ECREEE calling for Submission of Concept Notes for Grant Support

Deadline: 06-Nov-20

ECREEE, with the financial support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), is calling for submission of concept notes for grant support through the ECOWAS Facility for Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Access (ECOW-GEN Facility).

This special call is focused on supporting local civil society organizations (CSOs), women and community-based groups, and associations (including youth organizations). Therefore, project concept notes should be driven by local communities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Objectives

The specific objectives are to:

Increase the productivity levels of women in agricultural practices through the increased use of renewable energy technologies;
Build the capacities of women farmers to use and maintain clean energy technologies;
Raise awareness and educate the public on the use of renewable energy for poverty eradication at the household level and, more broadly, for rural development.

Focus Areas

Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals in the following areas:

Energy efficiency improvements;
Lighting (green electricity);
Electricity for powering equipment used for productive activities;
Heat for productive activities including agricultural purposes, etc.

Funding Information

Projects that get selected will be awarded grants ranging from EUR 30,000 – EUR 50,000 per project.

Project Priority Criteria

It is important to note that applications will also be prioritized against certain additional priority criteria, namely:

The project must demonstrate that the grant will be additional in contributing to women’s economic empowerment by enhancing employment and self-employment opportunities for women, especially those living below the poverty line.
The project should be market oriented, producing services for rural and urban markets and should support the development of the local labour market and improved opportunities for employment and skills development.
Project proposals should describe a sustainability strategy that will ensure that the project continues to deliver benefits of poverty eradication and women’s empowerment even after the grant.
Project proposals should demonstrate how the community will be involved from the inception to the final implementation of the project, particularly the role men will play in the project’s activities. Emphasis should be placed on demonstrating how the project benefits the whole community.
The proposal should demonstrate practical, immediate results that the project will offer in the short term, e.g. increase in income or greater availability of resources.
Proposals should integrate elements aimed at facilitating the monitoring and evaluation of gender-responsive results.
Proposals should show how the approaches and activities developed in the project are adapted to the needs of the beneficiaries, particularly women.
A significant proportion of the heat or electricity generated from renewable energy technology must be dedicated to income-generating activities.
Projects for ‘women’s economic empowerment through energy for productive uses’ are projects that lead to an increase in women’s income levels and decision-making capacity.
Projects should have a clear management structure, including structures for the operation and maintenance of the renewable energy installation.
Projects should be able to be viewed and visited by others so that it acts as a true demonstration project.
Projects must satisfy environmental requirements and should not infringe on nature reserves.

Criteria

All applications will be subjected to the following criteria which must be met:

Sector or Strategic Fit: Project is within the priority areas considered by the ECOW-GEN Facility.
Development Impact: The project improves the quality of life of the local population.
Regional priority: The authorities (e.g. government Ministries, traditional leaders, etc.) are aware and in
support of the project as contributing to the country’s development goals and agenda.
Institutional Capacity: The project should currently have the capacity or should have credible plans to add capacity towards management and project implementation.
Gender responsiveness: The project should demonstrate its gender responsiveness, specifying how the proposal was designed with the intent to address gender inequalities or inequities and/or to leverage gender
benefits.