Call for Applications: Productive Use of Solar Energy Financing Program

Deadline: 24-Mar-23

The Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) with funding from the Mott Foundation is accepting applications for implementing a Pilot Project titled, “Financing Solutions for Local Productive Use of Solar Energy Entrepreneurs in East Africa’s Agriculture Sector” which aims to enhance access to Productive Use of Solar Energy (PUSE) in key agricultural value-chains in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania for two years, from January 2023 to December 2024.

The Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) is a social impact organisation operating in the climate space committed to supporting micro and small enterprises and driven by innovation. Through this program, ​​KCIC (and its clients) will directly and indirectly contribute to the achievement of SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and ​​SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Components

KCIC is targeting post revenue (with annual revenues of over USD 10,000) locally owned Productive use of solar businesses that provide distributed renewable energy(Solar) solutions while promoting Productive use of energy in the following agricultural value chains across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda:

• Dairy/Milk
  • Production and collection;
  • Processing; Pasteurization, Thermization, Sterilisation, Drying, Cooling
  • Value addition processes.
• Aquaculture/fishery     
  • Extraction/fish harvesting;
  • Storage and handling;
  • Value addition processes;
• Horticulture
  • Production; On farm mechanisation, pumping, to power technologies that aim at increased operational efficiencies.
  • Storage and handling.
  • Value added processing; Drying, grinding, milling.
  • Marketing and distribution.

Priorities

Applicants from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania can apply to join the Productive Use of Solar Energy Pilot Program:

• Productive Use of Energy Pilot Program
  • This is a 2-year program targeting post revenue businesses (with annual revenues of over USD 10,000). The businesses are provided with highly individualised services, intensive practical training and business coaching aimed at;
    • Enabling them execute PUSE initiatives in the respective target value chains and country
    • Setting the clients on a rapid business growth path.
    • Preparing clients to be investor ready as well as raising investments.
  • This Pilot program focus to support SMEs that provide PUSE solutions for the below value chains across Kenya, Tanzania and Kenya;
    • Dairy value chain.
    • Horticulture value chain.
    • Aquaculture/Fishery value chain.

Funding Information

• The programme budget is USD 355,000. The programme aims to support 30 businesses to create over 160 full time job opportunities.

Outcomes

The expected outcome is to enable increased commercialisation and scale up of Productive Use of Solar Energy solutions in key agricultural value-chains, which create decent jobs, increase community resilience to climate change as well as other environmental and social benefits.

Eligibility Criteria

• A registered enterprises and operating in Tanzania or Kenya or Uganda.
• Be locally owned.
• Location: The business must be located and legally registered in Tanzania, Uganda or Kenya.
• Post revenue stage with a minimum turnover of USD 20,000 per annum.
• Team of 2+ full time employees.
• Business offerings align with this program theme of offering renewable energy to the productive Use of solar energy initiatives in the respective value chain stages.

For more information, visit KCIC.