Call for Applications: Sowing the Seeds of Change Programme

The Sowing the Seeds of Change Programme – Roots Track, led by the Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF), supports youth-led organisations and young environmental champions in Kenya to implement community-based biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management projects. Successful applicants can receive up to KES 183,000 in matching grant funding, alongside capacity-building, fundraising, advocacy, coaching, and mentorship through the Change the Game Academy (CtGA).

What Is the Sowing the Seeds of Change Programme – Roots Track?

The Roots Track is a competitive grant and capacity-building initiative designed to empower young people in Kenya to lead local environmental conservation and biodiversity protection efforts.

The programme focuses on community-led action rather than externally driven conservation models. It encourages young environmental leaders to mobilise local resources, work with communities, and develop practical solutions for protecting biodiversity and managing natural resources sustainably.

The initiative is particularly relevant to:

Youth-led organisations.
Young environmental champions.
Community-based groups.
Youth affiliated with higher learning institutions.
Young people working on biodiversity conservation.
Groups promoting sustainable natural resource management.

Why Does the Roots Track Matter?

Kenya’s biodiversity and natural resources are closely connected to community livelihoods and local development.

The Roots Track aims to strengthen the ability of young people to become environmental leaders who can design and implement locally relevant conservation solutions.

The programme helps young participants:

Protect biodiversity.
Promote sustainable natural resource management.
Mobilise local resources.
Build community support for conservation.
Strengthen environmental advocacy.
Develop organisational capacity.
Connect with youth and environmental networks.
Gain practical fundraising and project-management skills.

How Much Funding Is Available?

Successful applicants can receive up to KES 183,000 from KCDF.

The grant operates on a matching contribution model. Applicants must raise an equivalent contribution locally in Kenya.

The matching contribution can consist of:

Cash.
In-kind support.
A combination of cash and in-kind contributions.

This model is intended to encourage local philanthropy, community ownership, and resource mobilisation.

What Capacity-Building Support Is Provided?

The programme goes beyond financial assistance.

Participants receive structured capacity strengthening through the Change the Game Academy (CtGA).

Support can include:

Local fundraising training.
Advocacy training.
Coaching.
Mentorship.
Project design support.
Project implementation guidance.
Resource mobilisation skills.

This combination of grants and capacity development is intended to help youth-led groups build stronger and more sustainable environmental initiatives.

Who Is Eligible?

The programme is open to youth-led organisations and young environmental champions based in Kenya.

Applicants must generally demonstrate that:

At least 70% of the organisation’s leadership is aged 29 or below.
The organisation or applicant is based in Kenya.
The proposed project focuses on environmental conservation or sustainable natural resource management.
The applicant has appropriate legal registration or institutional affiliation.
The organisation demonstrates good governance.
Communities have been consulted about the proposed intervention.
The applicant collaborates with relevant youth networks or authorities where appropriate.

Young environmental champions may also participate where they meet the programme’s requirements and have the necessary organisational or institutional affiliation.

What Projects Are Eligible?

Projects should have a clear community-based environmental focus.

Priority areas include:

Biodiversity Conservation

Projects may focus on protecting species, habitats, ecosystems, or other forms of local biodiversity.

Sustainable Natural Resource Management

Activities can address sustainable management and use of natural resources while supporting long-term environmental resilience.

Community-Based Environmental Action

Projects should involve communities in planning and implementing environmental solutions.

The strongest proposals are likely to demonstrate clear local ownership, practical conservation outcomes, youth leadership, and community participation.

Where Can Projects Be Implemented?

Projects can be implemented in any of Kenya’s 47 counties.

However, only one county may be selected per application.

Applicants should therefore clearly identify the county where the proposed intervention will take place and explain the specific environmental or community need in that location.

Key Applicant Requirements

Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate:

Youth leadership.
Environmental commitment.
Community consultation.
Good organisational governance.
Legal registration or relevant affiliation.
Collaboration with youth networks or authorities.
Capacity to implement the proposed project.
Ability to raise the required local matching contribution.

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility

Determine whether you qualify as a youth-led organisation or young environmental champion and confirm that the leadership and organisational requirements are met.

