The Growth & Access Program (GAP) offers small grants aimed at supporting the development of DDP in emerging regions where financial barriers limit access to DDP training and development.
Drawing from an $20,000 USD annual pool, this funding program by DDPI Worldwide is designed to work as a catalyst for member-led initiatives, expanding the quality, fidelity and sustainable growth of DDP internationally.
GAP prioritises the Global South and other underserved regions, with a focus on building lasting local capacity rather than ongoing financial support. Successful applications will strengthen the DDP field as a whole, instead of providing direct financial benefit to individual members.
The fund will provide one-off grants of up to $5,000 USD per successful application (subject to available funds each financial year).
On this page:
Grant categories
Applicants must select either Category A or Category B.
Category A – Development of Sustainable Training Markets and Practitioner Capacity (Subsidy Support)
To subsidise participation in approved DDPI Worldwide training where cost is a barrier in emerging regions. Funding is intended as catalytic support and will not be used to create ongoing reliance on DDPI Worldwide financial support or to subsidise commercial operations.
Eligible support may include:
- Partial trainer fee subsidies
- Participant fee reductions
- Translation or adaptation costs linked to training
- Seed funding to establish first regional training cohort
Conditions:
- Must be linked to DDPI Worldwide-recognised training
- Clear co-contribution model preferred (local investment matters)
- Must demonstrate long-term sustainability plan
- An emerging region is a geographic area (country, sub-national region, or defined market) where access to certified DDP Practitioners, Trainers, or training pathways is limited or absent, and where there is demonstrable need or strategic opportunity to develop capacity. Classification as an emerging region will be determined by DDPI Worldwide based on available data and reviewed periodically.
Category B – Capacity and Development Projects
To provide small grants to support member-led initiatives that seek to do one or more of the following:
- Advance the quality and fidelity of DDP practice
- Increase accessibility to DDP in under-served communities
- Strengthen global development of DDP
- Support sustainable, ethical growth aligned with DDPI Worldwide standards
The program exists to build capacity — not to subsidise routine business operations.
What can be funded
A variety of activities are eligible for funding. Examples include:
- Translation of DDP materials into new languages
- Development of culturally adapted teaching resources
- Community access workshops in low-income regions
- Seed funding for new DDP regional networks
- Accessibility adaptations (e.g. disability access tools)
- Pilot initiatives that expand DDP reach responsibly
The following example activities are not eligible:
- Direct personal income support unrelated to delivery of the approved project
- Personal travel unrelated to the delivery of the approved project
- Ongoing business overheads
- Projects inconsistent with DDPI Worldwide certification, standards or Code of Conduct
Applications will be prioritised where they:
- Expand DDP into new or underdeveloped regions
- Demonstrate local leadership and commitment
- Build long-term sustainability rather than dependency
- Require modest catalytic funding
To be eligible applicants must:
- Be a current DDPI Worldwide member or an approved Training Provider in good standing
- Be compliant with DDPI Worldwide ethical and certification standards
- Have no outstanding disciplinary matters
- Demonstrate capacity to deliver the proposed activity
Applications may be submitted by:
- Individual members
- Member-led groups
- DDPI Worldwide Committees and Special Interest Groups
- Regional DDP networks and steering groups
- Approved Training Providers (where project is non-commercial and access-focused)
All applications are assessed against the same criteria:
- Alignment with DDPI Worldwide mission, standards and Code of Conduct
- Demonstrated community benefit
- Feasibility and clarity of plan
- Responsible budget
- Potential for sustainable impact
Funding decisions are made to advance the collective interests of the DDP field and not to provide preferential advantage to individual members or organisations.
All grant recipients must agree to:
- Use funds only for approved purpose
- Acknowledge DDPI Worldwide support where appropriate
- Return unspent funds
- Comply with DDPI Worldwide policies
Any conflict of interest must be declared.
How to apply
All applications must be made online.
If you have any questions or issues with the application form please email support@ddpnetwork.org.
If you need to submit your application in a different format due to your learning style please get in touch using the details above.
Decision process
Applications may be submitted at any time during the year and will be reviewed by the Clinical Director and our Small Grants panel.
The Small Grants panel meet up to four times per year to review applications, subject to the availability of funds in the program allocation. Once the annual funding pool has been fully allocated, remaining applications may be held over to the next review period or invited to reapply in the following funding year. The panel may request more information and clarifications before a decision is made.
All decisions are final.
Final Grant Report
Successful grant recipients must provide a short final report, a brief financial acquittal, photos and/or videos for sharing through our channels, and any agreed project outcomes or reflections on completion of the project.
We understand that pilot and development projects may encounter challenges or evolve over time. As such, we welcome all reflections on any barriers, adaptations and learnings as part of the reporting process.
The reports will allow us to assess the success of the project, and provide transparency to our members and other recipients on how DDPI Worldwide allocates funds.
We generally expect projects to be completed within 12 months unless agreed otherwise.
