Prior Access to the Biodiversity Fund Program

ANAO Report No.10 2014–15 Administration of the Biodiversity Fund Program 48

3.15 Stakeholder

feedback on the guidelines was positive overall, with more than 97 per cent of ANAO survey respondents stating that they found the grant guidelines ‘reasonably clear’ or ‘very clear’.

3.16 There

was, however, scope to improve several aspects of the guidelines. Specifically, the provision of greater clarity and additional guidance in relation to the moderation process, eligibility criteria, discretionary grants, and budget information for each round would have enabled potential applicants to make more informed decisions regarding their participation in the program. Moderation process

3.17 There

was scope for the guidelines, particularly those for Round 1, to have provided greater clarity regarding the role of the Moderation Group and the impact of the moderation process on the outcomes of the assessment and selection process. The Round 1 guidelines did not explicitly outline the role of the Moderation Group, which was an important element in the assessment and selection of applications for funding. The only reference in the Round 1 guidelines to a process that was additional to the initial merit assessment was to ‘consideration [being] given to achieving a reasonable distribution of projects across the country and across themes’. 63 The guidelines in the three subsequent rounds were clearer on the involvement of the Moderation Group, for example the NATI Guidelines stated: The Moderation Group may consider proposals in the context of:  effective partnerships and collaboration in achieving biodiversity outcomes across Northern Australia;  the extent to which proposals complement and support projects already funded under the program andor other proposals submitted in the round;  the spread of projects across the Northern Australia investment area; and  the spread of projects across activity type and organisation. 64 63 Biodiversity Fund program Grant Application Guidelines Round 1 2011–12, op.cit., p. 20. 64 Biodiversity Fund: Northern Australia Targeted Investment 2013–14 [Grant application guidelines], p. 21. Available from: http:www.environment.gov.aucleanenergyfuturebiodiversity- fundpublicationspubsnorthern-guidelines.pdf [accessed 24 November 2014]. The description of the process changed slightly across the three rounds, but the key points were consistent.