Applications for the DFAT Business Partnerships Platform (BPP) Round 3 – 2018 opened on 25 June 2018. In Round 3, organisations have the opportunity to partner with DFAT to deliver shared value initiatives in a range of sectors across 19 countries in Asia, Africa and the Indo-Pacific.
What is the BPP?
The BPP forms part of the Australian Government aid program. The BPP accelerates Australia’s collaboration with business to address development challenges in our region. Launched in 2015, the BPP sees the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) partner with over 40 organisations to deliver shared value initiatives across Asia, Africa and the Indo-Pacific. BPP partnerships create scalable shared value partnerships that advance economic and social conditions in developing countries.
Who can apply?
The BPP is open to any kind of organisation undertaking, or looking to undertake an initiative of a commercial nature in an eligible sector and country identified by DFAT for the BPP funding round. Eligible organisations include businesses, investors, social enterprises, NGOs, NFPs, cooperatives, universities, or other types of organisations, or consortiums. Applicants are not required to come from any specific country, and they do not have to be from, or be based in Australia to be eligible.
What makes a good application?
All BPP applications must align to five core elements:
1. Partnership
BPP partnerships demonstrate mutual sharing of objectives, priorities and capabilities and a clear vision for how DFAT’s involvement and financial investment can deliver greater results than could otherwise be achieved. BPP partnerships are grounded in the five key principles of diversity, equity, openness, mutual benefit and courage.
2. Gender Equality
BPP initiatives impact gender equality positively by promoting women’s economic empowerment; enhancing women’s voice in decision-making, leadership and peace-building and/or ending violence against women and girls.
3. Social Impact
BPP initiatives use a shared value approach to create positive social impact via:
1. Reconceiving products and/or markets by broadening access to low-income consumers to goods and services that improve their lives.
2. Redefining productivity in the value chain by developing initiatives to increase incomes, productivity, employment opportunities, and/or welfare of people in the supply chain.
3. Enabling local cluster development involving local institutions, suppliers, downstream actors, communities, associations and local governments to stimulate a positive business environment.
4. Commercial Viability
The BPP considers the commercial viability and sustainability of an initiative. BPP Initiatives demonstrate how including shared value practices will lead to improved sustainable growth, viability, competitive advantage and profitability.
5. Value for Money
BPP initiatives demonstrate a good balance between cost and outcomes (value-for-money) by:
- Leverage – Attracting additional investment from partners through real and measurable contributions.
- Additionality – Using DFAT’s resources to generate measurable development impact through BPP partnerships which would not have otherwise occurred.
Applications remain open until 10 August 2018.
For more information and to apply, visit dfat.gov.au/bpp/round3.
