MORE than $3 million in grants is now available to empower eligible agriculture-dependent communities to prepare for drought by building and maintaining social resilience.

This is the second round of funding to be delivered by Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal through the Future Drought Fund’s Communities Program, funded by the Australian Government.

Grants are available to local not-for-profit organisations for projects that establish and grow community networks, increase local collaboration and engagement, share knowledge and develop leadership skills, or upgrade small-scale community infrastructure.

There are two grant elements offering funding for locally-led initiatives that strengthen social resilience and drought preparedness.

A total of $2 million in Regional Drought Resilience Plan Social Outcome Grants is available to bring to life the social resilience activities and projects already outlined in a region’s RDRP Plan.

A maximum of $100,000 is available to up to 50 RDRP regions over the life of the program, with 42 regions still eligible for some or all their allocated funding.

There is a further $1 million available in Small Network Grants of up to $50,000 to support agriculture-dependent communities within 314 Local Government Areas.

FRRR head of granting, Jill Karena, said rural communities understand the value of investing early in social resilience because they know first-hand that drought is inevitable, even if there’s still rain on the horizon.

“While other parts of the FDF fund projects that benefit the environment or on-farm agricultural practice, through the Communities Program, we’re supporting grassroots initiatives that help people stay connected, build skills and strengthen the networks that underpin thriving communities,” Ms Karena said.

“Both the RDRP Social Outcome Grants and Small Network Grants are designed to help communities get on the front foot, by strengthening local networks, supporting training and leadership development, and encouraging collaboration.

Town Team Movement received an FRRR grant funded by the Future Drought Fund to build community resilience to drought in the western Australian wheatbelt central region.

“The program is driven from the ground up, because preparedness needs will differ in every community.

“In many places, there’s already been lots of planning done, through the likes of the Regional Drought Resilience Plans, where local groups have identified the issues that matter most to them when it comes to strengthening their community’s resilience and developing solutions to meet these needs. This program is all about bringing those projects to life.

“For example, in the first round of RDRP Social Outcome Grants, we awarded $56,000 to North Midlands Project to deliver arts and creative workshops and activities to support the social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people across seven isolated communities in remote Western Australia.

“Meanwhile, in Bega, New South Wales, Grow the Future was awarded $16,466 through the first round of Small Network Grants to engage with young people and the wider community and work with them to design, build and operate a circular composting system.

“This project is a great example of encouraging the community to implement place-based drought resilience practices.

“By investing in capabilities, resources and relationships now, community groups will be in a stronger position to support their regions when they need it most – and we look forward to seeing the ideas that emerge in this next round,” Ms Karena said.

RDRP Social Outcome Grants and Small Network Grants programs are available to not-for-profit organisations that have an ABN or Incorporation Certificate and support remote, rural or regional communities in agriculture-dependent areas.

FRRR encourages groups to contact the team to discuss their project idea.

Applications for both RDRP Social Outcome Grants and Small Network Grants are currently open and close on June 30 at 5pm AEST. Funding will be announced late October.

The FDF’s Communities Program is a three-year initiative, funded by the Australian Government and delivered in partnership with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation.

As a national initiative, the Program offers three streams of funding, each available to specific LGAs, to best respond to the needs and priorities of each agriculture-dependent region across Australia. Learn at FDF Communities Program Funding.