Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa

 

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

Current Call for Proposals
Current Call for Proposals

Funding round for Uganda now open

BGFA has launched a Call for Proposals inviting interested off-grid energy service providers to compete for a number of Funding Lots for Uganda.

This third Call for Proposals offers incentives to off-grid energy service providers to establish up to 600,000 energy connections that will benefit more than 3 million people in rural areas of Uganda. 

The online process was launched on 29 April 2021. Interested ESPs are now invited to register via the online application tool here.

 

REGISTER NOW

Significant interest in BGFA1

The first Call for Proposals (BGFA1) targeted at Burkina Faso, Liberia and Zambia was launched in September 2020.

It received a strong response among energy service providers, and in December 2020, 46 applicants were invited to take part in the Final Application stage. Currently, BGFA1 applications are undergoing final external evaluation. It is expected that selected projects will be contracted in late summer 2021.

 

CFP OUTCOME

BGFA2 entering its second stage

The second Call for Proposals (BGFA2) for activities in Mozambique was launched in February 2021.

Pre-screened Pre-Qualification applications are currently undergoing external evaluation to determine if they qualify to take part in the Final Application stage. Applicants successfully passing the Pre-Qualification evaluation are expected to be invited to take part in the Final Application stage by the end of May 2021 and submit their applications at the latest by the end of August 2021.

 

CFP LAUNCH INFORMATION
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.

Find Out More

Funding rounds are ongoing in the following countries:

Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Liberia
Liberia
Zambia
Zambia
Mozambique
Mozambique
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Liberia
Liberia
Zambia
Zambia
Mozambique
Mozambique
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 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.

 

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 Uganda, you are invited to apply for funding.

We encourage you to register as soon as possible through our SmartMe system. For more information on our current and 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 635 million (EUR 60 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 with a contribution of DKK 37.5 million (EUR 5 million), through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, over 5 years. Denmark is expecting to make an additional contribution of EUR 10.8 million (DKK 80 million) to the Uganda country programme (currently subject to final parliamentary approval).

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. The German contribution 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

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

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 is implementing 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 launches its third Call for Proposals offering financing to off-grid energy service providers in Uganda
Uganda
en
News
Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa launches its third Call for Proposals offering financing to off-grid energy service providers in Uganda

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) is today opening the Pre-Qualification stage of its third Call for Proposals (BGFA3) with the aim of accelerating the provision of off-grid energy ...

Read More
Promoting the job creation and skills development agenda in the off-grid sector in Uganda
Uganda
en
News
Promoting the job creation and skills development agenda in the off-grid sector in Uganda

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) was established in 2019 with the aim of accelerating the creation of sustainable markets for distributed and stand-alone off-grid energy services in ...

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

At a Steering Committee meeting of the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) related to the Uganda Country Programme, Denmark and Sweden gave the green light to launch BGFA’s ...

Read More
Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa launches its third Call for Proposals offering financing to off-grid energy service providers in Uganda
Uganda
en
News
Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa launches its third Call for Proposals offering financing to off-grid energy service providers in Uganda

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) is today opening the Pre-Qualification stage of its third Call for Proposals (BGFA3) with the aim of accelerating the provision of off-grid energy ...

Read More
Promoting the job creation and skills development agenda in the off-grid sector in Uganda
Uganda
en
News
Promoting the job creation and skills development agenda in the off-grid sector in Uganda

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) was established in 2019 with the aim of accelerating the creation of sustainable markets for distributed and stand-alone off-grid energy services in ...

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

At a Steering Committee meeting of the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) related to the Uganda Country Programme, Denmark and Sweden gave the green light to launch BGFA’s ...

Read More

More news and events from BGFA

News & Events

Contact us

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

 

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