Deadline: 10 March 2020
The EEP Africa Innovation Window is launching an open, competitive Call for Proposals with the theme: Clean Energy Powering Green Growth, with a particular focus on clean energy for productive use and clean energy in circular economy solutions.
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.
The Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund (EEP Africa) is a clean energy financing facility hosted and managed by the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) with funding from Austria, Finland and NDF. It is guided by a vision for a climate resilient, zero-carbon future with the aim of contributing to achievement of the Paris Climate Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The immediate objective is to enhance clean energy access, development and investment, with a particular focus on benefiting vulnerable and undeserved groups.
Themes
The theme of this call is Clean Energy Powering Green Growth. The call takes particular focus on advancing productive use of clean energy and harnessing clean energy technologies for circular economy solutions. These may include, but are not limited to:
- Innovative mini-grid projects and technologies with a focus on productive use of energy
- Waste to energy projects
- Projects aiming to develop productive use appliance business models, including clean energy transportation projects and use of clean energy in agricultural projects
- Energy efficiency projects that use energy more efficiently and reduce the use of energy in processes
Funding Information
- Applicants can apply for grants and repayable grants between EUR 200,000 —500,000.
- The minimum required co-financing is 30% of the total project budget.
- Projects with a focus on the preparation of feasibility studies for an on-grid and/or utility scale development, which is approaching a clearly definable financial close, are considered for repayable grants. All other projects are eligible for grant financing.
Geographic Scope: The project must be implemented in at least one of the following countries: Botswana, Burundi, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Project Duration: The project implementation period is limited to 24 months after signing the contract. Applicants should propose the project period based on their best estimate of the time necessary to finalise all project activities and report to EEP Africa.
Eligibility Criteria
- Companies, start-ups and social enterprises with early-stage projects in one or more of the EEP Africa target countries are welcome to apply.
- Applications from women entrepreneurs and women-led companies are strongly encouraged.
How to Apply
All applications are to be submitted through an online Concept Note form in the EEP Portal. All applicants must register for the application process and use of the online application tool. No other forms of application will be accepted.
For more information, visit https://eepafrica.org/financing/call-for-proposals/