1. ABOUT KCDF

KCDF is a Kenyan public foundation founded in 1997 to support communities to initiate and drive their development agenda, by harnessing and growing their resources, as well as engaging with government and other development actors to secure their fundamental rights and services. KCDF works nationally to promote growth, resilience, and sustainability of communities through capacity development, social investments, local resource mobilization, and availing grants that leverage community contributions. KCDF works through strategic partnerships in Kenya, both at the national and community level supporting communities to identify and prioritize their needs with a little external support.

In an effort to assist communities in pursuit of sustainable development and social justice, the foundation continues to partner with and to facilitate the strengthening of local communities and their community organizations by:

i) Building strong and credible institutions for sustainable development of communities.

ii) Influencing and fostering favorable policy framework and an enabling environment for organized giving and social justice.

KCDF makes this possible through carefully designed programmes under the following key thematic areas:

1. Education
2. Environment and Natural Resource Management (ENRM)
3. Livelihoods
4. Philanthropy and Effective Governance 

2. ABOUT THE GRANT (ENTRENCHING LOCAL GIVING PROJECT)

In line with our theory of change, KCDF appreciates that rapid and enduring change is possible when communities can initiate their solutions to development challenges affecting them and harness and grow resources. However, it is difficult to realize such kind of change if a majority civil society organizations are not engaging and mobilizing support from duty bearers and other like-minded stakeholders.

In direct response to this need, KCDF in partnership with Wilde Ganzen is rolling out a comprehensive capacity building support programme dubbed ‘Entrenching Local Giving' that seeks to equip her partners and other grassroots organizations with the requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes to surmount these inherent challenges.

The Entrenching of Local Giving Project targets organizations seeking to learn how to mobilize support for community led initiatives. It is a competitive grant scheme for capacity building of Kenyan community based organizations and other qualified civil society organizations for successful community led initiatives through local fundraising[1], advocacy & policy influencing[2].

The following key steps will be followed:

Step 1: Civil Society Organization keen on experientially learning how to mobilize support[3] proposes:

1. Own local development projects and willingness to fundraise for 50% of the project budget/ grant amount locally. Grant Amounts of Kshs 1,000,000 to Kshs 2,000,000 are awarded on a 1:1 grant matching model (sum total of community and KCDF contributions) to successful applicants approved by the KCDF Board. Up to 12 Awards may be made in 2019
2. Enrolls for training in mobilizing support. This includes face to face trainings, webinars, coaching and mentorship.

N:B A joint(single) application form for step 1a and step 1b above is shared alongside this guideline as a download form at the bottom of the page.

Step 2: If the project is approved, the applicant signs an agreement with KCDF and pays 10% of the total costs for training to KCDF upfront. In 2019, KCDF will give an additional discount of 50% on the training costs. The remaining 40% will be raised as part of step 3 below. Step 2 may take 3 to 6 months. The following two options are available for an organization to choose one option from (a section is provided in the application form to indicate preferred training option and or to indicate if you have already been trained by KCDF in the same course (Local Fundraising and or Advocacy and Policy Influencing).  

i. Training in Local Fundraising (option one)

The Local Fundraising/ Local Resource Mobilization (LFR) training will deliver a comprehensive training programme that will help your organizations to strengthen its capacity in fundraising with more emphasis on local resource mobilization, documentation, communication and marketing. Below is a detailed information brief (click on icon below) on the LFR training trajectory.

The total costs (100%) for LFR training is calculated at Kes 165,000 per person for residents and Kes 85,000 for each nonresident. Again, if project is approved, applicant signs an agreement with KCDF and pays 10% of the total costs for training to KCDF upfront. In 2019, KCDF will give an additional discount of 50% on the training costs. The remaining 40% will be raised as part of step 3 below.

ii. Training in Advocacy and Policy Influencing (option two)

The Claim-Making/ Advocacy and Policy Influencing course/training trajectory seeks to deliver a comprehensive training programme that will empower civil society organizations to undertake claim making in realizing systemic change and sustainable local solutions for felt development challenges. The training programme is designed in a series of four modules with focus on building skills on negotiations with duty bearers for service delivery, and advocacy for the implementation of policy decisions or standards at the local level. In between the modules, coaching and mentorship support will be offered to participating grassroots organizations. Below is a detailed information brief (click on icon below) on the Advocacy and Policy Influencing training trajectory.

The total costs (100%) for Advocacy and Policy Influencing training is calculated at Kes 180,000 per person for residents and Kes 90,000 for each nonresident. Again, if project is approved, applicant signs an agreement with KCDF and pays 10% of the total costs for training to KCDF upfront. In 2019, KCDF will give an additional discount of 50% on the training costs. The remaining 40% will be raised as part of step 3 below.

