Call for Proposals: Civic Action and Community Empowerment Grants Program in Kenya

Deadline: 13-Jan-2025

The KIOS Foundation is excited to announce the opening of our Civic Action and Community Empowerment Grant (CACEG), also known as the “Small Grant Scheme” to support community-level initiatives.

Objectives

• The objectives to be achieved with the sub-granting support are the following:
  • To strengthen the capacities of selected CBOs and grassroots organisations working on defending human rights of people in vulnerable positions and marginalized groups and increasing the accountability of duty bearers.
  • To encourage CBOs and grassroots organisations to participate meaningfully in holding local and national authorities accountable to improving the delivery of services related to ESC rights and to ensuring the rule of law and human rights.

Thematic Areas

• The CACEG recognized the impact that collective action has in influencing policy, raising awareness about social justice, and advocating for social change focusing on 3 thematic areas;
  • Democracy and the Rule of Law: Promoting good governance, the rule of law and state accountability. Fighting against corruption and increasing access to justice. Promoting transparency and people’s participation in local decision making and budgeting.
  • Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination: Protecting and promoting women’s rights and non-discrimination. Advocating for policy reforms/frameworks that address gender-based violence (GBV) and promote gender equality. Promoting awareness of women’s rights and gender equality. Community actions for accountability and greater inclusion. Promoting access to equal opportunities such as employment. Enhancing sexual health and reproductive rights. Promoting the participation of women, youth and marginalised groups in local decision making.
  • Business and Human Rights: Promoting responsible business conduct and the protection of human rights. Addressing human rights abuses, violations or concerns that occur because of business activities. Enhancing worker’s rights. Working on environmental justice. Enhancing and protecting the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Working on strategic advocacy and enhancing the participation of local communities on climate justice. Enhancing knowledge of FPIC (Free, Prior and Informed Consent) principles, and land rights.

Funding Information

• One grant per organization of 500 – 4,000 €.

Duration

• The project may last between 3 and 12 months.

Geographical Focus 

• This call for proposal is open to the following 8 counties in Kenya: Busia, Embu, Kakamega, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kwale, Siaya and Taita-Taveta counties.

Eligible Activities

• Monitoring, documenting and reporting of the human rights situation of especially people in vulnerable positions
• Awareness-raising on fundamental and human rights to empower and mobilise local communities, especially the most marginalised and discriminated groups and individuals
• Providing legal assistance and aid to individuals in vulnerable positions to hold state and private actors and other power-holders accountable to fundamental rights
• Advocating for non-discriminative and inclusive laws, policies and practices and monitoring and enhancing the implementation of the existing ones
• Evidence-based advocacy, strategic litigation or public interest litigation
• Information and data gathering

Eligibility Criteria

• Community-based organisations (CBOs) defined as a not-for-profit, non-religious, non-governmental and non-political organisation as currently registered by, or planning to register with the Department of Social Services.
• Other civil society organisations working in the grassroots in the forms of societies, associations, trusts and companies limited by guarantee, registered under the Societies Act, Trust Deed Act and Companies Act. can be considered
• Other grassroot civil society groups not registered or in the process of registering and working at grassroot level or in informal settlements can be considered
• They encourage
  • youth-led community-based organisations
  • women-led community-based organization
  • marginalized groups and organizations

Ineligibility Criteria

• This call will not accept call for proposal from any of the following listed below:
  • Individuals
  • For-profit entities
  • Religious communities and churches
  • Political parties
  • Government (whether national or local) institutions
  • International non-governmental organisations (INGOs)

For more information, visit KIOS Foundation.