Deadline: 19 November 2018
Applicants are invited to apply for the AECF REACT Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Liberia competition to reduce poverty through a transformational increase in the use of renewable energy by off-grid households in the target country. Its outcome will be private sector investment and innovation in low cost clean energy and climate change catalysed at scale.
REACT Sub-Saharan Africa (REACT SSA) is a US$61 million project funded by the Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA) to support renewable energy in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a dedicated funding of US$ 6.5 million for Liberia.
Focus Areas
- Applicants must deliver low cost, affordable, quality clean energy products and services that benefit the rural and peri urban poor; especially women.
- This should align with one or more of the following focus areas to be eligible for funding:
- Small, pico –PV household level solar lanterns, comprising lighting and phone charging.
- Small entry level and basic capacity (below 50Wp) solar home systems, comprising basic lighting, phone charging systems and radios, made available to large numbers of households through (but not limited to) pay-as-you-go systems.
- Medium capacity (50-100Wp) stand-alone solar home systems for productive use, comprising phone charging systems, radio, appliances etc. and that can be used at small scale rural and peri-urban based business or household premises.
- Larger (100+ Wp) solar power stand-alone systems that meet the full range of household/ business energy needs that yet remain affordable for low income individuals.
- Mini and micro grids from solar, biomass and small hydro energy, with distribution networks that meet the full range of household/ business needs that yet remain affordable for low income individuals.
- Production and/or distribution of energy efficient cooking solutions e.g. improved cook stoves and cleaner fuels (e.g. ethanol and biogas) for rural and peri urban low income individuals.
- Production and/ or distribution models that support local entrepreneurship and growth of SMEs, MFIs/local banks and women groups within a renewable energy product demand and supply chain.
- Stand alone equipment solutions with high potential for off-grid productive uses (e.g. Solar pumping, Cooling solutions for Agriculture).
- Large off-grid energy solutions for public and private institutions such as schools and clinics in peri-urban and rural areas.
- Telco based products/ applications that support renewable energy product and/or service demand and supply chains.
- Business models which address sustainable e- waste management in the industry
Grant Information
Total grant funds requested from AECF must be between US$100,000 and US$1,500,000.
Types of Support
The support package includes:
- Funding, for whole or section/ component of business; that maximises impact. If a component of business is funded, then it should be able to create a multiplier effect on its reach to target customers.
- Business – to – business learning across investees through open source networks, industry associations and other instruments.
- Provision of targeted technical assistance, especially to start-up companies.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for funding, private sector companies and MFIs (either existing and / or start-ups) must meet the following criteria:
- Be a private sector enterprise that is aligned with the focus areas. Joint ventures are allowed.
- Be able to show commitment to match AECF funding, based on the ratio of1: 0.25 (AECF to investee).
- Request funds amount within the stipulate range of US$ 100,000 – US$ 1.5 million. This is full grant funding.
- Be compliant with fundamental in country and international human rights, labour standards, environmental management laws.
- Must be legally registered and physically established in the country of doing business.
- Must NOT be involved in any act of terrorism or support terrorists’ activities and must allow regular due diligence on this.
How to Apply
Applicants can apply via given website.
For more information, please visit REACT SSA Liberia.