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International Relations Grant Program Australia-Japan

International Relations Grant Program Australia-Japan

  • The total amount of funding available is $780, 000 for one-year and three-year grants
  • Applications close on 21 August 2024 at 2pm AEST
  • Minimum funding of $10,000 to maximum of $50,000 considered per year

The Australian-Japan Foundation is working to enhance Australia's engagement with Japan through people-to-people exchanges, promoting Australia's contemporary identity in Japan, and advancing informed conversations on key bilateral foreign and trade policies. The AJF is seeking to do this by facilitating programs and partnerships in key areas such as economics, culture, media, education, business, science, technology, and sports.

Key Requirements

The AJF will provide grants for projects that are in line with Australian Government priorities. The areas of priority are culture and sport, education and Australian studies, economic diplomacy and geopolitics, scientific innovation and communication, information and advocacy.

The AJF aims to:

  • Enhance awareness of Australia’s common interests in Japan
  • Strengthen the Australia-Japan partnership as a strategic and economic cornerstone
  • Promote Australia’s capabilities and expertise in Japan

Program Objectives:

  • Foster stronger people-to-people connections and enhance Australia’s global reputation
  • Align with Australian Government foreign policy priorities

Program Outcomes:

  • Strengthen bilateral relationships with key countries and regions
  • Build international networks to foster understanding and cooperation
  • Showcase Australia’s strengths in economy, creativity, culture, sport, innovation, science, and education
  • Increase Australians’ knowledge of global cultures and opportunities

The AJF will prioritise applications that demonstrate a commitment to:

  • Inclusion/recognition of First Nations people
  • Inclusion/ recognition of diversity
  • Gender equality

The minimum grant period is one year, while the maximum is three years.

What is eligible for funding?

The activities that are eligible for funding will:

  • Align with the AJF’s goals
  • Enhance Australia’s or Japan’s positive image in the other country
  • Address one of the following priority areas: Communication, information and advocacy, economic diplomacy and geopolitics, education and Australian studies, scientific innovation, society, culture, and sport
  • Directly relate to the project described in your application

Costs that may be covered include:

  • Economy flights
  • Reasonable transport and travel costs
  • 3 or 4 star accommodation
  • Meals
  • Online communication activities
  • Communication and translation
  • Catering and venue hire
  • Marketing – graphic design, photography, print
  • Production – staff and artist wages, freight, fees directly related to the project
  • Employee labour to deliver elements of the grant project
  • Key participants in conferences or meetings, provided they are the principal speaker and the conference topic directly aligns with the grant opportunity

What companies are eligible for funding?

Eligible applicants include:

  • Australian not-for-profit organisation or registered charity
  • Australian local government body
  • Australian State/Territory government body
  • Corporate Commonwealth entity
  • Australian statutory authority
  • Australian citizen or permanent resident
  • Australian consortia: groups of eligible Australian entities with a designated lead organisation

Organisations may form consortia to apply for the grant.

Australian entities with an:

  • Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Australian Company Number (ACN) OR
  • Indigenous Corporation Number (ICN)

Japanese entities:

  • Citizen or organisation
  • Organisations with a focus on promoting Australian business, interests and/or education

Applicants must develop or implement child protection guidelines aligned with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Child Protection Policy for projects involving participants under 18 years old.

Grants intended for university administration should be applied for by the university itself.

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

  • Industry analysis presentation
  • Competitor Analysis Presentation
  • Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
  • 3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
  • 3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
  • End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
  • CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
  • Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
  • Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.