Step 2: Identify the Environmental Challenge

Define the biodiversity or natural resource issue that the project will address.

Explain:

What the problem is.
Where it occurs.
Who is affected.
Why community action is needed.
What environmental change the project aims to achieve.

Step 3: Develop a Community-Led Solution

Design a practical intervention involving local communities.

The proposal should demonstrate meaningful community consultation and participation rather than presenting conservation activities as an externally imposed solution.

Step 4: Identify the Project County

Select one county for the application.

Describe the local environmental context and explain why the proposed intervention is relevant to that county.

Step 5: Prepare the Matching Contribution

Plan how the organisation or community will raise the contribution matching the KCDF grant.

The local contribution can include cash, in-kind support, or a combination of both, subject to the programme’s requirements.

Step 6: Demonstrate Youth Leadership

Clearly explain the role of young people in project governance, implementation, advocacy, fundraising, and community engagement.

Step 7: Submit the Application

Complete the application according to the programme’s official instructions and provide evidence of eligibility, governance, community engagement, and project feasibility.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by:

Clearly defining a specific biodiversity or natural resource challenge.
Demonstrating genuine community consultation.
Providing measurable environmental outcomes.
Showing strong youth leadership.
Explaining how local resources will be mobilised.
Developing a realistic project budget.
Demonstrating partnerships with relevant community or government actors.
Explaining how project benefits can continue after grant funding ends.
Linking conservation outcomes with community needs and livelihoods where appropriate.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Failing to meet the 70% youth leadership requirement.
Selecting more than one county for a single application.
Proposing projects without a clear biodiversity or natural resource focus.
Designing activities without meaningful community consultation.
Ignoring the matching-fund requirement.
Providing unrealistic project budgets.
Failing to demonstrate legal registration or appropriate affiliation.
Treating capacity-building activities as a substitute for a clear environmental project.
Providing insufficient evidence of youth leadership or community ownership.

Key Details at a Glance

Programme: Sowing the Seeds of Change Programme – Roots Track
Funder/Implementer: Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF)
Country: Kenya
Target applicants: Youth-led organisations and young environmental champions
Age focus: Young people aged 17–29
Youth leadership requirement: At least 70% of leadership aged 29 or below
Maximum KCDF grant: KES 183,000
Matching contribution: Equal local contribution required
Contribution type: Cash, in-kind, or combination
Priority areas: Biodiversity conservation, sustainable natural resource management, community-based environmental action
Capacity support: Change the Game Academy training, fundraising, advocacy, coaching, and mentorship
Geographic coverage: All 47 counties in Kenya
Application limit: One county per application

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sowing the Seeds of Change Programme – Roots Track?

The Roots Track is a KCDF initiative that supports youth-led environmental action in Kenya through matching grants and capacity development for biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management.

How much funding can successful applicants receive?

Successful applicants can receive up to KES 183,000 from KCDF, subject to the programme’s matching contribution requirements.

Is matching funding required?

Yes. Applicants must raise an equivalent local contribution in Kenya. The contribution can consist of cash, in-kind support, or a combination of both, according to programme requirements.

Who can apply?

Youth-led organisations and young environmental champions based in Kenya can apply. Organisations must generally have at least 70% of their leadership aged 29 or below and meet the programme’s governance, registration or affiliation, and environmental project requirements.

What types of projects are supported?

The Roots Track supports projects focused on biodiversity conservation, sustainable natural resource management, and community-based environmental action.

Can a project be implemented in any county in Kenya?

Yes. All 47 counties are eligible. However, applicants can select only one county per application.

What additional support do participants receive?

Beyond grant funding, participants receive capacity strengthening through the Change the Game Academy, including training in local fundraising and advocacy, as well as coaching and mentorship for project development and implementation.

Conclusion

The Sowing the Seeds of Change Programme – Roots Track provides young environmental leaders in Kenya with both financial and practical support to develop community-led conservation initiatives. With grants of up to KES 183,000, matching local contributions, and structured capacity development, the programme aims to strengthen youth leadership in biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management.

Eligible applicants should focus on demonstrating strong youth leadership, community ownership, clear environmental outcomes, good governance, local resource mobilisation, and practical project design when preparing their applications.