Australian Consulate General in Kolkata 2025-2026 Direct Aid Program for India, The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a community-focused small grants initiative financed by the Australian Government and administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
In eastern and northeastern India, the program is overseen by the Australian Consulate-General in Kolkata, supporting projects that emphasize sustainable development, poverty alleviation, and community empowerment. Since 2020, DAP has been instrumental in building connections and strengthening partnerships between Australia and local communities.
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the full details and submit their applications before the specified deadline to seize this grant opportunity.
Last Date of Submission: 11th September 2025
Who can apply?
(Australian Consulate General in Kolkata 2025-2026 Direct Aid Program for India)
DAP funding is available to community groups, non-government organisations (NGOs) and academic institutions engaged in development activities on a not-for-profit basis. For projects in India, applicants must have current Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration and the applications should be in line with its latest Amendment Rules. Information about obtaining FCRA approval and notices can be found here.
The Australian Consulate-General in Kolkata supports small-scale, sustainable development projects in: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal.
If the project is in Goa, Gujarat and/or Maharashtra, queries should be directed to the Australian Consulate-General in Mumbai at MumbaiDAP@dfat.gov.au
If the project is in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry and/or Tamil Nadu, queries should be directed to the Australian Consulate-General in Chennai at ChennaiDAP@dfat.gov.au
If the project is in Karnataka and/or Telangana, queries should be directed to the Australian Consulate-General in Bengaluru at BengaluruDAP@dfat.gov.au
What activities are eligible for DAP support?
(Australian Consulate General in Kolkata 2025-2026 Direct Aid Program for India)
DAP activities should aim to achieve practical and tangible outcomes of high development impact. In 2025-26 we aim to work with partners on high quality projects on four thematic areas:
- Education, innovation and entrepreneurship: Australia and India are committed to supporting education and research collaboration, through knowledge exchange and innovation. Australia places a high premium on education access for all. Kolkata’s DAP will prioritise education access particularly to women and girls, persons with disabilities, tribal communities and members of the LGBTQIA+ communities. DAP will prioritise projects which provide pathways between skill training and marketing and entrepreneurship.
- Sustainable farming and agricultural technology: Australian expertise has been enabling India’s agricultural productivity for over four decades, and building capacity in sustainable agriculture and farming techniques will continue to be a priority. DAP will prioritise projects that enable India’s farmers, especially women-led farming, with sustainable agricultural technology interventions that will increase productivity, strengthen income stream and enhance food security.
- Climate action and energy: DAP will focus on projects that promote sustainable conservation practices and minimise the depletion of natural resources and barriers. In particular we will focus on greening initiatives that are self-sustaining.
- Gender diversity and women’s empowerment: The Australian Government’s commitment to gender equality is at the heart of Australia’s International Development Policy. Australian development assistance will be geared towards improving the lives of women and girls, especially in communities where they are vulnerable to gender-based violence and trafficking.
Consistent with Australia’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment strategy, the DAP program seeks to address the following:
- promote women’s health and nutrition requirements
- promote women’s economic empowerment
- promote women’s status in their communities, and
- help end violence against women and girls.
Human rights and diversity: DAP will encourage innovative and sustainable ideas that promote diversity in all its forms – indigenous inclusion, LGBTQIA+ and disability rights.
We will generally NOT fund the following:
(Australian Consulate General in Kolkata 2025-2026 Direct Aid Program for India)
- cash grants or micro-credit schemes or projects that involve the return of money
- commercial ventures
- purchase of major assets, e.g. vehicles
- Australian or overseas study tours
- international travel
- sponsorship of major sporting tournaments or cultural displays that do not have a clear developmental benefit
- staff salaries
- routine, recurring running costs and administrative expenses including office rental and utility costs, spare parts, routine maintenance.
Projects must be clearly defined with specific outputs. Applications will be approved on the basis of:
- the costs and the development benefits of the proposal
- achievable and sustainable outcomes
- consideration of environmental impact
- soundness of the project’s objectives and design
- the practicability of the proposed implementation arrangements
- whether the project conforms with the objectives of the Direct Aid Program, and
- compliance with FCRA rules.
Funding and timeframes
(Australian Consulate General in Kolkata 2025-2026 Direct Aid Program for India)
- DAP grants typically range up to 10 lakh INR, with some flexibility in case of justified project expenses. The majority of grant funding must be used to cover the direct project expenses, which does not fund staff salaries.
- Any administrative costs given by the application should comply with current FCRA rules. Funding recipients must meet some of the project costs from their own funds or in-kind support.
- Projects should be self-contained, with finite timelines. They must run for no longer than 12 months and should be self-sustainable beyond the term of the grant.
How to apply?
The Australian Consulate-General Kolkata’s DAP operates on the Australian financial year, which runs from 1 July to 30 June.
The 2025-26 DAP Application Round will open on 11 August 2025 and close on 11 September 2025.
All DAP 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.
Applications are usually reviewed through a one-stage process wherein all applicants are encouraged to submit a full application in the format available on SmartyGrants. Information on FCRA registration and financial audit statements for the previous two years is mandatory for all applicants.
Apply here – follow the link to begin your application process –
Link: https://dap.smartygrants.com.au/KolkataDAP2025-26
If you have any questions while completing your application, please contact ACG.Kolkata@dfat.gov.au Do include your application number in your email subject.
Get full access to the grant information, visit the Official Website Link
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