Step 3: Organization mobilizes for support (Local fundraising, Advocacy, and policy influencing) to raise 50% of the proposed project cost and the remaining 40 percent of training costs (as outlined under step iii above. Step 3 may take 3 to 6 months with a 3-month overlap with step 2 above.

Step 4: Implementation and closure/exit: KCDF disburses 100% of the project costs (50% being your contribution and another 50% being KCDFs match) for implementation of your project. 

3. THEMATIC FOCUS

The thematic focus for this call for proposals is to support organizations that seek to implement innovative approaches to;

1. Enhance access, improve the quality of early childhood care and education.
2. Improving access and retention in school for children with disabilities.
3. Enhance access to quality basic education.
4. Enable communities to effectively manage and sustain the environment and natural resources for current and future generations. 

4. WHO CAN APPLY FOR THE GRANTS?

KCDF is seeking to partner with organizations that:

1. Are legally and locally registered with relevant authorities and demonstrate mature good governance and accountable leadership.
2. Demonstrate a good understanding of the local context and need, and show that local people have been consulted and will be involved in the project.
3. Demonstrate that the proposed idea is in line with government policy and regulations, working in collaborating with other local organizations and engaging relevant government departments.
4. Show that local people have been consulted and will be involved in the work.
5. Have a balanced approach, addressing not only immediate needs but also people’s rights to services.
6. Demonstrate they are not working in isolation but are collaborating with other organisations and engaging with relevant government departments.
7. Help to build the skills, confidence and capacity of local people and or organisations.
8. Offer some useful lessons for future interventions, and show how the applicant will gather information and learn from it.
9. Have the capacity to carry out very simple and effective mobilizing support[4] initiatives for their budget contribution (50% of the total budget). This is a significant requirement for all projects approved. See section on steps (above) for more details.
10. Be an organization willing to learn and grow new skills and capabilities especially in local fundraising, advocacy, and policy influencing.
11. Must be grassroots organizations with some history/experience in the implementation of projects particularly those benefiting children. 

5. HOW ARE APPLICATIONS/PROPOSALS SELECTED?

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

1. Co-funding/Leverage on Local Resources: Participating Civil Society Organizations are required to pay 50% of the total training costs and an additional 50% of the proposed project cost. See section on steps above for more details.
2. Sustainability: The impact of the project being proposed should be able to continue being felt beyond the funding period.
3. Results and Measurability: All projects must have well-defined targets. Achievements thereof should be tangible and quantifiable.
4. Promotion of Gender Equity: Especially about inclusion and active participation of all genders.
5. Promoting a Positive Impact on the Environment: The impact of the project being proposed should have a positive effect on the education sector.
6. Partnerships: The potential to initiate strategic alliances and bring different stakeholders.
7. Timely Submissions: All applications must be received within the deadline for consideration. 

6. HOW DO I APPLY?

1. The Grant Application Forms and Project Budget must be typed, in English (or in exceptional cases Kiswahili) on the STANDARD application form(s)/ templates. All applications NOT submitted in this form shall automatically be disqualified.
2. Please email your application on or before 9th September 2019 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. stating KCDF/LECC/ELG/RFP/R1/2019/APPLICATION in the submission email subject line.
3. These application GUIDELINES have been developed to assist applicants in filling out the application form and should be read and clearly understood. The relevant documents (the Grant Application Forms and Project Budget) can be downloaded from the KCDF website www.kcdf.or.ke. 

7. TIMELINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Applicants are requested to keep these dates in mind:

Call for Applications:	29th August 2019
Deadline for submission of proposals:	10th September 2019
Screening, Review & Visits:	20th September 2019
Notification of awards:	25th September 2019
Signing grant agreements/ letters:	30th September 2019
Grant disbursement:	On completion of fundraising targets / after step 2 and 3 above
Project Closure/ Exit	27th March 2020

 

All applicants should note that a KCDF team shall visit all those shortlisted for a Grants Award. These initial visits are part of the assessments, proposal evaluation and final approval, thus, do not in any way amount to or confirm approval. Similarly, KCDF reserves the right to ask for additional information at any stage of the selection process. 

8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

If in need of more information, applicants are advised to send their inquiries through email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.ndicating KCDF/LECC/ELG/RFP/R1/2019/ENQUIRY , in the subject line.

 

[1] Local Fundraising: How to successfully raise funds locally and diversify the income of your organization.

[2] Advocacy and Policy Influencing: How to get more support and commitment from stakeholders and decision makers.

[3] Mobilizing Support: Refers to all community led initiatives or actions done through local fundraising, and or advocacy & policy influencing.

 

Downloads

Guideline_for_Applicants

 

Grants Application Form 2019

 

ELG Project Budget Template 2019