Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa

 

Bringing clean, affordable, off-grid energy access to millions

New Call for Proposals open in Uganda

New Call for Proposals open in Uganda

Second funding round in Uganda is now open

The new Call in Uganda (BGFA5) enables selected energy service providers to accelerate their business growth in Uganda. BGFA financing is made available for standalone solar solutions, mini-/micro-grids and productive use of energy solutions under a single funding window. The indicative individual contract size is expected to be between EUR 1 and EUR 4 million. The application system is open until 4 May 2023 and closes at 12:00 Helsinki time (noon, EEST).

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New programme donor

New programme donor

BGFA welcomes Norway as the latest contributor

It was announced on 10 November at COP27 in Sharm El Sheik that Norway is joining the BGFA programme with EUR 19 million, to support the acceleration of affordable energy access in underserved communities with the focus on supporting the BGFA-selected energy service providers in Burkina Faso, Liberia, Uganda and Zambia. The contribution will support to establish over 400,000 energy service connections by the end of 2027, which will benefit more than 2 million people.

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Signed projects

Signed projects

Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa signs its first projects in Uganda

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) programme has signed its first agreements with off-grid energy service companies in Uganda to support the expansion and scale-up of high-quality solar home systems. ENGIE Energy Access Uganda and d.light Design Uganda will enable the establishment of up to 370,000 high-quality energy service connections and benefit 1.8 million people.

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BGFA programme overview

BGFA programme overview

Programme overview

Our new brochure provides an overview of the BGFA programme, country specific targets and funders. The overall programme aim is to establish up to 1.44 million energy connections and benefit more than 6.5 million people by 2028.

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

 

Ongoing Calls for Proposals

Ongoing Calls for Proposals

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa received strong interest for its funding round in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The first funding round in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) attracted great interest among private sector companies, i.e. energy service providers in the off-grid sector, active on the market. In total, 40 applications were received, of which 29 passed the initial screening and are now undergoing detailed evaluation. Applicants passing the first stage evaluation will be invited to proceed to a Final Application stage in November 2022. Further information will be made available directly to the applicants through the online application system.

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Mini-grids in Mozambique

The second call for proposals (BGFA2) aims to accelerate access to affordable and clean off-grid energy for customers in peri-urban and rural areas of Mozambique. The BGFA2 call closed for Pre-Qualification submissions in spring 2021.

Of the 17 applications received, 10 have passed the initial, internal completeness check and undergone the process of evaluation and scoring of submitted concept notes by independent evaluators. Seven applicants have subsequently passed the Pre-Qualification stage. The aim is to proceed with the Final Application stage in spring 2023.

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What is the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa?

What is the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa?

Kick-starting markets for clean, off-grid energy in Africa

Building on the experience from an award-winning innovative approach tested in Zambia

BGFA was set-up in 2019 on the initiative of the Swedish Government, building on the successful, award-winning initial pilot phase in Zambia, the Beyond the Grid Fund for Zambia (BGFZ). BGFA is an ambitious multi-donor funding facility that aims to kick-start markets for clean, off-grid energy in Sub-Saharan African countries. It works through a combination of an innovative results-based financing mechanisms for energy companies, close cooperation with governments and real-time data collection and analysis.

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Our impact

A mini-grid for Ngwerere
Zambia
enfr
Cecelia & Godfrey Miti:

A mini-grid for Ngwerere

How a mini-grid is changing the lives of Cecelia, Godfrey and the rest of their community in Ngwerere, on the edge of Lusaka.

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Flexible payments for solar lighting
Zambia
enfr
Steven Miyoba:

Flexible payments for solar lighting

How off-grid solutions have made a positive impact on Steven’s family life on the outskirts of Lusaka.

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Agent of impact
Zambia
enfr
Lister Sithole & Kennedy Matabula:

Agent of impact

How the Beyond the Grid Fund for Zambia has brought new opportunities and optimism to Lister and Kennedy in a rural community in Chongwe, east of the Zambian capital of ...

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BGFA has not yet generated any own impacts, but the decision to expand the concept into Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Liberia, Uganda and a new funding round in Zambia builds on the experiences of the pilot programme Beyond the Grid Fund for Zambia (BGFZ) and early positive experiences in terms of rural and peri-urban customers’ interest in buying affordable off-grid energy service connections, mobilised private capital and strong social and gender outcomes.

 

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We would like to engage with…

We would like to engage with…

Are you in the renewable energy business and are looking for funding opportunities?

If you are interested in exploring new markets or scaling up your off-grid renewable energy business, please check back with us for future funding rounds.

For more information on our past funding rounds click below.

Funding rounds

Are you shaping energy policies in your country?

We are keen to work together with policy makers in and beyond BGFA in Burkina Faso, Liberia, Zambia, Mozambique and Uganda.

Please get in touch and help us shape the programme based on your valuable insights and knowledge of the markets. If BGFA is not yet looking at your country but you think the programme would be a good fit, please also get in touch.

BGFA countries

Who’s involved?

