KIOS Funding Frequently Asked Questions
For more information, see also the Project funding section and the Application Guide.
A question not answered in this section? Get in touch with kios@kios.fi.
What KIOS supports
1. What sort of projects does KIOS support?
KIOS funds human rights projects of local civil society organisations in developing countries. 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
2. What kind of projects does KIOS not support?
KIOS funding is not granted for development work, educational projects (unless human rights education), social work, humanitarian aid, or socio-economic support for marginalized groups. Only human rights projects can be supported.
3. Can KIOS give support to my studies or research project?
No. KIOS does not grant scholarships, fellowships, or financial support for conference participation or travelling. KIOS also doesn’t give grants for individuals.
4. Can my organisation get institutional support from KIOS?
KIOS does not provide funds to administrative costs except if they are directly related to the project activities. Capacity building of human rights organisations can be supported.
5. Can KIOS fund purchasing vehicles, computers or other equipment?
No. KIOS funding is meant for project activities.
6. How long projects does KIOS support?
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.
If the applicant has received funds from KIOS previously and the results of the implementation were satisfactory, projects longer than one year and until a maximum of five years will be considered.
7. What is the grant limit?
There is no set limit to the amount of grant that can be applied for. 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.
8. Is there any economic contribution expected from the beneficiary organization?
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. This means that if you are applying for 100 euro KIOS grant, then self-financing is 8,11 euro, and the total budget is 108,11 euro.
Funding priorities
1. Which are priority countries for KIOS?
Geographically KIOS focuses its support primarily to:
• Eastern Africa: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Djibouti, and Eritrea.
• South Asia: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Tibet.
2. Our organisation is located outside of KIOS focus countries. Can we still apply for support?
Yes, you can still apply for support, but please note that utside of geographical focus areas, funding can be granted only in very few cases and only to projects in post-conflict countries and countries with weak mechanisms for protecting human rights.
3. Which are priority themes for KIOS?
KIOS support especially projects dealing with democratic rights, gender equality and right to education. Projects concentrating on other human rights can be accepted also.
4. What are democratic rights?
Democratic rights include:
• Rule of law and independence of judiciary
• Right to liberty and security of person
• Freedom of thought, expression and speech
• Freedom of the press
• Freedom of assembly and association
• Free and fair elections
• Right to political participation
Equality, non-discrimination and minority rights are also important part of democratic society.
5. What kind of projects fall under theme gender equality?
Projects supporting rights of women or men in a situation where either gender is more disadvantaged than the other. Advancing rights of sexual minorities also fall under this category.
6. What is understood by right to education project?
Right to education projects are those aiming at improving the conditions, chances or quality of education of the whole local population, or some certain disadvantaged group or groups. Right to education projects concentrate usually on advocacy, campaigning and legal or policy reforms. KIOS doesn’t support school materials, tuition fees, constructing schools etc.
Who can apply?
1. Who can get funding from KIOS?
• 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.
2. Can KIOS support International Non Governmental Organizations (INGOs)?
KIOS does not provide funds to INGOs. INGOs with representation in developing countries are not eligible for funding, because KIOS can only support local organisations or networks working in developing countries. Regional organisations based and working in developing countries are eligible for funding.
3. Our organisation is the local chapter of an INGO. Are we eligible for funding?
No.
4. Can KIOS give funding to individuals?
No.
5. Our organization is small, recently established and without having received funding from a foreign donor before. Do we have a chance to get funding from KIOS?
Yes, your organization can apply under the Small Grants Scheme especially designed for that type of organizations.
How to apply?
1. When can I apply for KIOS funding?
KIOS holds an open invitation for applicants. Funding is granted upon applications, which are accepted throughout the year. There is no deadline for application submissions.
2. How do I apply for KIOS funding?
KIOS accepts only applications submitted on KIOS Application Form. See also our Application Guide, it provides the most detailed information on applying for funds.
3. Where can I get application forms and guidelines?
The Application Form and the Application Guide can be downloaded from KIOS website. The forms can also be obtained from the KIOS office via email at kios@kios.fi.
4. What language should my application be in?
KIOS accepts applications in English, French or Spanish languages.
5. What attachments should I include in my application?
These are the obligatory attachments:
• 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)
• For the two written references use KIOS reference form.
6. I don’t have one of the attachments available, what should I do?
Explain in your application why any of the attachments are not available.
7. Is it obligatory to use the KIOS Reference Form for the written references?
Two written references are obligatory attachments to your application to KIOS. We recommend to use the KIOS Reference Form, but it is not obligatory. The reference letters can also be free form. Please note that the application to KIOS must always be submitted on KIOS Application Form.
8. Where should I send my application?
The application with the attachments must be sent by mail to:
KIOS
Haapaniemenkatu 7-9B
00530 Helsinki, Finland
You should also send the application by email to kios@kios.fi.
8. How long does it take until I get the decision on my application?
Processing an application takes usually from 2 to 6 months. You will be notified of the registration of the application, and of the final decision. If KIOS has any specific questions on your application, we’ll be in touch with you directly.
9. Can I somehow speed up the process?
You can send your application by email to kios@kios.fi. However, make sure you also send signed hard copies of your application and attachments by mail to KIOS office.
Small Grants
1. What is the Small Grant Scheme?
KIOS has a special Small Grants Scheme for smaller and newly established human rights organisations that do not have a lot of experience on being funded by international donors. Small Grants are meant to help smaller human rights actors to get funding.
2. What is the objective of the Small Grants Scheme?
With the Small Grants Initiative, KIOS aims to support new initiatives of the civil society and to build the capacity of new human rights actors.
3. What is the Small Grant limit?
Grants under the Small Grant Scheme can amount from 5 000 € to 10 000 €.
Partnership Programmes
1. What are the Partnership Programmes?
The Partnership Programmes have the aim of getting more involved in the grassroots work and sharing the knowledge accumulated with previous KIOS funded programmes throughout the years. Besides supporting smaller human rights actors, the idea is to also enhance networking between all KIOS project partners in a selected area.
2. Where does KIOS have Partnership Programmes?
At the moment there is the first Programme underway in Kenya. Read more here.
Reporting on KIOS grant
1. How to report on KIOS funds?
The reporting process is usually structured in two reports, the interim report and the final report. The interim report is due once half of the funds have been exhausted and the final report once all the funds have been used, and all the activities implemented. Both reports must include narrative and financial reports, as well as other specific material for each of them.
2. What does the self-financing mean?
The self-financing means that the grantee must cover, at least, 7.5% of the project costs. This share can be either in money or in kind. The contribution in kind can be for example a certain amount of voluntary work or the use of the organization’s existing resources such as office space for the project activities without an extra charge for the project.
3. Does KIOS funds need to be audited?
The final financial report must include an audit of the KIOS funded project. An external and impartial auditor, following the national legislation and approved principles related to auditing, should officially audit the accounts of the project. The costs of the audit can be covered by KIOS grant (if included in the approved budget of the project).
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