AFD Digital Energy Challenge

Application Deadline: 15th May 2023 23:59 CET

The Digital Energy Facility launched the Digital Energy Challenge in 2021, for a duration of four years, with an annual Call for Projects. The objective of the Challenge is to support the development of innovative solutions for energy access, the integration of renewable energy and public utility performance improvement.

Requirements

The 2023 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 (see more details on the eligibility criteria for Start-ups).
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).

Eligible Countries

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo Democratic Republic, Congo Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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.

For the two categories, Start-ups and Utilities, the project scope must address one of three themes:

Universal electricity access and mini-grids
Efficient grid management
Resilience and decarbonation of power systems

Benefits
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 boot camp 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

Timeline:
Launch of the Call for Projects: 1st March 2023
Information webinars: 14th March 2023
Click here to register for the webinar in English at 2:00pm CET.
Click here to register for the webinar in French at 11:00am CET.
Deadline for submission of applications: 15th May 2023 23:59 CET
Notification of award winners and bootcamp: Autumn 2023

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the AFD Digital Energy Challenge 2023

Application Deadline: June 30th 2021

The Digital Energy Challenge for Start-ups will reward 5-8 start-ups every year for four years, for innovative digital projects that aim to increase energy access and improve power grid performance. The 2021 Call for Projects focuses on sub-Saharan Africa.

The three themes of the 2021 edition are:

Services to the grid such as grid loss reduction, renewable energy integration, power production forecasting, demand side management, network planning, capacity building etc.

Innovative clean energy solutions, equipment and appliances for SMEs for example in the domains of agriculture, light manufacturing, commercial and retail or healthcare.

Implementation of new/innovative digital solutions for energy access businesses including hardware such as kits/meters for off-grid solar or clean cooking applications; or software such as CRM, last-mile distribution optimisation, loan repayment & PAYGO, dynamic monitoring etc.

Eligibility Requirements

The start-up must meet the following criteria:

Created less than 10 years ago
Be in the pre-seed/early-stage financing phase i.e. less than €1M funding raised
Annual turnover of less than €1M
Employ between 1 and 99 people full-time.

NGOs can apply under the Start-up category if the project meets one of the additional following criteria:

The project is set up as a company as a branch of the NGO
The project has a dedicated team and business plan, and clearly targets business sustainability/profitability (e.g. plans to spin off as an independent entity).

Finally, the start-up’s project must meet one of the three above-mentioned themes and be:

Digital i.e. based on a telecom, computer or cloud-based technology
Innovative, either intrinsically or compared to the local market
Local i.e. headquartered or with project management activities in the country of the project

Benefits

For every annual Call for Projects, the 5-8 winning start-ups will each benefit from:

A grant of €70K (maximum) to contribute to costs for equipment, software, training and recruitment
The possibility to request technical assistance (awarded on a case-by-case basis), which could include project management support, strategic and technical expertise, and accounting/reporting assistance

In addition, start-ups and utility partnership winners can take advantage of:

A joint boot camp run by cross-sectorial experts, which will support project implementation, provide sectorial insights, foster synergies between project winners and encourage best-practice sharing
Widespread communication campaigns piloted by AFD during the selection phase, award ceremony, bootcamp and for a period of time after these events.

How to Apply

1. Download the Start-up Application Pack (email address required)START-UPS APPLICATION PACK

2. Watch the information webinar recording from 28th April here

3. Complete the application form and prepare the required documents

4. Submit your project before 30th June 2021 23:59 CET

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the AFD Digital Energy Challenge

The French Agency for Development (AFD) Digital Energy Challenge 2023 for African Start-ups (70,000€ prize)

The French Agency for Development (AFD) Digital Energy Challenge 2021 for African Start-ups (70,000€ prize)