 

BGFA was established as a separate funding facility by the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (Nefco) in 2019 on Sweden’s initiative and has swiftly developed into a multi-donor programme. The BGFA programme is administered by Nefco and implemented in partnership with the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP). Power Africa, an initiative administered by USAID, is providing a considerable in-kind technical assistance contribution, and Denmark and Germany have joined to fund activities in, respectively, Uganda and Zambia.

Find out more about who’s involved with BGFA

 

Team
who's involved
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
Funder:
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa was established on Sweden’s initiative in 2019, through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). Sweden is contributing SEK 835 million (EUR 80 million) to the BGFA programme, with contributions coming from the local embassies in target countries.

Visit the Sida website

Power Africa
Funder:
Power Africa

Power Africa is a U.S. government-led partnership that brings together the collective resources of over 170 public and private sector partners to double access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa. Power Africa’s goal is to add more than 30,000 megawatts (MW) of new electricity generation capacity and connect 60 million new homes and businesses to power by 2030. In 2020, Power Africa joined BGFA with the aim to provide an in-kind contribution worth approx. EUR 4 million (USD 4.5 million) over three years in order to help operationalise the initiative and develop a pipeline of commercially viable projects within the framework of BGFA.

Visit the Power Africa website

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
Funder:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

Denmark joined the BGFA in 2020 to support the expansion to Uganda. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark has contributed with DKK 117.5 million (EUR 15.8 million), for a period for 5 years.

Visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website

KfW Development Bank
Funder:
KfW Development Bank

Germany joined the BGFA in 2021 and is contributing EUR 7.5 million, through the KfW Development Bank. Germany is jointly with Sweden funding the Zambian country programme, aiming at supporting private companies to establish and scale innovative and sustainable business models with focus on mini-grids.

Visit the KfW website

Norad - The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
Funder:
Norad - The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation

Norad joined BGFA in 2022 and is contributing EUR 19 million (NOK 200 million) for supporting the acceleration of affordable energy access in underserved communities with the focus on supporting the BGFA-selected energy service providers in Burkina Faso, Liberia, Uganda and Zambia.

Visit the Norad website

Nordic Environment Finance Corporation
Facility Manager:
Nordic Environment Finance Corporation

The Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (Nefco) set up the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa on behalf of Sweden and has since then developed it into a multi-donor programme. As Facility Manager, Nefco is responsible for its overall delivery. Owned by the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) Nefco is an international financial institution (IFI) with 30 years of experience in financing exclusively green projects. Besides making investments through its own capital, Nefco manages a considerable number of trust funds and its trust fund processes fulfil EU requirements. Nefco is also accredited by the Green Climate Fund. Nefco is currently working with a number of potential additional donors.

Visit the Nefco website

NIRAS
Project Implementation Partner:
NIRAS

NIRAS is a development and engineering consultancy company headquartered in Denmark with offices in over 25 countries across Europe, Africa, South Asia and Latin America and extensive experience in programme management and implementation of internationally financed technical assistance facilities and funds for various public sector clients. 

Visit the NIRAS website

 

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership
Project Implementation Partner:
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership

The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) is an international non-profit organisation that works to kick-start markets for clean energy and energy efficiency solutions in low- and middle-income countries. REEEP co-designed and is implementing the Beyond the Grid Fund for Zambia and is one of the Project Implementation Partners for the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa.

Visit the REEEP website

Latest news

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa launches a new Call for Proposals in Uganda to accelerate clean energy access
en
News
The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa launches a new Call for Proposals in Uganda to accelerate clean energy access

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) is today opening a new Call for Proposals (BGFA5) in Uganda, with the aim of further accelerating the provision of off-grid energy ...

Read More
Announcement of new gender assessment consultancy assignment
en
News
Announcement of new gender assessment consultancy assignment

We are seeking a consultant to carry out an independent assessment of the gender inclusion approach and related practices in the BGFA programme. Submit your Expression of Interest by 18 ...

Read More
The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa announces upcoming funding round for Uganda
Uganda
en
News
The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa announces upcoming funding round for Uganda

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) will open a second funding round for Uganda during March 2023. This is BGFA’s fifth Call for Proposals (BGFA5) to incentivise clean ...

Read More
The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa launches a new Call for Proposals in Uganda to accelerate clean energy access
en
News
The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa launches a new Call for Proposals in Uganda to accelerate clean energy access

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) is today opening a new Call for Proposals (BGFA5) in Uganda, with the aim of further accelerating the provision of off-grid energy ...

Read More
Announcement of new gender assessment consultancy assignment
en
News
Announcement of new gender assessment consultancy assignment

We are seeking a consultant to carry out an independent assessment of the gender inclusion approach and related practices in the BGFA programme. Submit your Expression of Interest by 18 ...

Read More
The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa announces upcoming funding round for Uganda
Uganda
en
News
The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa announces upcoming funding round for Uganda

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) will open a second funding round for Uganda during March 2023. This is BGFA’s fifth Call for Proposals (BGFA5) to incentivise clean ...

Read More

More news and events from BGFA

News & Events

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Wish to know more about the BGFA programme? Kindly contact us through our website form.

 

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