Fund for Local Cooperation: Call for Project Proposals 2020

The call for proposals opens on 17 March 2020 and will be closed on 20 May 2020 at 16:00 local Kenyan time.

The Fund for Local Cooperation (FLC) is a development cooperation instrument managed by the Embassy of Finland in Nairobi. FLC administration follows the principles set out in Finland’s 2016 Development Policy.  FLC plays a complimentary role to the Finnish development co-operation programme in Kenya, with the aim of reducing poverty and inequality. The fund supports the initiatives of Non-Governmental organization (NGOs) and other non-state actors in Kenya. The support is intended for project based support only. FLC is not meant for core funding.

The call for proposals opens on 17 March 2020 and will be closed on 20 May 2020 at 16:00 local Kenyan time.

The Finland’s 2016 Development Policy(Link to another website.) give guidance on the priorities of Finnish development policy and cooperation. The Governmental Programme from 2019(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window) commits to and further develops the priorities. Finnish development policy gives emphasis to the implementation of the human rights based approach to development. The respect for human rights and their promotion is a principle guiding the planning and implementation of Finland’s development policy and co-operation. The FLC processes are guided by human rights principles of (universality, equality / non-discrimination, participation / inclusion and accountability and transparency). In addition, FLC administration apply the principle of result-based management.

Legal and Normative Context

The Funds for Local Cooperation are governed by Finnish legislation particularly the Act on Discretionary Government Transfers, and the FLC Internal Instructions (6/2014) of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Finland.

The local partners implementing FLC projects must abide by the relevant local legislation. As a rule, a local partner should implement the project. The FLC managed by the Nairobi Embassy supports projects in Kenya only.

Focus areas of the Call for Proposals

FLC will offer support to civil society organizations under the following priority areas;

  1. Realization of Women’s and Girls’ Rights - Enhancing equity in decision-making in particular at county and ward level, Gender Based Violence prevention, women’s participation in peace and security or localization of the National Action Plan on Women Peace and Security, promoting work on male engagement for gender equality
  2. Promotion of Youth Employment -  Improving the employability of youth, especially those graduated at TVET level 
  3. Human Rights Promotion, Citizen Participation and Oversight for Accountable Governance – strengthening of human rights promotion and citizen engagement for the benefit of marginalised and vulnerable groups (women, youth, persons with disabilities PWD, people facing intersectoral discrimination) to increase citizen voice in decisions about how public resources are allocated and implemented and how public policy is planned and executed.

Eligibility Criteria

  • The applicant need to be a non-governmental organization, civil society organization or foundation, or non-profit private entities registered in Kenya.

Selected projects will receive a grant between Euros 30 000 – 200 000. The maximum funding available for this Call is 550 000 Euros. The implementation period is one or two years. The proposed project should focus to address one or more of the above-mentioned areas and respond to identified needs in the Kenyan context for reduction of poverty and inequalities.

Selection criteria

  • Alignment with Finland’s development policy and the above mentioned priority areas
  • Clearly defined project outputs and targeted outcomes supported by adequate indicators, baseline data and risk assessment
  • Realistically planned project activities that contribute to the desired outputs
  • Project budget that is in line with the activities
  • Previous documented experience  and management capabilities of the applicant in the same sector/theme

The applicants must have sound financial record, as well as sufficient human resources for the implementation of the project.

FLC funding cannot be granted:

  • To government ministries or counties
  • To Unregistered association or organization
  • To Support the activities of a political party
  • For basic research
  • For single cultural events
  • For charity
  • For humanitarian aid
  • For scholarship or assistance for applicant’s personal use
  • For purchasing land
  • To a fund
  • For building the capital of microcredit system

How to Apply

The deadline for submitting applications is 20th May 2020 at 16:00 local Kenyan time. Late applications will not be considered.

The applicants should use the attached format APPLICATION (word). The cover letter must be signed and dated.  A Project Plan, including the project’s results chain or framework and a budget, should accompany the proposal.

The application should have the following attachments;

  • Organization latest annual report including the financial statement
  • CVs of the relevant key persons

The application should be sent by e-mail to [email protected] (or by mail to Embassy of Finland, Eden Square Block 3, 6th floor,  P.O Box 2206-00606 Sarit Center).

Inquiries

Any inquiry of the Call for Proposals can be sent to FLC Coordinator Georginah Gichohi [email protected], latest by 30 April 2020. Answers to the questions shall be published on the Embassy webpage by 6 May 2020.

Timeline

The proposals will be evaluated within 1-2 months from the due date. Shortlisted applicants may be requested to provide additional information, including additional information on the organization and budget details.

Responses to all applicants, including both accepted and rejected will be sent by 30th August 2020. The list of accepted projects will be published on the Embassy’s website.

 

Q&A for Fund for Local Cooperation: Call for Project Proposals 2020

 

Q: Are INGOs, CBOs, Independent commissions, research institutes and new organizations eligible to apply?

A: The applicant need to be local non-governmental organization, civil society organization or foundation, Community Based organization, or non-profit private entities registered in Kenya and abide by relevant local registrations.

The applicant must be results oriented, reputable with experience and necessary organizational structures in place.

Government Ministries, INGOs, independent commissions, companies limited by shares and research institutes cannot be recipient of the grant but non-state actors that receive the funding are encouraged to cooperate with for sustainability

Q: Can two organizations/networks co-implement a project?

A: Registered Networks/consortiums that have governance structure to provide policy, financial and strategic direction, oversight are eligible  

Q: Are there specific counties of focus?

A: No specific counties – countywide

Q: How much can be awarded if the maximum funding available is 550 000 Euros?

A: The grants award range from 30 000- 200 000 Euros

Q: Is there a specified range for the project duration?

A: The period is 1 year or 2 years

Q: What is the percentage eligible for administration costs?

A; The maximum is 10% of the project budget (communication, rent, stationeries, transport)

Q: What staff cost can be included in the project budget?

A: The cost for staff directly involved in the implementation should be included in the project cost, other support staff whose role is administration be factored under admin budget line.

Q: What is the applicable currency for costing the budget?

A: The budget should be in Kenya shillings- same currency as the organization does the bookkeeping. The funding decision will be made in Euros as well as funds transfer

Q: Is there a budget template?

A: We do not have specific templates. Applicants are encouraged to use their own budget format but follow the guidelines provided on the application format on the Embassy webpage.

Q: Can our organization issue small grants to the networks to implement some of the activities as we monitor and evaluate their performance?

A: The fund cannot be sub-granted

Q: Are we eligible to apply under Promotion of Youth Employment though we do not work with youth under TVET?

A: While our preference is for projects for youth with TVET-level education, we are also open to considering support to other youth employment projects

Q: can organization submit more than one application?

A: Only one proposal per organization. The proposed project can focus to address one or more of the focus areas of the call and there has to be clear direct linkage between the activities.

Q: Is partner contribution a requirement?

A: It is important that proposing organization make some contribution towards the operational and programmatic costs of the project

Q: Can the fund be used for needs assessment?

A: The fund cannot be used for need assessment. The application should be relevant to local needs and priorities and also taking into account the relevance of the project in relation to the vision and the mission of the applying organization.

Q: Can the fund be used to Co-finance a project already under implementation?

A: The FLC is intended to fund separate projects, funding can come from own resources or other donors for the same project, which has to be clearly spelled out in the project budget and reported against. This needs to fulfill the specific requirements of the FLC. The FLC project objectives can contribute to a bigger project or programme, but cannot as such be used only to co-finance another ongoing project for a certain period of time. The synergies with other projects needs to be explained in the project proposal.