Deadline: 2 April 2019
The Energy and Environment Partnership covering Southern and East Africa (EEP Africa) has announced a gender-themed Call for Proposals focusing on promoting gender inclusion and creating opportunities for women across the clean energy sector.
Project developers are invited to submit applications for early stage off-grid and on-grid clean energy projects in active development phase in Southern and East Africa. Projects will be evaluated based on Concept Innovation, Development Impact, and Business Model & Financial Sustainability. All applications need to demonstrate clear additionality of the EEP funding. Applications from women entrepreneurs and women led organisations are strongly encouraged.
Gender Theme
CfP15 is a gender-themed call. EEP Africa is looking for applications that propose and test innovative and best practise approaches to promote gender inclusion and create opportunities for women in the clean energy sector whilst also supporting the core business objectives of the applicants. These approaches may include, but are not limited to:
- Inclusion of women in value chains
- Development of women entrepreneurship, leadership & women friendly working cultures
- Promotion of women’s economic empowerment through productive use
- Increase of access to energy finance for women (entrepreneurs and end users)
- Development of women’s networks
Funding Information
- Under CfP15, EEP Innovation financing takes the form of grants and repayable grants in the range of EUR 200,000 —500,000. Requests outside this range are ineligible.
- The project implementation period is limited to 24 months after signing the contract.
Eligible Applicants
- EEP Africa aims to fund the following types of organizations:
- Private companies, including start-ups
- Non-profit and social enterprises
- All applicants must be registered legal entities at the time of the Concept Note submission and need to demonstrate strong local engagement.
- EEP Africa is looking for applicants who are committed to sustainable long-term local development. Project implementation, business models and partnerships should be rooted in the local context. Local engagement can be demonstrated through local companies, ownership, employment, co-financing, community participation and years of operation in the country.
- CfP15 aims to strengthen the diversity of EEP Africa’s portfolio, also in terms of project developers. Previous EEP project developers need to carefully explain the additionality and rationale for new EEP support.
- Partnerships are eligible to apply but need to nominate one organisation as the lead applicant. The lead applicant has full responsibility for the implementation of the project, including compliance with the funding contract and reporting.
- Organisations may only serve as lead applicant on ONE application in CfP15. Any organisation submitting more than one application as lead applicant risks all applications being discarded. However, in addition to being lead applicant in one application, organisations are eligible to be involved in other applications as a project partner.
- Individuals, research institutions and mainstream government institutions, e.g. Government Ministries, UN agencies and National/Provincial/District Departments, are NOT eligible to apply as lead applicant but may be included in an application as a project partner.
- Projects that solely aim to create an enabling environment for the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency/conservation projects are excluded. If the main focus of the proposed project is on e.g. market studies, technology research, capacity building/training, or policy development, the project is NOT eligible. However, individual activities within a project that are aimed at clean energy sector related capacity building/training with a gender focus are eligible for funding.
- During the due diligence process, EEP Africa will review the status of all necessary registrations, licensing and permitting and will require compliance with all local requirements as well as industry standards.
Project Types
EEP Africa is market based and technology neutral. Its focus is to support early stage clean energy, energy saving and energy efficiency projects in active development. Project activities must be part of a cycle leading to further investment and sustainable commercialisation. Each proposed project needs to have a compelling business case that supports the objectives of EEP Africa in a sustainable manner. Proposed projects should clearly align with one or more of the below categories:
- Feasibility Study
- Pilot Project
- Demonstration Project
- Replication Project
- Scale Up Project
How to Apply
Applicants can apply online via given website.
Eligible Countries: Botswana, Burundi, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
For more information, please visit https://eepafrica.org/how-to-apply/15th-call-for-proposals/