Call for Proposals: Sustainable Consumption & Partial Substitution for Wood Energy in DRC

In DRC, UNCDF is implementing with UNDP a Joint Programme for the Sustainable Consumption and Partial Substitution for Wood Energy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).  Funded by the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) through the National REDD+ Funds of the DRC ( FONAREDD), the Joint Programme is structured around three main energy sub-sectors of focus: Improved Stoves; Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG); Micro-Hydro Electricals. This is through an institutional setup that makes use of a diversified partnership with Congolese public institutions, the private sector, UN agencies, research institutions and learned societies as well as civil society. To this end, the Joint Programme aims to contribute to the establishment of a sustainable clean cooking market through (i) the establishment of a favorable environment and (ii) an incubation programme for the private sector to select clean cooking companies to receive funding and technical assistance throughout the duration of the programme. In line with the national and international lessons learned, the Joint Programme’s efforts are focused on sites where a viable and self-sufficient potential market exists, with the presence of actors able to benefit effectively from catalytic technical and financial support of the Joint Programme to change scale of production (knowledge of the sector and sufficient basic entrepreneurial capacities).

UNCDF aims to address the barriers to clean cooking energy access in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by developing local market for clean cooking (improved energies and cook stoves)  in a viable and commercial way through an incubation programme.

Objectives

• The objectives of this TOR are the following:
  • Enhance win-win linkages between energy companies with other relevant stakeholders of the clean cooking industry ecosystem including financial institutions, telcos, fintech, operators/manager of Special Economic Zones.
  • Discuss a roadmap to scale up clean cooking adoption and promote sustainable consumption patterns.

Eligible Activities and Outputs

• Organize a ½ day visit for the UNCDF partner companies in DRC from Goma and Bukavu to the Virunga Industrial zone to explore range of advantages proposed by the Virunga Foundation Industrial Zone to companies operating from the zone.
  • Detailed report with the following targets achieved:
    • At least 8 UNCDF partner companies (cookstoves producers, GPL distributors, financial institutions) from Bukavu and Goma have visited the Virunga Industrial Zone in Goma.
• Organize a ½ day consultation session between the UNCDF partner companies in DRC and Virunga Industrial Zone manager in Goma to identify partnership opportunities and areas.
  • Detailed report of the consultation session on the partnership opportunities to operate in Virunga Industrial Zone.
• Organize a ½ day consultation session between the UNCDF partner companies in DRC and AZES (Special Economic Zone Agency) and ARISE in Kinshasa to identify partnership opportunities and areas.
  • Detailed report of the consultation session on the partnership opportunities to operate in the Special Economic Zone of Maluku and the Special Economic Zone of Pool Malebo including the following:
    • At least 6 UNCDF partner companies have discussed conditions and advantages of operating in the ZES Maluku and ZES Kin Malebo with related managers/operators.
• Organize a 2 days linkages workshop between ESCOs, Financial Institutions, Microfinance, Telcos, fintech, AZES to explore and strategize relevant and efficient partnerships to scale up clean cooking market in DRC.
  • Detailed report with following targets achieved.
    • At least 12 ESCOs, 5 LPG distributors, 9 Financial institutions and microfinance, 4 Mobile money operators, 3 Fintechs have discussed partnership opportunities and requirement to scale up clean cooking market in DRC.
    • At least 6 donors ‘delegates have increased knowledge about the clean cooking market challenges, opportunities and partnership potential among different value chain actors and have identified appropriate ways to support the industry.

Who can apply?

• UNCDF invites applications from registered incubator, business advisory firm, Business Development Service , Association/Alliance/Platform with presence in DRC that can organize high level workshops and discussions  on clean cooking topics in the country.

For more information, visit UNCDF.