Landmine Victims Assistance Fund (LVAF)
The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is the aid agency of the Australian Government. The strategic objectives of the Australia-Cambodia Development Cooperation Strategy are to increase productivity and incomes of the rural poor, reduce vulnerability of the poor, and strengthen the rule of law. One of the AusAID funds is the Landmine Victims Assistance Fund (LVAF) which was launched in 2004.
The LVAF that operated in 2004 and 2005 will be reviewed in 2005/06 in response to the Physical Rehabilitation Evaluation conducted by Disability Action Council (DAC) and AusAID strategy and administration considerations. While AusAID affirms its support for the sector, the mechanism for providing this support is likely to change in future.
Goals and Objectives: The LVAF seeks to directly reduce the vulnerability of mine victims and their communities by supporting small to medium scale projects that achieve sustainable outcomes.
Theme: LVAF supports projects that directly focus on the physical, psychological and/or socio-economic rehabilitation and reintegration of mine victims. For example community development with landmine victims in mind (sustainable income-generation activities), community-based projects in mine affected areas, basic education about mine safety and awareness for local communities. This also includes strategies to promote women and women’s involvement in decision making.
Where projects involve other beneficiaries (e.g. non-mine affected disabled people), mine victims must constitute at least 50% of beneficiaries.
Who can Apply?
- Community Based Organisations (CBOs)
- Local/Cambodian NGOs (LNGOs/CNGOs)
- International NGOs (INGOs)
- Partnerships (LNGOs partnering with INGOs or CBOs)
Selection Criteria: NGOs needs to be registered with the Royal Government of Cambodia, have an active board, a bank account with at least 2 signatories and use the LVAF proposal format. A LNGO/CNGO must be registered with the Ministry of Interior, an INGO must sign a MOU with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. A CBO or LNGO must include a referee partner in the proposal.
It is strongly recommended that LNGOs include at least one referee/partner organisation. Engagement with the Disability Action Council (DAC) is also recommended.
Application Information: Proposals must be submitted before fixed deadlines. In its last two years of operation fixed deadlines have been provided for project submission in June 2004 and June 2005.
Budget Information
- Funds cannot be used for emergency relief an d welfare; overseas travel, administration, research, commercial, political or religious activities; human rights or credit schemes.
- A maximum of 15% of the total budget may be spent on administration and overhead costs but approval decisions are made on a case by case basis.
- AusAID accepts co-funding only for separate proposed components.
- AusAID requires a contribution from the applicant i.e. materials and/or funds. Contributions from beneficiaries (e.g. labour, material, land) need to be described and given a monetary value equivalent.
- The AusAID budget format should always be used and any item costing more then USD100 should be listed as a separate line item.
Proposal and Project Information
- It is anticipated that most submissions are for a maximum 12 months, although larger value proposals may be spread over 24 months. The project can only be extended in special cases.
- The preferable proposal language is English but Khmer is accepted.
- A standard application form exists, no other application format is accepted and it must be less than 11 pages.
- The time to process the application is 6 weeks.
Contact Details
- Contact : Stephen Close
- Address: Australian Embassy, Villa 11, Street 254, Phnom Penh
- Phone : 023 213 470
- Fax : 023 213 466
- Website: www.ausaid.gov.au
- Email : stephen_close@ausaid.gov.au, sokunthea_nguon@ausaid.gov.au
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