KCDF’s Pamoja4Change Grants for Kenyan Community Based Organizations and Civil Society Organizations

Deadline: 10 January 2020

The Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) has launched a call for proposals for its “The Local Fundraising Capacity Building Facility (Pamoja4Change)” which is a competitive grant scheme for capacity building of Kenyan community based organizations and other qualified civil society organizations for successful local fundraising and resources mobilization.

The P4C grants aims to promote local philanthropy for self-reliance and long term sustainability among Kenyan communities and to strengthen their capacity and confidence in taking charge of their development agenda. Proposed projects must therefore contribute to strengthening local initiatives or programs that enhance the wellbeing of their community members particularly children, women, youth and people with special needs.

Thematic Areas

KCDF is therefore seeking to partner with local organizations to implement projects that are aligned with the following thematic areas:
- Improving Access to Basic Social Services for the wider Community – Innovative projects that seek to improve the wellbeing of local communities (especially children) through increased services delivery e.g. clean and safe water, health and health information, etc.
- Services for Children in Public Early Childhood Development Programmes and in Primary Schools – These shall include infrastructural development, feeding programme and sanitation improvement support.
- Women and Girl Child Empowerment Projects – Projects which seek to improve participation of young women and girls in leadership, employment and income generation for impact on family livelihoods.
- Environmental Conservation and Climate Change Mitigation – Projects that are geared towards environmental conservation as well as enhancing the adaptive capacity of communities to climate change.
- Information Communication and Technology – Projects aimed at establishing or maintaining functional community resource centers and adaptation of IT for development initiatives at the community level to enhance productivity, and efficiency.
- Projects targeting the Marginalized Persons and Persons with Disability in the Community – Projects aimed at mainstreaming issues of the disabled in the provision of social services.
- Security – Projects that are targeted at improving the security situation for community members, through the initiatives of the local community.
Through this fund, it is anticipated that KCDF shall facilitate the strengthening and building of credible institutions involved in facilitating the sustainable development of Kenyan communities.

Grant Size and Duration

Project Duration: Projects must be completed within a minimum of eight and a maximum of 18 months after signing of the grant agreement for support with KCDF. The above durations excludes a fundraising window (the pre-project implementation phase or period for local fundraising) of between one and six months.
Total Grant Sizes: The average size of grants will be between Kshs. 1,500,000 and Kshs. 3,000,000 on a 1:1 grant matching model to the most innovative proposals chosen by the KCDF Board. However, this decision will be based on demonstrated ability to locally raise 50% of the total project cost, potential impact, scope and the capacity of the applying local organization.
KCDF Contributions: KCDF contributions will be 50% of the above grant amounts i.e. shall range from a minimum of Kshs. 750,000 to a maximum of Kshs. 1,500,000 (exclusive your equal contribution).

Eligibility Criteria

KCDF is seeking to partner with organisations that:

Are legally and locally registered with relevant authorities and demonstrate mature and good governance and accountable leadership.
Demonstrate a good understanding of the local context and need.
Demonstrate that the proposed idea is in line with government policy.
Show that local people have been consulted and will be involved in the work.
Have a balanced approach, addressing not only immediate needs but also people’s rights to services.
Demonstrate they are not working in isolation but are collaborating with other organisations and engaging with relevant government departments.
Help to build the skills, confidence and capacity of local people and or organisations.
Offer some useful lessons for future interventions, and show how the applicant will gather information and learn from it.
Have the capacity to carry out very simple and effective local fundraising initiatives for their budget contribution (50% of the total budget). This is a significant requirement for all projects approved.
Must be grassroots organizations with some history/ experience in the implementation of projects particularly those benefiting children.

KCDF shall not award grants to support the following or components of the following:

Political processes
Individuals
Participation in international conferences

Selection Criteria

In addition to the earlier indicated principles, submitted applications will be assessed on:

Co-Funding / Leverage on Local Resources: Including skills, facilities and funds. The Applicant must contribute a minimum of 50% of the total project cost. This contribution must be in monetary terms and will be deposited in a KCDF account to be provided subject to approval of proposal.
Sustainability: Impact of the project being proposed should be able to continue being felt beyond the funding period.
Results and Measurability: All projects must have well defined targets. Achievements thereof should be tangible and quantifiable.
Partnerships: The potential to initiate strategic alliances and bring different stakeholders together to increase success needs to be demonstrated.
Promotion of Gender Equity: Especially in regards to inclusion and active participation of women.
Promoting Positive Impact on Environment: Impact of the project being proposed should have a positive effect on the environment.
Timely Submissions: All applications must be received within the deadline for consideration.