A robust, competitive grant process

The Incentive Fund grant process is designed to ensure that funding is directed to high-quality projects implemented by organisations committed to ensuring the safety, quality and longevity of infrastructure, and the long-term social and development impacts of a project.

Organisations applying for an Incentive Fund grant must first submit an expression of interest. If this is successful, the partner develops a fuller concept proposal while the Incentive Fund team undertakes an assessment of the organisation. The Incentive Fund team is available to support the concept proposal development to ensure quality and compliance.

Upon approval of a concept proposal and a satisfactory organisational assessment, an agreement is put in place with the organisation that outlines project timelines, milestones and funding arrangements, including any co-contributions made by the organisation.

Once the agreement is in place, the organisation begins what is known as a design and implement process, with final project designs developed with support from the Incentive Fund on infrastructure, compliance and development outcomes. Support for development outcomes includes strategies to foster gender equality, disability and social inclusion, and climate change and disaster risk reduction.

Detailed information on the grants application process can be found here.

Strong governance and strategic oversight

The Incentive Fund Operational Management Group and the Incentive Fund Board provide governance and strategic oversight of the grant application process, including project approvals.

The Incentive Fund Board comprises senior representatives from the Papua New Guinea Department of National Planning and Monitoring, the Australian High Commission, the Incentive Fund and independent members.

Profiles of Incentive Fund Board members are available here.

A focus on quality and development impact

The Incentive Fund team comprises specialists with expertise in the following areas: infrastructure (construction and project management); gender equality, disability and social inclusion; climate change and disaster risk reduction; monitoring, evaluation, research, learning and adaptation; communications and stakeholder engagement; and operations and management.

Our team supports organisations as they refine and strengthen their concept proposals and subsequent detailed proposals. By working alongside our partners, we ensure high-quality project designs and builds, and that the ambitions for improved social and economic development outcomes are achieved.

For example:

Support provided to the construction of new buildings at a school could include: ensuring building designs meet PNG standards, are accessible for people with disabilities, are designed to withstand climate change and disasters and/or be utilised during or following a disaster (for example, as a shelter) and have minimal environmental impact.

In addition, the Incentive Fund team will work with the partner to ensure the specific needs of women and girls are factored in and processes and policies for ongoing gender equality and inclusion of all groups are in place.