Kios Grants for NGOs in Eastern Africa and South Asia

Deadline: rolling
Open to: civil society organisations, working groups and networks of civil society organisations in developing countries, especially Eastern Africa, South Asia
Grant: not set limit

The Finnish NGO Foundation for Human Rights KIOS works to promote human rights in developing countries by granting funding to human rights projects. KIOS provides financial support to local civil society organisations that work for the promotion and protection of human rights in their own countries and regions.
The aim is to grant funding especially for the promotion of the human rights of the most disadvantaged groups of the societies. The principle is summarised in the motto: “Human Rights for the Most Vulnerable.”

Typical projects funded by KIOS include:

* Human rights awareness raising and education
* Human rights campaigning, lobbying and advocacy
* Human rights monitoring and documentation
* Providing legal aid
* Capacity building

Geographically KIOS focuses its support primarily to
* Eastern Africa
* South Asia

Eligibility

* Local civil society organisations in developing countries. (OECD DAC list of developing countries and territories eligible for Official Development Assistance).
* Working groups and networks of civil society organisations working on human rights issues in developing countries.
* In exceptional cases civil society organisations in exile may be supported, and only if their activities are targeted at and carried out in a country eligible for Official Development Assistance.

Grant Size and Duration

There is no set limit to the amount of grant that can be applied for.

The budget must be presented in the local currency of the country.

The budget of the project should be realistic in relation to local price level, project activities and to the capacity and previous experience of the applicant organisation.

The grantee is expected to provide a self-financing share of a minimum 7,5 % of the total costs of the project funded by KIOS. State the self-financing clearly in the proposed budget.

Small Grants Scheme
Small and newly established human rights organisations are encouraged to apply for KIOS grants.  KIOS has a special Small Grants Scheme for smaller organisations that don’t have a lot of experience on being funded by international donors. Grants for small projects are between 500 – 10 000 euro.

The first KIOS grant is always for a one year (or shorter) project. Applications requesting funding for longer projects will not be registered and handled by KIOS.

Application Process

KIOS accepts only funding applications that are submitted on KIOS Application Form.

Compulsory attachments to the application are:
Project Budget
Two Written References for the project
Applicant Organisation’s Annual Budget
Applicant Organisation’s Statutes or By-laws
Applicant Organisation’s Registration Certificate
Applicant Organisation’s Annual Report
Applicant Organisation’s Latest Audit Reports (from the two previous years)
Additional documents may also be included.

For the two written references use KIOS reference form.

Submit your application with attachments by mail to:
KIOS
Haapaniemenkatu 7-9B
00530 Helsinki, Finland

Please note that the registered mail should be addressed to KIOS (not to a staff member).
To speed up the process, you can submit your application by email to kios@kios.fi, but make sure you also send signed hard copies of your application and attachments by mail to the address above.

For additional information please contact kios@kios.fi

The official webpage.