Call for Proposals: Off-Grid Energy Challenge Phase 2 | Ethiopia & Kenya (Up to $100,000 USD Grants)

Deadline: June 8, 2016

United States Africa Development Foundation (USADF) calls for proposals for the Power Africa Challenge. Power Africa is an initiative launched in 2013 by the U.S. government, African governments, bilateral and multilateral development partners, and the private sector to double access to electricity in sub‐Saharan Africa. Power Africa has two main targets to expand access to power across sub‐Saharan Africa by 2030:

• Increase installed power capacity by 30,000 MW; and
• Create 60 million new connections to double electricity access.

Eligibility

This is open to African energy entrepreneurs in Ethiopia & Kenya.

Types & Categories of Project Proposals

• Productive use:
  Off‐grid energy solutions for mechanization of processes such as grain milling, oil expelling, refrigeration, transport, etc. Solutions are to explain clearly how they will be commercially viable. It is expected that use of the power will address a business solution(s) that will generate ongoing revenue and profits to sustain the enterprise. This must be clearly explained in the proposal.
• Mini‐/micro‐grids:
  Any project that involves distributed generation (e.g. micro‐ or mini‐grids). USADF/Power Africa places an emphasis on new electrical connections
  • the number of households or businesses that can be connected through this project or will be connected through growth and replication of the project.
  • Small‐scale power generation systems which provide an alternative to, or an enhancement of, national/regional grid connected electric transmission.
• Products/home systems
  • Products orsystemsinstalled directly in the homes of off‐grid households, which supply energy directly to marginalized populations currently (and in the foreseeable future) lacking access to energy.
  • Focus must be on distribution systems which are scalable and can be replicated, in addition to being affordable.
• Innovations
  • Projects may not necessarily be for power generation only – they may also include provision of innovative metering, payment systems or other enabling technology, especially if they are an innovation in the country where they are proposed.  If it is an innovation, then a clear and simple explanation is needed of why the innovation is important and what it will do for the sector or the population

Awards

The Off-Grid Energy Challenge awards grants of up to $100,000 each to African companies and organizations providing off-grid solutions that deploy renewable resources and power local economic activities.  Challenge winners will have near-term solutions to power the needs of productive and commercial activities, including agriculture production and processing, off-farm businesses, and commercial enterprises.

How to Apply

All applicants are required to use the linked business proposal template. The completed proposal template along with the required documentation should be submitted by email on or before June 8, 2016 to the appropriate email address for Ethiopia OR Kenya:

•  OffGridChallengeEthiopia@usadf.gov
• OffGridChallengeKenya@usadf.gov

General inquiries can be directed to OffGridChallenge@usadf.gov and will not be accepted at the other email addresses.

For more information, visit USADF Power Africa.