Call for Proposals: Mekong Australia Partnership Program 2024

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is requesting activity proposals for funding under the Mekong-Australia Partnership (MAP). This initiative aims to foster long-term partnerships with a diverse range of partners, including local organisations and, where possible, through locally led architecture.

Program Focus

This Call for Proposals concentrates on four of the five MAP Expected Outcomes and Objectives (EOPOs) that align with DFAT’s forthcoming Southeast Asia Regional Development Partnership Plan:

• Mekong subregion partners reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.
• Mekong subregion partners manage water resources in a more coordinated and sustainable way.
• Mekong subregion partners increase leadership and economic opportunities for women, people with disabilities, and other marginalised groups.
• Mekong subregion partners enable strengthened economic resilience and subregional integration.

Funding Information

Proposals should total between AUD 2 million and AUD 10 million. Multi-year funding is encouraged.

Eligibility Criteria

Organisations must meet the following criteria:

• Operate as international, regional, or national non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations (CSOs), universities, research institutions, foundations, or social enterprises.
• Be based in Australia and/or the Mekong subregion, with demonstrated ability to operate in proposed countries of implementation through established offices, partnerships, and/or networks.
• Eligible organisations may form consortia and submit proposals with two or more delivery partners.
• Demonstrate sufficient financial and organisational capacity to deliver the proposal.

Proposals must:

• Be subregional and/or multi-country in nature and address shared and transboundary development challenges.
• Involve two or more countries in the Mekong subregion (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and/or Vietnam).
• Respond to one or more of the MAP EOPOs.
• Focus on MAP thematic areas such as climate resilience, water security, economic resilience, and sub-regional integration, while strengthening gender equality, disability, and social inclusion outcomes.
• Require multi-year funding of between AUD 2m - 10m.

Ineligibility Criteria

Proposals are not requested for:

• MAP thematic areas of transnational crime or cross-cutting leadership and skills.
• Investment values of under AUD 2 million or bilateral (one country) in nature.
• Implementation by managing contractors or commercial service providers.
• Implementation by international, regional, or national governmental organisations, government-aligned unions or mass organisations, or development banks.

Proposal Deadline

11 October 2024

For more information, visit the DFAT Business Opportunities page.