WebClick Tracer

Australian Aid awards grants to organisations to pursue community development activities

Share this story

The Philippines-Australia Community Assistance Program (PACAP), an Australian Aid initiative managed by The Asia Foundation, today awarded grants to 11 organisations for projects that will help expand opportunities for development in different communities across the Philippines.

The award ceremony, held on November 6, 2012 at the Grand Regal Hotel in Davao City, was attended by representatives from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), The Asia Foundation, civil society, government, and media. The award ceremony coincides with the Grants Management Seminar provided by The Asia Foundation to project and finance officers of the NGO recipients of the PACAP program.

Geoff King, AusAID Counsellor in the Philippines, formally awarded the grants to the selected organisations.

One of Australia’s longest-running programs in the Philippines, PACAP has been providing direct assistance to Filipino communities for over 20 years and has already benefited millions of Filipinos. PACAP supports community-initiated, economically sustainable, ecologically sound and gender-responsive development projects.In its current phase from 2011, PACAP has provided support to 62 organisations.

“By providing small grants that respond to priority development needs in poor and/or disadvantaged Filipino communities, PACAP helps build beneficiary communities’ capacity to meet their own needs. This scheme also makes it possible for Australian aid to directly reach the poor communities throughout the Philippines,” Mr. King said.

PACAP’s priority themes for this year focus on community development initiatives related to basic education; disaster risk reduction and management/climate change; subnational governance; peace building in Mindanao; and gender equality and persons with disabilities.

Australia is a long-standing development partner of the Philippines and one of the country’s largest bilateral grant aid donors. In 2012-13, Australia will provide Php5.5 billion in development assistance to the Philippines. END

Your perspective matters! Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We welcome diverse viewpoints and encourage respectful discussions. Don't hesitate to share your ideas or engage with others.

Search MindaNews