Grassroot Initiative

ISF’s Grassroots Initiative is a project that incorporates Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) as the main means of implementation. The initiative aims to strengthen the local civil society movement in Kisii and Nyamira counties to eradicate gender-based violence (GBV).

The scheme emphasizes capacity building for local actors, who can represent local civil society organizations (CSOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), or grassroots groups such as youth or women’s groups. During 2023-25, ISF plans to have three calls for funding.

The objective is to empower both formal and informal groups who will then share their knowledge with each other, fostering a collective grassroots movement against GBV. After capacity building, the local actors will receive grants to implement actions planned during the process. The purpose is to refine further and combine ideas generated during capacity building, enabling groups to cooperate and, if possible, implement joint actions or campaigns.

In the first quarter of 2024, the first cohort of ten groups selected and capacitated in 2023 will implement their action(s). Around April 2024, the first round will be reflected and reported, and preparations made to issue the second call. The selected grantees from the second call will undergo a three-month capacity building process and will then be issued grants to implement their actions towards end-2024