About the program
Applications for the next round of the Vanuatu-Australia Community Grants Program will open at 9am on 9 November 2026, and close on Monday 30 November 2026, at 4:30pm Vanuatu Standard Time.
Once applications open, you can apply online through SmartyGrants. All applications must be submitted online through SmartyGrants. The link to apply will be available here from 9 November.
You can begin to prepare your application now. Read the information below and check out our Frequently Asked Questions for more guidance.
What is the Vanuatu-Australia Community Grants Program?
The Vanuatu-Australia Community Grants Program (VACGP) is a small grants program administered by the Australian High Commission in Port Vila, Vanuatu. It is designed to support community-led projects that improve quality of life. We strongly encourage applications for projects that would benefit disadvantaged groups including women, youth, those with disabilities, and those from isolated communities.
Applicants may apply for projects that take up to one year to complete.
Who can apply?
Communities, individuals, local registered NGOs, academic institutions or other organisations engaged in development activities in Vanuatu. Projects should preferably originate from communities. It is important that communities demonstrate their support of the project, and should ideally be involved in its design, development and implementation.
How much can I apply for?
The Australian High Commission funds projects up to VUV4,700,000. The program does not provide cash grants. Approved funding is used to procure goods, services, or works directly in support of the approved project.
What activities are eligible for support?
Applications should primarily aim to achieve practical and tangible outcomes of high development impact.
VACGP may fund:
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Building materials and equipment.
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Transport and freight.
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Specialised labour such as electricians, plumbers, welders or site supervisors, where expertise is needed to complete the project.
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Other one-off project implementation costs.
Projects must be located at a specific site, community or village. We do not fund projects that involve purchasing goods for later distribution to multiple communities unless the beneficiary communities are clearly identified in the application.
VACGP may support income-generating activities where the benefits are shared by a community or community group and any profits are reinvested for community benefit. Examples may include women's cooperatives, community-managed agricultural projects, community markets or other community enterprises.
We will favourably consider projects that:
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are located in disadvantaged or isolated areas
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encourage communities to become self-reliant
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have a significant local contribution, for example labour, materials, freight or additional financial contributions made by the community
What projects are NOT eligible?
VACGP does not fund:
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Drilling of new boreholes.
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Bulk purchasing of items for later distribution (for example, purchasing iron roofing or tools to distribute at the applicant's discretion without specific communities listed).
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Purchasing of vehicles, land, or buildings.
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Sponsoring a sporting tournament or cultural displays that do not have a clear development benefit.
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Projects that primarily support a private commercial business or generate private profit for an individual or company.
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Ongoing operating costs such as salaries, wages, electricity bills, fuel, internet charges or routine maintenance.
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Projects that do not have a clearly defined location and beneficiary community.
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Large-scale road construction or road rehabilitation projects.
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Buildings intended primarily as evacuation centres.
Expectations for accountability, transparency and reporting
We require a high degree of transparency and accountability in all projects. Applications must demonstrate that the risk of wastage, administration costs and other costs not delivering direct benefit to the target community will be minimised.
Should your project be successful, you will be required to:
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sign a contract specifying the terms and conditions of the grant
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keep copies of all quotations, invoices, receipts and project records
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submit a progress report within six months of receiving your funding
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submit a final report at the project’s completion
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facilitate a visit by Australian High Commission representatives to the project site.
Before you apply:
Before applying, please ensure you have:
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A clear project idea with a specific location and beneficiary community
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A project sketch, design or drawing (hand-drawn sketches are acceptable)
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Supplier quotations for the goods, materials and services you are requesting funding for
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Information about any community, MP or other contributions to the project
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Approval or support from relevant authorities, where required
How can I apply?
All applications must be submitted through Smartygrants, our online grants management system. Smartygrants operates on a web-based platform and can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
What do I do if I need help?
Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions for more guidance.
If you have any questions, please contact us on 22777 (Port Vila) during business hours or at [email protected]. Make sure to include your application ID (CGPXXX) if applicable.
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