KIOS Foundation Programme Evaluation Highlights the importance of KIOS work and grantee satisfaction with the support KIOS provides
The latest programme evaluation of the KIOS Foundation has shed light on its effectiveness in strengthening the capacities of human rights organisations, the impact of its grant mechanisms, and the functionality of its funding model. Conducted by Consulting Agency ZULU between September and November 2024, the evaluation assessed the role of KIOS in supporting its grantees and its impact on human rights movements and civil society development in its programme countries. KIOS is pleased to see, that the evaluation shows the impact of KIOS work and that our cooperation with our grantees works. Particularly we are warmed by the responses by our grantees, that show great satisfaction with the support KIOS provides.
Key Findings: Strengthening Grantee Capacity
The evaluation results indicate that more than half of KIOS grantees have made significant progress in advocacy, communications, networking, and leadership. Additionally, over one-third have improved their organisational and financial management, risk management, and the security of human rights defenders. These advancements support the effectiveness of human rights work and the long-term sustainability of organisations.
Grantees expressed high satisfaction with KIOS support, particularly in terms of clear communication, timely financial disbursements, and user-friendly reporting processes. Monitoring visits conducted by KIOS staff were seen as valuable in fostering productive discussions and clarifying project implementation.
Addressing Emerging Human Rights Challenges
The evaluation also highlighted increasing human rights risks in KIOS programme countries. Key concerns include threats to human rights defenders, gender-based violence, discrimination against marginalised groups, and shrinking civic space. Grantees emphasised the need for continuous capacity-building to effectively address these evolving challenges. KIOS plays a critical role in equipping grantees with the necessary knowledge and skills to tackle these risks.
Strengthening Human Rights Movements and Civil Society
The report underscored the impact KIOS has in strengthening human rights movements through eleven key dimensions, resulting in 29 identified positive changes in target groups and operating environments. These include enhanced capacity of civil society organisations, legislative advancements, increased cross-sector collaboration, and greater public awareness of human rights issues. However, the evaluation noted that KIOS currently lacks a systematic reporting framework to clearly demonstrate how its programme strengthens civil society in the Global South. Developing such a framework could improve transparency and better document the impact KIOS has.
Grant Mechanisms and Areas for Improvement
KIOS grant mechanism was praised for its deep understanding of human rights contexts and its close collaboration with grantees. Two-thirds of grantees highlighted the unique approach by KIOS, which focuses on organisational development and personalised support. However, concerns were raised about the short duration of funding cycles, as the current one-to-three-year grants create uncertainty for long-term planning. Additionally, some grantees reported delays in application processing, which affected operational continuity.
While KIOS grant portfolio strategy has improved with greater focus, the evaluation recommended increasing transparency and improving internal documentation to ensure all staff share a unified understanding of portfolio development. This would enable more systematic management, better adaptation to changing environments, and long-term strategic planning.
Recommendations for Future Development
The evaluation provided four key recommendations for us:
- Expand learning and networking opportunities – Strengthen systematic learning, peer networks, and more consistently implement KIOS guidelines.
- Develop an impact reporting framework – Improve transparency and systematically document how grantees strengthen civil society.
- Extend funding cycles – Consider four-year funding cycles to provide greater stability and long-term planning opportunities for grantees.
- Enhance grant portfolio management – Implement more systematic processes and documentation practices to increase transparency and efficiency.
Conclusion
The evaluation reaffirmed the crucial role of KIOS in supporting human rights organisations and strengthening civil society. By implementing the recommended improvements and strategically developing its operations, KIOS can further enhance its impact and provide long-term support to human rights defenders in an increasingly complex global environment. As the human rights landscape continues to evolve, adaptability and strategic growth will be essential for achieving lasting change. This is the work KIOS is happy to continue with our amazing grantees, who defend human rights!
Read the full evaluation report from here! (you can also find it on our website under the publications and reports)