Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa

 

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

Current Call for Proposals
Current Call for Proposals

Call for Proposals in Burkina Faso, Liberia, and Zambia

BGFA has opened the Pre-Qualification stage of its Call for Proposals inviting off-grid energy companies to compete for results-based funding to bring clean, modern and affordable energy to customers in peri-urban and rural areas of Burkina Faso, Liberia and Zambia.

The Pre-Qualification stage is now open for applications through the SmartME intake system. The platform will close on 30 October 2020 for submission of Pre-Qualification applications. The Pre-Qualification stage, including a review of applications, is expected to be completed by the end of November 2020.

The planned country programme for Mozambique has been postponed and will form part of a separate, subsequent Call for Proposals.

Pre-Qualification Guidelines
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 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-year 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.

Find Out More

The first BGFA Call for Proposals is now open in the following countries:

Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Liberia
Liberia
Zambia
Zambia
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Liberia
Liberia
Zambia
Zambia
Our impact
A mini-grid for Ngwerere
Zambia
en
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.

Read Story
Flexible payments for solar lighting
Zambia
en
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.

Read Story
Agent of impact
Zambia
en
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 ...

Read Story

BGFA has not yet generated any own impacts, but Sweden’s decision to expand the concept into Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Liberia 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.

 

See all
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 in Burkina Faso, Liberia, Mozambique or Zambia, you are invited to apply for funding. Please see our Pre-Qualification Guidelines to find out if you are eligible.

If so, you can register and submit an application for funding and help us bring clean, affordable, off-grid energy access to millions. We encourage you to register as soon as possible through our SmartMe system.

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, Mozambique, Zambia 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 has been initiated and is presently primarily financed by Sweden. The BGFA programme is set-up as a separate funding facility which is administered by the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) as the Facility Manager. On the ground, BGFA is implemented in partnership with the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) as Programme Implementation Manager. Power Africa, an initiative administered by USAID, is providing a considerable in-kind technical assistance contribution, and several other donors have shown interest or are about to join the programme.

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 funded by Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) with initial contributions from four Swedish Embassies in Africa. With an initial funding target of EUR 48 million (SEK 500 million), BGFA has been planned to build on the success of the pilot phase Beyond the Grid Fund for Zambia, which was initiated and co-designed by Sida. The new programme aims to expand its activities to Burkina Faso, Liberia and Mozambique, and launching a second funding round in Zambia.

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.

Nordic Environment Finance Corporation
Facility Manager:
Nordic Environment Finance Corporation

As Facility Manager, the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) has set up the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa on behalf of Sweden  and is responsible for its overall implementation. 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 like-minded possible donors with the aim of converting BGFA into a multi-donor programme.

Visit the NEFCO website

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership
Implementation Manager:
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 implemented the Beyond the Grid Fund for Zambia and is Implementation Manager of the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa.

Visit the REEEP website

Latest news
Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa lance le stade de Préqualification de son premier Appel à propositions
Burkina Faso
en
News
Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa lance le stade de Préqualification de son premier Appel à propositions

Le Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) a lancé le 15 septembre 2020 le stade de Préqualification de son premier Appel à propositions (BGFA1), invitant les entreprises du secteur ...

Read More
Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa launches the Pre-Qualification stage of its first Call for Proposals
ZambiaBurkina FasoLiberia
en
News
Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa launches the Pre-Qualification stage of its first Call for Proposals

Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) is today opening the Pre-Qualification stage of its first Call for Proposals (BGFA1) inviting off-grid energy companies to compete for results-based funding to ...

Read More
Sweden and NEFCO Kick Off New Initiative on Clean Cooking Financing Solutions
Zambia
en
News
Sweden and NEFCO Kick Off New Initiative on Clean Cooking Financing Solutions

Sida, through the Swedish Embassy in Zambia and together with the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO), now commences a new initiative, the Scaling of Clean Cooking Solutions programme. The first ...

Read More
Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa lance le stade de Préqualification de son premier Appel à propositions
Burkina Faso
en
News
Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa lance le stade de Préqualification de son premier Appel à propositions
Date: 29/09/2020 - 22/09/2020
Location: asd

Le Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) a lancé le 15 septembre 2020 le stade de Préqualification de son premier Appel à propositions (BGFA1), invitant les entreprises du secteur ...

Read More
Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa launches the Pre-Qualification stage of its first Call for Proposals
ZambiaBurkina FasoLiberia
en
News
Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa launches the Pre-Qualification stage of its first Call for Proposals

Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) is today opening the Pre-Qualification stage of its first Call for Proposals (BGFA1) inviting off-grid energy companies to compete for results-based funding to ...

Read More
Sweden and NEFCO Kick Off New Initiative on Clean Cooking Financing Solutions
Zambia
en
News
Sweden and NEFCO Kick Off New Initiative on Clean Cooking Financing Solutions

Sida, through the Swedish Embassy in Zambia and together with the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO), now commences a new initiative, the Scaling of Clean Cooking Solutions programme. The first ...

Read More

More news and events from the BGFA

News & Events

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If you have any questions, please get in touch with the team at Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa.

 

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