Australian Embassy
China

Direct Aid Program

The Direct Aid Program (DAP) for China is accepting applications from 16 December 2025 to 8 January 2026. 

DAP is a competitive, flexible small grants program funded by the Australian Government with the primary aim of reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development outcomes. 

The Australian Embassy is looking to fund small-scale, high-value projects that will be completed by 31 December 2026. 

Grant applications per project can range from a minimum funding allocation of AUD$5,000 (RMB23,000) to a maximum of AUD$60,000 (RMB275,000). 

The DAP will fund projects by individuals, community groups, non-government organisations, the private sector and not-for- profit organisations. 

Funding priorities 

Projects in the following sectors will be prioritised: 

  • Health 

  • Empowering people with a disability 

  • Economic recovery, including food security, poverty alleviation and rural development 

  • Gender equality and women’s economic empowerment 

  • Supporting diversity through empowering minority communities 

  • Environmental protection, climate change and disaster resilience 

DAP projects must deliver tangible humanitarian or developmental benefits to identified beneficiaries.  Projects that work with China’s most vulnerable groups, including those living in less developed or disaster-prone regions, aligning with projects working on the above listed sectors,  will be prioritised. 

DAP recipients should be reputable, with the demonstrated capacity to deliver projects and must be registered to operate in China. Foreign NGOs must already either be registered or have temporary registration for the proposed project. All applicants must comply with local laws and regulations while implementing projects supported with DAP funding. Australian Embassy or Consulate staff will conduct a monitoring visit to the project site. 

Selected applications should be able to enhance the public diplomacy and economic diplomacy goals of the Australian Embassy in Beijing or Australia’s other Consulates in China. These include building awareness and understanding of Australia’s deep and broad engagement with China and promoting Australia’s development credentials. 

The following activities and inputs are not eligible for DAP funding: 

  • grants programs run by other governments; 

  • micro-credit schemes or any other projects that involve return of money or loans for cash; 

  • salary of permanent staff of implementing organisation; 

  • administrative costs not directly related to project implementation; 

  • purchase or rental of property or land; 

  • purchase of vehicles; 

  • routine, recurring and/or running costs including: office rent, electricity, water, phone, internet, etc.; routine maintenance and repairs (including of equipment such as photocopiers, computers, stoves, fridges etc.); and office or equipment insurance; 

  • commercial ventures; 

  • projects that do not comply with local laws and regulations and 

  • direct support for governments. 

Application process 

Applications for DAP funding can be submitted online here. Applications can be submitted in either English or Chinese. 

DAP projects are managed through an online grant management system called SmartyGrants. 

You can refer to the Applicant FAQs and the Help Guide for Applicants  regarding issues with your account, password or submissions.  

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Only successful applicants will be directly advised of the selection outcome. 

If you are unable to attend the information session, or have specific questions, you can also directly contact the Australian Embassy for more information. 

Want to know more? 

The Australian Embassy will hold an online DAP information session at 10:00am (Beijing time) on 23 December 2025 and 5 January 2026. This will be held via Microsoft Teams. If you would like to attend this session, you can join using the below link or using the below dial-in details: 

  • Information Session I: 

Time: 10:00am Tuesday 23 December 2025 

Teams Meeting Link 

Meeting ID: 498 337 839 326 80  

Passcode: ed38px3z 

  • Information Session II: 

Time: 10:00am Monday 5 January 2026 

Teams Meeting Link 

Meeting ID: 412 027 419 869 78  

Passcode: 4SK3XJ9K