Energy Talent Development West Africa Activity 2025

Deadline: 24-Jan-25

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking concept papers for a cooperative agreement from qualified entities to implement the ‘Energy Talent Development – West Africa’ (ETD-WA) Activity.

Goals

• Power Africa is entering into a five-year effort to advance West Africa’s power sector development through the Empower West Africa contract awarded in June 2024. The Energy Talent Development West Africa activity complements Empower West Africa, by building the capacity of local individuals, companies and institutions advancing West Africa’s energy sector development.
• The knowledge, skills, and abilities built through this award will help to establish the foundation on which the West African energy sector can expand the supply of and access to affordable and reliable electricity services in West Africa.

Objectives

• In line with a whole-of-Power Africa approach, the Activity should identify capacity building needs that would advance the following objectives:
  • Optimizing utility performance to increase access;
  • Off-grid generation and connections increased;
  • Transition to clean energy development and deployment accelerated;
  • Private sector investment and innovation in the energy sector enhanced for domestic and regional infrastructure.

Approach

• The Activity will fill broad capacity gaps that hinder growth of the energy sector across West Africa.
• The Activity will build the capacity of energy stakeholders (including developers, electrification agencies, industry associations, cooperatives, savings and credit groups, and other enterprises, institutions, decision-makers, and consumers) through training, workshops, mentorship opportunities, on-the-job learning opportunities, business development services, business matchmaking, participation in conferences, certifications, etc.
• Capacity building support may not include project-targeted support, for example transaction advisory services, design, feasibility studies, etc.
• Strengthening the role of women in Africa’s energy sector has been a longstanding priority for Power Africa.

Funding Information

• Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide $8,000,000 in total USAID funding.

Duration

• The anticipated period of performance is five (5) years. The estimated start date will be on or about March 1, 2025.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligibility for this NOFO is restricted. Eligibility for this award is restricted to local entities in the following countries:
  • Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
• Organizations registered in and primarily based in Nigeria are not eligible to submit applications. USAID anticipates a separate opportunity will be released to invite Nigerian organizations to implement locally led Power Africa activities.
• USAID defines a “local entity” as an individual, a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or another body of persons that:
  • is legally organized under the laws of;
  • has as its principal place of business or operations in; and
  • is
    • majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of; and
    • managed by a governing body the majority of who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of a country receiving assistance.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.