Further to the notification issued on 3 December 2025, DFAT is now inviting proposals from Australian higher education providers, or a consortium led by an Australian higher education provider, to design and implement a new program: the Pacific Higher Education Partnerships Investment. This initiative will succeed the Pacific Research Program Phase Two.

The successful applicant will be provided with grant funding to undertake a design process. Progression to implementation will be subject to DFAT’s formal acceptance of the design milestone and is not guaranteed.

Building on the achievements of the Pacific Research Program Phase Two, the objective of the new investment is to better equip Pacific researchers and tertiary institutions to produce the research needed to solve Pacific development challenges.

Applications close on Friday 6 March 2026, 17:00 AEDT.

Contact

All questions should be directed to PacificEduPartnerships@dfat.gov.au.

The final date for questions is Friday 20 February 2026, 17:00 AEDT.

An indicative agreement can be provided via email upon request, to provide eligible applicants with an understanding of DFAT’s standard contractual terms. The final contract will be negotiated between DFAT and the successful applicant. Please submit your request to the email address above.

Please check this page regularly for updates. 

Attachments

• Investment Concept – Pacific Higher Education Partnerships [DOCX 75 KB]
• Investment Concept – Pacific Higher Education Partnerships [PDF 266 KB]
   
• Grant Proposal Guidelines – Pacific Higher Education Partnerships [DOCX 75 KB]
• Grant Proposal Guidelines – Pacific Higher Education Partnerships [PDF 266 KB]
   
• Invitation to Submit Activity Proposal – Pacific Higher Education Partnerships [DOCX 84 KB]
• Invitation to Submit Activity Proposal – Pacific Higher Education Partnerships [PDF 352 KB]