Regional programme including a Challenge Fund supporting start-ups or expansion of household solar energy businesses in nine countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and supporting the deployment of mini grids through the African Development Bank. This programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). This programme is now closed, but contact Matthew Rees in FCDO Africa Directorate if you have any questions.
A Multi Donor innovation challenge fund that focuses on innovations in humanitarian contexts caused by conflict. This includes research and development into adaptation and adoption of new clean energy technologies such as sustainable energy solutions though solar mini-grids, clean cooking, solar powered health services, and innovative financing mechanisms, in countries affected by conflict or displacement. This programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) is led by the World Bank and aims to support activities within the energy access sector globally by delivering critical international market data and sector tracking products, on a cost-sharing basis with multiple donor bilateral and philanthropic partners. ESMAP tools include the SDG 7 Tracking Framework, the Multi-Tier Framework for Energy Access, the Regulatory Index for Sustainable Energy (RISE), and the Global Electrification Platform. ESMAP develops and maintains specialised energy datasets and analysis relevant across the Ayrton Fund’s scope. ESMAP also delivers training and advice to World Bank Task Team Leaders and client Governments on emerging energy technologies and related policies, and capacity building for national statistical offices in monitoring and tracking SDG 7.1.1 and 7.1.2 indicators. ESMAP is supported by the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform and the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme.
Programme focused on the development, testing, and deployment of methodologies that encourage innovation and use of technologies to address development challenges, including in the clean energy access sector. This programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The Transforming Inclusive Energy Markets (TIME) partnership is led by the Shell Foundation and supported by the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform. TIME supports a just, inclusive, clean energy transition by accelerating the impact of pioneering enterprises and enabling intermediaries. The partnership takes an “ecosystem” approach, addressing core market barriers and bottlenecks for the sector (i.e., supply, demand, finance and institutions). It helps to de-risk the sector for new and emerging innovators and enterprises, by scaling up existing proven models and enterprises, piloting new models for market opportunities, reducing market barriers that constrain growth, and catalysing private investment. TIME offers much needed catalytic capital, combined with venture and market building support, to enable enterprises to progress from grant/repayable grant through to concessionary financing (including through partnerships with the likes of the US Development Finance Corporation and the UK’s British International Investment) and ultimately to commercial capital.
Support to innovative energy and agricultural technology businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia via the Shell Foundation Catalysing Agriculture by Scaling Energy Ecosystems (CASEE) project, strengthening energy, agriculture, and food systems, and boosting the productivity, income, and resilience of smallholder farmers. This project is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) is designed to enable potential and foster prosperity. It will support UK researchers and innovators to work with international partners on some of the most pressing themes of our time. ISPF will give researchers and innovators access to global talent, large-scale facilities, research ecosystems and markets to swiftly move forward ideas to greater maturity, applicability, and commercialisation. It will stimulate research impact in line with the UK’s ambition to become a global science and tech superpower. This programme is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
ISPF funding opportunities are published on individual ISPF partner websites (available in the link above) and target regions vary from partner to partner.
Energy Catalyst, led by Innovate UK, is a well-established open call grant funding programme that runs in regular tranches to support innovators to develop new technologies and business models that can improve lives in Africa and Asia. Energy Catalyst accelerates the innovation needed to end energy poverty through both financial and advisory (incubation) support, and by building strategic partnerships and uncovering new insights. Energy Catalyst is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) is a demand-led, productive use of renewable energy (PURE) programme which stimulates partnerships, innovation and learning to address needs and improve livelihoods of sub-Saharan African communities. PREO has three key service functions: Action Learning Projects, Partnership Services, and Technical Assistance. These functions induce and support innovations that address current industry needs, consolidate fragmented efforts, and disseminate knowledge and learnings for the betterment of rural sub-Saharan African communities. PREO aims to grant-fund around 30 Action Learning Projects through open calls, seeking to create 3,500 jobs and benefiting more than 11,000 rural households.
Organisations wishing to be kept up to date on future rounds of PREO grant funding should visit the website to subscribe to the PREO newsletter. PREO is part of the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform.
The Pioneer Energy Investing Initiative: Powering Livelihoods Using Solar (known as PEII+) is a multi-million dollar, 5-year initiative led by Acumen and supported by the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform. PEII+ invests early-stage capital in enterprises that provide renewable energy-powered productive use of energy (PUE) solutions. PEII+ also provides post-investment support in the form of impact measurement and technical assistance (TA) grants. Local entrepreneur accelerators also supports locally-led enterprises in India and East Africa, as well as insight and thought leadership, drawing key lessons for deploying new investment vehicles.