register your interest visit: www.dfat.gov.au/FriendshipGrants