FDF Communities – Small Network Grants

Regional Drought Resilience Plan (RDRP) Social Outcome Grants support not-for-profit organisations in remote, rural and regional Australia to develop and deliver local projects that will broadly result in strengthened social capital, wellbeing and connectedness to prepare for and build social resilience to drought.

The Regional Drought Resilience Plan (RDRP) Social Outcome Grants are designed to deliver projects or initiatives that will broadly result in strengthened social capital, wellbeing and connectedness to prepare for and build social resilience to drought. The grants are available across up to 50 approved RDRP regions for projects identified in an eligible RDRP, or aligned with a social resilience theme in the RDRP. Eligible RDRPs are those that are approved by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and are outside of the specified Community Impact Program regions.

Funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, this is part of the commitment to support Australian agricultural communities to build drought resilience.

RDRP Social Outcome Grants are designed to result in the following outcomes with clear linkages to show the project will help the local community in future droughts:
- New, expanded or diversified community-based networks
- Improved communication, social connection and collaboration
- Increased skills, knowledge and understanding of drought
- Improved access to and use of services, resources, infrastructure and facilities
- Greater diversity of community members and organisational participation
- Improved implementation and effectiveness of place-based practices
- Strengthened individual leadership capacity and capability.

In the long term, projects and initiatives will contribute towards stronger connectedness and greater social capital within communities, contributing to wellbeing and security.

RDRP Social Outcome Grants will be offered across three rounds. This is round 1 of 3. If funds remain unspent at the end of round 3, then a fourth round may be opened.

An indicative funding pool of $2 million is available for up to 50 approved RDRP regions to apply for a grant of up to $100,000 per RDRP region in Round 1.

Applications are sought from locally based, not-for profit organisations that seek to undertake simple, one-off, or seed-type activities or initiatives that contribute to the stated program outcomes. Local collaboration is encouraged.

Invests in the future by enabling agriculture-dependent communities to identify and act on their drought preparedness priorities at a grassroots level and in ways that best suit their communities.