Deadline: September 19, 2025
The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) has launched the REACT Kenya Programme to support green growth by providing milestone-based grants and results-based finance for innovative businesses advancing renewable energy and climate technologies in Kenya.
The intervention will aim to achieve the following specific objectives: To increase access to modern energy services to underserved communities. To accelerate the growth of reliable and affordable e-mobility services (mainly 2 and 3-wheelers) in Kenya. To increase access to quality productive use of energy (PUE) solutions for MSMEs and agricultural value chains. To transform the circular economy into a more sustainable system that emphasizes ecosystem restoration, waste recycling, reuse and value reduction, optimizing resource use, and promoting continuous resource circulation through green transition technologies.
The programme will run for four years, from Q1 2025 to Q4 2028, and is open to companies with transformative impact anywhere in Kenya. Both early-stage and growth-stage businesses can apply, depending on turnover and development stage, with funding available in USD. For milestone-based grants, early-stage companies with turnover of up to USD 200,000 and in operation for three years or less may receive between USD 100,000 and 250,000, while growth-stage companies with turnover above USD 200,000 and over three years of operation may receive between USD 300,000 and 500,000. Under the results-based financing facility, companies are eligible for incentives equal to 30% of the retail price of their products, capped at USD 200 for household use and USD 300 for productive use, with disbursements made only after results are verified.
Applicants must be legally registered for-profit entities, established in Kenya at the time of award, and able to provide audited financial records. They are also required to contribute financially to demonstrate commercial viability, with AECF matching at a ratio of 1:0.4. Contributions may be made in cash or partly in-kind, provided in-kind does not exceed 25% of the total.
The technology scope includes stand-alone solar systems, solar pumping solutions, solar refrigerators, cold storage, solar driers, e-mobility with charging infrastructure, circular economy and green technologies such as recycling and value addition. Eligible applicants include distributors, manufacturers, financial intermediaries, waste management companies, and others contributing to green transition and ecosystem restoration.
Disbursement is milestone-based and output-based, with incentives paid after delivery and verification of results. In addition, technical assistance will be provided throughout the engagement to strengthen business capacity, customer acquisition, and access to further financing.
For more information, visit AECF.
