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 group initiatives and practices that align with the development priorities of Bangladesh. The proposed activities under the grant must be completed by 30 April 2024. The completion report should be submitted by 15 May 2024.

The intended outcomes of the grant are to:

• enable alumni to test an innovative idea
• support initiatives by alumni addressing any important community/social issue
• 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 action research. (study on intervention)

Groups of minimum three alumni are invited to apply for grant activity.

Eligibility criteria:

To be considered for this grant, applicants must:

• apply in a group. The number of the group members should be minimum three;
• 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.

Grant details

Groups of minimum three alumni are invited to apply for grant activity. The maximum grant for each proposal will be AUD $5,000 excluding VAT/TAX (depending on the activity).

In addition to financial grant, additional assistance might be provided:

-        Venue support with IT facilities (capacity max 40 persons)

-        Advisory support

-        Leadership & mentoring support