Deadline: 8-Feb-22
The Power Africa Off-grid Project (PAOP), a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-contracted project implemented by RTI International, seeks applications to fund one or multiple awards to provide incentives, in the form of grants, to mini-grid developers to collaborate on the development of mini-grids in Ntenungi village, Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement in Western Uganda.
These mini-grids should support provision of safe and reliable electricity to refugees and host communities in areas not being served by the national grid. This RFA provides prospective applicants with a fair opportunity to develop and submit competitive applications to PAOP for potential funding.
This grant funding will support the development of a maximum of 3 solar photovoltaic (PV) mini-grids, along with financing and promotion of productive use of energy equipment in Ntenungi village, Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, Western Uganda.
Applications must include:
- Design, installation, and a commitment to at least 5 years of operation and maintenance of off-grid solar PV and battery mini-grids in Ntenungi village
- A strategy for promotion and financing of productive use of energy equipment to stimulate energy demand and increase economic development
Preliminary market studies and socio-economic assessments including geospatial data have been conducted for the target geography; however, the successful applicant is expected to verify and update data to reflect actual situation.
The successful applicant will be required to perform the technical implementation of the project, including:
- Procurement and installation of all mini-grid equipment
- Procurement and installation of the Low Voltage (LV) distribution line
- Coordination with the Rural Electrification Program (REP) for the design and construction of the requisite distribution system and customer connections
- REP will provide customer connections in accordance with the Electricity Connections Policy
- During the award period, title or ownership to all property purchased and constructed, including mini-grid/distribution infrastructure, will be vested in the grant recipient.
- Coordination with the Office of the Prime Minister for access to Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement
- Application for license exemption from the Electricity Regulatory Authority
- Operation and maintenance of all mini-grid equipment installed
- Fulfilment of national environmental and social permitting obligations
- Execution of the proposed productive use of energy financing and promotion strategy
- Documentation and dissemination of lessons learned during implementation
Funding Information
- Final funding levels will depend on the content and quality of applications received, needs, availability of funding, and competing priorities. Individual grants awarded as a result of this RFA, and submission of a final application are intended to be for a maximum of USD 500,000. The USD 500,000 is the maximum value of an individual grant award, not the maximum value of combined grant awards.
- Programs funded under this RFA will conclude no later than 30 September 30, 2022.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applications from joint ventures (JVs) are permitted, however applications must specify a lead applicant and have no more than 3 JV members. If a JV application is successful, contracting and payments will be exclusively with the lead applicant specified in the original application. Each eligibility criteria must be fulfilled by at least 1 JV member.
- Applicants or at least one joint venture member must be a registered company/enterprise (including micro-enterprises or groups of micro-enterprises), associations, cooperatives, and cooperative unions in Uganda and be in operation for at least one year at the time of application. Applicants should:
- Be legal persons;
- Be formally constituted at the time of grant award;
- Be compliant with the Uganda’s regulations (submit tax compliance certificate or equivalent);
- Have a physical presence in Uganda (employees, offices, operations, etc.) or be partnering with an entity that has a physical presence in Uganda;
- Have realized financing (income, grant, debt, equity) of at least the amount of grant funding sought within calendar year 2019 or 2020.
For more information, visit https://www.rti.org/sites/default/files/mini-grid_development_rwamwanja_refugee_settlement_uganda_rfa.pdf