Opportunities

Deadline

GCIP is an initiative focused on catalyzing cleantech innovation in emerging markets and developing economies. It supports early-stage startups and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through direct business acceleration and investment readiness support, transforming them into market-ready enterprises. At the same time, GCIP helps countries strengthen their national cleantech innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems (CIEEs).

The Cartier Women’s Initiative is an annual international entrepreneurship program that aims to drive change by empowering women impact entrepreneurs. Founded in 2006, the program is open to women-run and women-owned businesses from any country and sector that aim to have a strong and sustainable social and/or environmental impact.

The Llama Impact Accelerator Program is a regional program supporting startups building impactful solutions with Llama. Running in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Senegal, the program enables participants to develop scalable, locally relevant AI applications that address pressing national challenges in sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education, safety, and public services. Through expert mentorship, technical training, and post-accelerator growth opportunities, the program is unlocking Africa’s next generation of AI innovation.

We award startup grants of up to $20,000 to entrepreneurs launching new organizations. We believe the world needs more social impact organizations, and we seed for-profit ventures, NGOs, and charities. We support organizations in any low-or-middle income country where extreme poverty still exists.

The current develoPPP Ventures call for applications (May 15 to June 30, 2025) takes place in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania. The application and selection process is supported by a team of local experts who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

This opportunity is open to technology-driven startup founders from across Africa, aged 18 to 35, who are either building or have the ability to build tech-based startups in ManuTech that meet the following criteria:

  • Startups with founders who are citizens of an African country.
  • Startups must be locally owned and based in any African country.
  • Startups leveraging technology in the manufacturing sector to capitalize on complex development opportunities and solve challenges.
  • Startups with a minimum viable product.

The Productive Use Financing Facility (PUFF) is an innovative program that provides grants, subsidies, and technical assistance to suppliers and distributors to lower appliance prices and reach more customers. This makes it easier for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and households to buy energy-efficient technologies, such as solar water pumps, mills, and refrigerators, at favorable prices. Learn more about this impactful program in our press release.

The Pure Growth Fund is a transformative initiative to accelerate the Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE) within Tanzania’s agri-food systems and unlock low-emission development pathways for the country.

The first funding window under the PURE Growth Fund will provide EUR 2.5 million of incentive capital with ticket sizes of EUR 250,000 – 1,000,000 per company, technical assistance and policy engagement to support the sustainable growth of clean energy SMEs and agribusinesses, enabling them to expand operations, enhance profitability and build strong customer bases.

Open end

The ZEDSI programme is a targeted results and performance-based incentive to stimulate sustained energy utilisation, through productive uses of energy in agri-value chains, businesses, public institutions and households,  leading to rural development, improved revenues and commercial viability of  mini-grid projects, with welfare impact for over a hundred thousand beneficiaries.

The Standalone Solar Component of Nigeria DARES is a $300 million initiative to improve access to affordable standalone solar systems for households, MSMEs, and farmers. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, varying by location.

The Mini Grid Performance-Based Grants (PBG) Program supports isolated solar and solar hybrid mini-grids up to 1MW in underserved areas. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, varying by location.

This year, thanks to funding from Good Energies, 60 Decibels is offering 10 fully subsidised customer insights and impact measurement studies. You are eligible for consideration if your company is delivering energy products/services directly to end-users and is also locally-owned and/or women-led.

The African Startup Awards connects the best of African tech startups across the continent to a global network of leading investors and innovation ecosystems. The African Startup Awards will offer startups access to: New Markets, Funding Opportunities, A Global Network Of Leaders and Exposure On A Global Stage

The facility operates across the off-grid, mini-grid, and grid-connected (utility) sectors. CLASP and Nithio identified six appliance technologies based on their relative maturity and potential to drive development impact – walk-in cold rooms, refrigerators, electric cookers, fans, mills, and solar water pumps.
Facility operations will also generate a foundational data set on appliance market activity and the developmental impacts of appliances, improving our collective knowledge base on appliance performance, national markets, and consumer experience and satisfaction.

Are you an innovator, entrepreneur, NGOs, Entrepreneurship Support Organisation, investor, or governmental organisation passionate about making a positive impact in the face of climate change? We invite you to join the Adaptation Innovation Cluster in Tanzania and be at the forefront of building a resilient future for our communities.

CEI Africa invites green mini-grid developers to apply for outcome-based grants that subsidize the implementation of PUE strategies connected to operating GMGs in the target countries: Kenya, Uganda, DRC, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, Mali and Benin. Partnerships with PUE providers, distributors, and manufacturers are encouraged. CEI Africa anticipates launching the official call for pre-qualification in the 8 countries on 5th September 2023.

OPEN will invest up to $100,000 in women-led businesses within the energy sector in Africa, growing their business by providing access to funds and expertise to maximise their impact and profitability.
We are looking for  women-led businesses in the Energy sector with an annual turnover of more than 25,000USD per year and with at least 3 employees.

Working in partnership with Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs), UECCC has put in place a loan programme that enables households and commercial enterprises acquire solar systems on credit.
The objective of the programme is to address the affordability barrier posed by the initial upfront cost of acquiring solar systems.

We invest equity, convertible debt, and debt in early and growth-stage businesses that provide climate-smart solutions, and demonstrate sustainable competitive advantage, good management, and ethical business practices in agribusiness, commercial forestry, renewable energy, water, and waste management.
We seek to maximize inclusive impact through commercially sustainable SMEs.
For Early Stage Businesses, we provide US$ 50,000 – US$ 200,000 in debt, convertible debt, and /or equity, business growth support for max. 7 years tenure.
For Growth Stage Businesses, we provide US$ 100,000 – US$ 1 million in debt, convertible debt and /or equity, business growth support for max. 7 years tenure.

Spark+ Africa Fund is a $70 million impact investment fund that invests in scalable, next-generation companies offering clean, modern distributed energy solutions for cooking to the mass market in sub-Saharan Africa.
It is a true “triple bottom line” impact fund, financing profitable and scalable companies tapping into a massive total addressable market for cooking energy solutions and enabling millions of African families to stay safe and healthy and save time and money.

DEG provides funding of 500,000 to 749,000 EUR, which constitutes a maximum of 50% of the total investment volume. Private sponsors must contribute a substantial share of equity (at least 25% of total investment volume). DEG’s funds must be repaid in the event of success of the company (depending on pre-defined financial criteria such revenue or profit).

Innovations that have already been tested in a specific environment and / or on a limited scale but are not yet utilized by our target group. Limited funding for testing and verifying innovative ideas (proof-of-concept).

SCAF provides financial support on a cost-sharing and co-financing basis via private equity funds, venture capital funds and project development companies through its three Support Lines. SCAF does not support individual projects on a one-off basis.

OMDF or the Off-Grid Market Development Fund provides financing to companies and institutions involved in the distribution of solar products (pico-solar products and solar home system kits) with the mission of accelerating access to sustainable electricity in Madagascar.