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The Digital Energy Challenge initiative will involve start-ups in sub-Saharan Africa, operating in the digital and energy ecosystem.
- The European Union will support the programme with €1.5 million.
- The funds will help support selected projects via grants for expenditure.
The French Development Agency (AFD), via the Digital Energy Facility (DEF) programme funded by the European Union (EU), has launched calls for innovative projects that will accelerate the transition to clean energy in Africa. The competition will be launched on the 6th of April 2021.
The Digital Energy Challenge initiative will involve start-ups in sub-Saharan Africa in the seed phase and operate in the digital and energy ecosystem. This challenge will support the startups to scale innovations and digitally transform their businesses to enable better energy access and services.
This programme will target projects that provide grid services, clean energy solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and innovative digital solutions for electricity access companies.
Read also: AFD, EU Partner to Provide Green Financing in Côte d’Ivoire
Public electricity service providers can also take part in the initiative as the programme “targets innovative partnerships between public electricity operators and organizations and private sector actors to help local operators test and disseminate digital innovations with the help of technology and service providers. The aim is to improve access to electricity on the grid and for end consumers,” according to the AFD. For utility operators, the DEF program will target projects that accelerate universal access to electricity, improve quality of service management of the grid, and promote the integration of renewable energy into the grid.
The European Union will provide the AFD with €1.5 million. The funds will help support selected projects via grants for several expenditures, including; the purchase of equipment and software, training and recruitment for start-ups. The DEF programme will offer technical assistance via project management support, technical expertise, or specific accounting and reporting support.
Interested applicants can click here to get more information.
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