Call for Local Actors: Addressing Gender-Based Violence-Kisii and Nyamira Counties,

Project overview

The International Solidarity Foundation (ISF) is a Finnish development organization, founded in 1970. ISF envisions a world where women and girls are empowered to build their own future, their self-determination is fully realized, and their right to bodily integrity respected.

The goal of ISF’s 2022–2025 programme is to strengthen the bodily integrity and livelihood resilience of women and girls in Kenya, Somaliland, and Ethiopia. The programme consists of development projects that are implemented by local partners: civil society actors such as NGOs, community-based organizations, and women’s own businesses.

The primary objective of the Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) project is to cultivate a dynamic grassroots movement against GBV in these counties, supported by tailored prevention strategies, collaborative gatherings, knowledge sharing, skill enhancement through peer learning and mentorship, and financial support for local stakeholders.

ISF now invites eligible community-based organizations, grassroots movements, and civil society organizations to apply for funding to support activities and actions related to addressing GBV in Kisii and Nyamira counties.

Successful applicants will first participate in a brief capacity-building period, during which the proposed actions are refined, and costed workplans developed, while the actual implementation of the action is anticipated to start in January 2024. The FSTP project envisions three successive rounds of sub-granting, with subsequent calls in 2024 and 2025.

Support offered through the call

ISF will provide funding for groups and organizations that have innovative ideas and preferably a track record of at least 12 months of implementing similar or related activities that fall within (but are not limited to) the below categories:

1. Prevention: efforts to stop or reduce the occurrence of gender-based violence by addressing root causes and societal norms that contribute to such violence.

2. Response: support to individuals who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing gender-based violence, ensuring their safety, well-being, and access to necessary services.

3. Access to Justice: efforts to enhance survivors’ ability to seek legal remedies and protection, addressing barriers that might prevent them from doing so.

For this Call, the proposed action should focus on any of the categories listed above, and include any of the indicative, but not exhaustive activities listed below (applicants can also suggest other relevant activities):

• Local campaigns
• Advocacy and lobbying
• Legal protection, counselling services, and social support
• Support for people and groups that are exposed to discrimination.
• Cultural and youth events
• Visibility and communication/outreach activities
• Creation of digital solutions, mobile applications, web portals etc.
• Access to information and public debate
• Participation in the development of local policies, initiatives, and action plans
• Social entrepreneurship initiatives
• Local media reporting
• Others

ISF will award grants ranging from KES. 300,000 to KES. 3,000,000 to successful applicants in support of the selected activities.

All costs incurred during the implementation period relating to any of the outlined action categories and indicative activities as per the Call document guidelines are eligible.

Ineligible costs include: 

• Debts and debt service charges (interest);
• Provisions for losses or potential future liabilities;
• Actions that consist exclusively or primarily of capital expenditure and infrastructure expenditure, e.g. land, buildings, and vehicles.
• Equipment not directly utilized for the action,
• In-kind contributions (except for volunteer work);
• Salary costs of the personnel.
• Bonuses included in costs of staff
• Negative interest charged by banks or other financial institutions.
• Actions concerned only or mainly with individual sponsorships for participation in workshops, seminars, conferences and congresses;
• Actions concerned only or mainly with individual scholarships for studies or training courses;
• Actions supporting political parties or related foundations.
• Actions concerning one-off conferences. Conferences may be funded only if they form part of a wider range of activities to be implemented in the project timeframe.

Eligibility criteria

Who can apply?

• Civil Society Organisations (CSOs): non-governmental, non-profit, and voluntary organizations that operate independently from the government and commercial sectors; established to address various social, cultural, environmental, and humanitarian issues.
• Community-Based Organisations (CBOs): entities that operate within specific geographical communities and are primarily focused on addressing the unique needs and concerns of those communities.
• Grassroots Movements small, locally based groups that focus on addressing specific issues or concerns within a community and emphasize the importance of community engagement, participatory decision-making, and direct action; often initiated and led by individuals or community members who are directly affected by the issues they aim to address.

To be considered for funding, groups and organizations will need to submit the following:

• Fully completed application form in pdf format
• The budget proposal using the budget template in Excel (xlsx) format (the initial activity plans and budgets are subject to review during the capacity-building period)
• Proof of registration (where applicable)
• Bank statements for at least 6 months (where applicable)

• Proof of track record, highlighting experience within the proposed focus area. This can be a reference letter from a trusted person familiar with your work (e.g. submission of the Community Activity Programs Reporting, previous project reports, county govt, chief, local religious/community leader or a funder).

Additional information on specific eligibility requirements, eligibility of costs and other clarifications are included in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Further questions regarding the call should be sent by email to: [email protected] by Wednesday, Aug 30, 2023, by 5:00 pm, with the title: “ISF CALL FOR LOCAL ACTORS_QUESTIONS”.

Submission of the application

Applications should be written in English or Kiswahili and submitted by email to [email protected]. 

The subject line must include the words “ISF Call for Local Actors – CLA 001”, and the above-listed documents must be included as attachments to be considered successfully submitted.

Applications must be submitted by September 17, 2023, 11:59 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

The successful applicant(s) will be notified within fifteen (15) working days following the deadline for submission of applications.

Due to the high number of anticipated applications, ISF may not be able to provide feedback to each unsuccessful applicant.

Timeline and Duration

Apply On The official website Using The Link Below

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