Proposals Sought For Africa Off-Grid Energy Challenge

• USADF has launched an RFP to expand electricity access through off-grid solutions in Africa
• It will be open to off-grid solutions through solar power and other clean energy technologies
• Priority will be given to applications from the Sub-Saharan nations that can demonstrate financial sustainability of the idea

The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) is inviting proposals for its Off-Grid Energy Challenge to expand sustainable energy access to unserved and underserved African communities, particularly through off-grid solutions.

Solar power is one of the clean energy technologies admissible under the call, along with hydropower, wind power, biomass, biogas, gas, energy storage, and hybrid systems, among others.

It encourages the productive use of applications in cross-sector areas such as agriculture and agri-business, healthcare, education, ICT and other commercial and industrial activities.

Under the request for proposals (RFP) launched, applications sought must further develop, scale up, or extend the use of proven technologies for off-grid energy in Africa. The ideas need to demonstrate or show the potential of financial sustainability with at least 3 months of revenue from sales of energy/electricity generated.

To be eligible, interested applicants must be African-owned and managed private companies or organizations, including non-profit and not-for-profit, registered and operating within the continent. Priority consideration will be given to proposals from Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo (South Kivu), Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Zambia.

Winning projects stand to gain up to $250,000 in grants from the USADF along with access to intensive local technical assistance and governance support.

The RFP is open from December 8, 2023, and will admit proposals till January 31, 2024. Details are available on USADF's website.

USADF said the Off-Grid Energy Challenge is part of the Beyond the Grid sub-initiative of Power Africa to double access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 with the help of 30 GW of new electricity capacity. Out of 60 million new connections this capacity is expected to create, some 25 million to 30 million are likely to be added through off-grid solutions.