20 January update : Questions and answers uploaded. All other information released on 19 December 2025 remains unchanged.

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. 

Questions and Answers

Question: Is DFAT able to share an indicative agreement?

Answer: Yes. DFAT can provide an indicative grant agreement. The final agreement will remain subject to negotiation. Interested bidders may request a copy by emailing PacificEduPartnerships@dfat.gov.au.

Question: Can DFAT share any expectations around any overheads (from DFAT) and cash and in-kind (from partners)?

Answer: DFAT anticipates committing up to AUD 22 million of its own funds to the program. A portion of these funds is expected to be allocated to DFAT management costs, including an independent evaluation, with costs anticipated to be less than AUD 500,000. Partner contributions (financial or in-kind) to the program and achieving its outcomes would be in addition to DFAT funds and assessed accordingly as part of the published selection criteria.

Question: Does DFAT require a budget by the 6 March 2026 grant submission deadline and if so, is there a template to be completed for that budget?

Answer: A full budget is not required for the 6 March 2026 submission and there is no budget template. Applicants should outline a credible proposal that fits within DFAT's financial contribution and any proposed co‑contribution. Further detail on co‑funding or other resourcing may be included in the optional annex. A detailed budget will be developed during the design stage with the selected partner.

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]