Open Call: Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project

The Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP), implemented by ECOWAS and managed by its Project Fund Manager (PFM), is co-financed by the World Bank, the Clean Technology Fund, and the Netherlands DGIS.

Objectives

• They aim to:
  • Improve access to sustainable energy by building a regional market for off-grid solar products.
  • Support stakeholders across the off-grid solar value chain.
  • Promote quality off-grid solar products and environmental, social and gender risk management.

Benefits

• Customised training programmes for entrepreneurs, SMEs, large solar companies and financial institutions
• Grant windows for eligible and qualified businesses between $15,000 and $250,000 for certified off-grid and standalone solar systems
• Application support & milestone monitoring B2B networking & annual business plan competition

Types of Grants

• Matching Grant
  • For start-ups and early-stage companies to launch or expand operations
  • Locally registered business owned in majority by national, ECOWAS or project country citizen and operating in an eligible country
  • Grant amount: $10,000 – $25,000
  • 25% equity contribution
  • Acceptable co-financing includes business investments (rent, equipment, labour), private investments and loans
  • Disbursement of up to 50% of the total amount per tranche based on agreed milestones within 12 or up to 18 months
  • Participation in project technical assistance programme or recognised capacity building
• Market-Entry Grant
  • For early-stage and growth-stage companies to increase operations across communities and countries
  • Locally registered business owned in majority by national, ECOWAS or project country citizen and operating in an eligible country
  • Grant amount: $50,000 – $150,000
  • 10%- 15% equity contribution
  • Acceptable co-financing includes business investments (rent, equipment, labour), private investments and loans
  • Disbursement of up to 50% of the total amount per tranche based on agreed milestones within 24 or up to 30 months
  • Participation in project technical assistance programme or recognised capacity building
• Performance Based Grant
  • For early-stage and growth-stage companies to deploy off-grid solutions in hard-to reach markets and remote communities
  • Locally registered business owned in majority by national, ECOWAS or project country citizen and operating in an eligible country
  • Grant amount: $150,000 – $250,000
  • 10% equity contribution
  • Acceptable co-financing includes business investments (rent, equipment, labour), private investments and loans
  • Disbursement of up to 50% of the total amount per tranche based on agreed milestones within 24 or up to 30 months
  • Participation in project technical assistance programme or recognised capacity building

Eligible Expenses

• Inventory (stock to be sold out) or sample products: off-grid solar systems (lanterns & SHS) are products with a capacity of 350 Wp or less and approved VeraSol certification or IEC/TS 62257-9-8 standard adopted by ECOWAS.
• Hardware and small equipment (computers, phones, pay-as-you-go, etc.)
• Software (accounting, pay-as-you-go, etc.)
• Project-related staff salaries and consultants’ fees (<30% of the budget)
• Certification, copyright, patents, and other permits
• Consumer awareness communication and marketing, sales, and distribution costs for promoting the technology, product, or service
• Other expenses directly related to the execution of the Project and approved by the IC (<20% of the budget)
• Market entry/feasibility studies, juridical advice on entry, fiscal support

Eligibility Criteria

• All previous applicants who were not awarded grants in earlier calls are eligible to reapply.
• Reapplying SMEs must submit improved proposals that build on previous submissions and incorporate any received feedback.
• This special call is targeting the following countries:
  • Matching Grants (MG):
    • Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Republic of Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone.
  • Market Entry Grants and Performance-Based Grants (MEG/PBG):
    • Burkina Faso, Chad, Republic of Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger.

For more information, visit ROGEAP.