Deadline: 31 May 2016
The U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) is seeking applications for its 2 (two) new funding programmes namely- Africa Clean Energy (ACE) Business programme and Sustaining and Accelerating Primary Health in Ethiopia (SAPHE) programme.
Africa Clean Energy (ACE) Business programme
The programme aims to catalyse a market based approach for private sector delivery of off-grid renewable energy products and services. This will lead to improved energy access for people and communities in sub-Saharan Africa currently without modern energy. This Africa regional programme would help enterprises across Africa to supply off-grid energy products and services; and help put in place the enabling environment that facilities a market based approach to off-grid renewable energy.
The programme focuses on isolated off-grid products and services, for households and individual businesses, such as solar home systems and other systems that use renewable energy. It does not focus on community wide and larger mini-grids, for which other DFID programmes are providing assistance.
Programme Structure
The programme is likely to be implemented in 2 packages:
- Package 1 – support to enterprises and customers through one or more of three components, so that
- Enterprises have the business capability and skills to develop, grow and take advantage of market opportunities. Interventions would assist fledgling enterprises that aim to sell products and services in one or more of the ACE Business programme focus countries.
- Enterprises can access finance for their start-up and early commercialisation of ideas. Interventions would directly or indirectly help enterprises to access the finance they need to develop their early stage proof of concept and for their start-up. These enterprises would sell products and services to households and businesses, leading to increased access to clean energy.
- Customers have increased awareness and can afford off-grid renewable energy. Interventions would enable customers to afford the up-front costs of off-grid renewable energy products and/or overcome customer affordability risks that prevent enterprises from obtaining finance. Interventions would lead to increased access to clean energy by customers.
- Package 2 – facilitate an enabling environment for a market based approach, including:
- Assisting governments to put in place policies and regulations that encourage a market and private sector investment in off-grid energy access, for example as part of Energy Africa compacts. This will be a demand responsive facility, and assistance would be specific to the needs of individual countries.
- Generating and disseminating knowledge on the success factors for private sector delivery of off-grid clean energy across Africa.
- Coordinating implementation across ACE Business interventions and with relevant programmes of other donors – making it easier for businesses and governments to access the range of support available (e.g. facilitating connections to finance) and improving transparency of off grid renewable energy data such as consumer payment rates.
Eligible Countries
Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone.
How to Apply
Interested applicants are required to submit applications through DFID Supplier Portal.
For more information, please visit this link.
Click next to view other funding programme.