Grants for civil society actors in Kenya

The grants of the Haki ni Yetu project are meant for community-based organisations and other grassroots civil society groups in rural Kenya, based outside Nairobi or in informal settlements in Kenya.

We provide grants for human rights work in two categories: Rights, Governance and Accountability Grants for more experienced civil society actors and Civic Action and Community Empowerment Grants, tailored for community-based organisations (CBO) or other grassroot civil society groups.

Women- and youth-led organisations and civil society groups led by marginalized groups themselves are particularly encouraged to apply. At least 50 % of the financial support will be awarded to such civil society groups.

The grants schemes are part of the EU-funded project Haki Ni Yetu.

Rights, Governance and Accountability Grants

Are you a community-based organization (CBO) in Kenya with established structures and a track record in defending human rights? Our Rights, Governance and Accountability Grants can give you the resources you need to address injustices.

Grant Details:

• Amount: 15,000-30,000 euros per grant
• Duration: Up to 12 months

Who Can Apply?

• Established community-based organisations and other grassroot civil society groups with developed organizational structures and proven capacity to manage large-scale funding.
• These civil society groups should be based in rural Kenya, outside Nairobi or in informal settlements in Kenya.
• Nairobi-based civil society organisations may be considered provided they are based in the informal settlements of Nairobi or their mandate and proposed action focuses on supporting grassroots organisations and human rights defenders at county level or in informal settlements.

How It Works:

• Grants are for a maximum period of 12 months
• Funding can be project-based or core support for strategic organisational capacity-building
• KIOS provides mentoring and coaching support to the awarded grantees throughout the grant implementation period

Application Process:

• There is no open call at the moment to this grant. The calls will be published on the KIOS website at https://wordpress-1175544-6194269.cloudwaysapps.com/en/apply/.
• An evaluation team evaluates proposals according to pre-established criteria and decisions about grants are made by the KIOS Board.

Civic Action and Community Empowerment Grants (CACEG)

Are you a small community-based organisation (CBO) or other grassroot civil society group seeking low-threshold funding? Our Civic Action and Community Empowerment Grants Scheme is tailored for you.

Grant Details:

• Amount: 500- €3,100 euros per grant
• Duration: 3-4 months

Who Can Apply?

• Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) defined as a not-for-profit, non-religious, on-governmental and non-political organisation as currently registered by, or planning to register with the Department of Social Services are eligible.
• 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.

Geographical focus:

• For the last call the grants are meant for CBOs/CSOs/groups domiciled in Bungoma, Kericho, Laikipia, Narok, or Turkana.

How It Works:

• Grant activities that can be funded are for example events, group action, training and capacity-building, advocacy or sustainability action
• Institutional capacity development component can be considered and integrated as part of the overall grant but at a lower percentage which can be used to develop recipient organisation’s competencies, strategies, systems, and structures in order to improve organizational effectiveness.

Application Process:

• Please note the call open to Organisations that Participated in the Training and Capacity building workshop organised by Haki ni Yetu Project in the counties mentioned above has CLOSED. We received 47 applications. We will now proceed with the Due Diligence phase.
• About the applications process: Phase 1 is the submission of call for proposal via the the online portal (KIOS granting system) and Phase 2 is the Due Diligence stage, where selected shortlisted applicants undergo a background check.