Deadline:
May 15, 2024
Location(s)
Online
Overview
Details
The digital revolution is key to tackling energy access issues in developing countries. In Africa alone, 600 million people, 1 out of 2 people in sub-Saharan Africa, do not have access to electricity. Innovative technologies and new business models are making significant progress in energy access with on-grid and off-grid solutions in urban and rural areas.
Contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy, the AFD implemented the Digital Energy Facility, a programme co-financed by the European Union, with the participation of ADEME, to support the digitization and modernization of the energy sector.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
Who can apply? The 2024 Call for Projects targets projects based in Africa and owned by:
- Start-ups in the pre-seed phase or with early-stage activities. NGOs can apply under the Start-up category
- Public utilities (public power utilities and public Independent System Operators, private companies under a public service concession, power pools, regional organisations, energy regulators, rural electrification authorities) in partnership with technology/service providers (see more details on the eligibility criteria for Utilities).
What activities are included? Projects must have a core element of digital technology (telecom, computer or cloud-based). They must be innovative, either intrinsically or in relation to the local market or country. Finally, projects must be local with project management activities in the country where the project is based.
Dates
Deadline: May 15, 2024
Cost/funding for participants
Benefits for challenge winners Each year the Challenge will award 2 to 3 utility and technology/service provider partnership projects and 5 to 8 start-up projects. An annual budget of €1.8 M will enable grant-based funding, technical assistance and strategic guidance. Challenge winners can benefit from:
- A financial contribution in the form of a grant for equipment and software purchases, training, recruitment costs for start-ups, and product/service purchase costs linked to technology/service providers for utilities.
- Technical assistance for all utilities and certain start-ups on a case-by-case basis, such as project management support, strategic and technical expertise, and accounting/reporting assistance.
- A bootcamp run by cross-sectorial experts to support project implementation, foster synergies between project winners and share best practices.
- Increased visibility for the project through widespread social media communication campaigns piloted by AFD during the selection phase, award ceremony, bootcamp and for a period of time after these events.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
