The Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR) is encouraging community organisations in agriculture-dependent part of the country to apply for the latest round of Small Network Grants for initiatives that build community preparedness and resilience towards future droughts.
Supported by the federal government’s Future Drought Fund through the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative, the grants are available through two streams of funding for simple, one-off or seed-type initiatives designed to strengthen local networks and capabilities of remote, rural, and regional communities, with groups in Far West NSW eligible for Stream 2.
Stream 2 offers grants up to $50,000 and has an indicative funding pool of $1,296,350. Stream 1 offers grants up to $20,000 to all agriculture-dependent remote, rural, or regional areas (except Stream 2 locations) and has an indicative funding pool of $1,175,900.
“Our Small Network Grants program empowers local organisations to strengthen the social fabric of their town or locality by identifying and acting on their region’s drought preparedness priorities, at a grassroots level, in ways that best suit their communities,” FRRR Disaster Resilience and Recovery Lead, Nina O’Brien, said.
“We look forward to seeing projects that will help community groups be better connected, informed, and resourced in the next drought.”
The Small Network Grants program can fund projects that fit into one of the following five categories:
- Networks: Initiatives to strengthen the capacity, capability, and coordination of professional, social or community networks.
- Community Events: Field days, conferences, forums, summits, and seminars that facilitate professional, social and community connection to build understanding of drought and climate change associated risks.
- Training: Initiatives to improve skills and capacity in community risk management, planning and project delivery in relation to drought.
- Community Infrastructure: Small scale community infrastructure projects to improve connectedness, wellbeing, and facilities.
- Development and Learning: Initiatives to facilitate professional, personal and leadership related development and learning to support drought preparation.
Applications are now open and close on Tuesday, March 26 with recipients announced in June 2024.
Potential applicants are invited to watch this recorded webinar to learn more about the program and the eligibility requirements: https://youtu.be/CdeVdcjSwro?si=3YVOT5dmjw1MTwbF.
For more information, including the list of priority LGAs, and to apply, visit: https://frrr.org.au/small-networks-grants
PICTURE: Pastoralist Lachlan Gall stands at the bottom of one of his empty dams on his property at Langawirra Station north of Broken Hill, New South Wales, Monday August 20, 2018. With New South Wales 100% drought declared farmers are off loading their stock. DAVID MARIUZ/AAP
