Applications open for Transforming Humanitarian Energy Access Inclusive Investment Pilots

Funding Information

• They have up to 12 grants available for up to £10,000 (local currency equivalent) – 6 in Uganda, 3 in Ethiopia and 3 in Kenya.
• Funding will support projects for 12 months. Projects should be completed by the end of June 2026 at the latest.

Funding Mechanisms 

• Inclusive Investment Pilot funding will be made available through three different products:
  • Product One – Enhancing group savings linked loans:
    • This funding is targeted towards refugee-led organisations who support Village Savings & Loan Associations and Saving Co-operatives (“Savings Groups”). Refugee-led organisations (the “Lead Applicant”) can use Inclusive Investment Pilot funds to match savings made by Savings Groups for them to purchase renewable energy or clean cooking products.
    • Loan disbursement, management and repayment will build on the existing Savings Group administration, and Savings Groups are expected to access and repay loans as per the Groups’ existing protocols. All capital repaid will be revolved for future lending with the existing Savings Group, or revolved by the Lead Applicant to provide loan matching to other Savings Groups.
    • Product One will provide funding in two tranches of £5,000 each, and anticipates an approximate ratio of 3 : 1 (Inclusive Investment Pilot funding : Group Savings).
    • Overheads up to a maximum 20% will be permitted within the overall grant amount
  • Product Two – Results-based funding:
    • This funding will support applicants who are at an early stage in their project/initiative and are seeking start-up capital. Half of the total funding (up to a maximum of £5,000) will be released in the first tranche, with follow-on tranches paid out if the project meets certain impact objectives.
    • Follow on tranches will be paid out in proportion to revenues generated by the project, encouraging applicants to take a market-based approach to their energy delivery model. An anticipated approximate ratio of 4 : 1 (Inclusive Investment Pilot funding : revenues generated) will be used to calculate payment of follow on tranches.
    • Overheads up to a maximum of 20% will be permitted within the overall grant amount.
  • Product Three – Revenue sharing repayable grant:
    • This product is intended to support initiatives which are already generating revenue, enabling the applicant to expand their operations and make grant repayments in proportion to the revenues generated. No interest will be charged on the grant, and after six months, 2.5% of original grant capital will be forgiven for each quarter that the applicant meets pre-agreed impact targets.
    • Product one will provide funding in one or two tranches, and repayments will be made to a local micro-finance partner.
    • Overheads up to a maximum of 20% will be permitted within the overall grant amount.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible, applicants must use existing clean energy technologies and focus on revenue generating energy delivery models. Inclusive Investment Pilot funds will not be available for technology research and development.
• Eligible technologies include (but are not limited to) solar potheyr for irrigation, refrigeration/cold storage, grain milling and other agro–processing; electric mobility; and clean cooking (biogas, carbonised briquettes, and electric cooking).
• Applicants can be start-ups, operational enterprises or not-for-profit organisations but funding will only support projects which are revenue generating, or have the potential to generate revenue.
• You must be an:
  • An enterprise or not-for-profit organisation founded and led by refugees and forcibly displaced people may apply.
  • An entrepreneur who is a refugee or forcibly displaced person may apply.
• Projects must serve households, micro- and small-enterprises in the following refugee/IDP settlements:
  • UGANDA – Kyaka II; Rwamwanja; Kyangwali; Nakivale; Rhino Camp; Kiryandongo; Bidibidi; Impevi; Palorinya; Palabek; Adjumani
  • ETHIOPIA – Barahale; Aysaita; Sheder; Aw-barre; Kebribeyah; Melkadida; Helatheyyn; Bokolmanyo; Kobe; Buramino
  • KENYA – Kakuma-Kalobeyi Integrated Settlement
  • Projects can serve both displaced people and host communities

For more information, visit Ashden.