BGFA4 – Funding Lot #11: Up to EUR 15 million
The Democratic Republic of CongoClosed

BGFA4 – Funding Lot #11: Up to EUR 15 million

Dates open

21/06/2022 - 29/08/2022

TYPE:

Standalone | Mini/micro-grid | Productive Use Energy

INDICATIVE CONTRACT SIZE (€M):

€1.0M - €5.0M

# EXPECTED CONTRACTS:

5-7

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The Democratic Republic of Congo – Funding Lot #11

BGFA4 aims to incentivise private companies, so called Energy Service Providers (ESPs), to scale up innovative sustainable businesses and thereby accelerate access to affordable and clean off-grid energy for customers living in underserved areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). BGFA funding under the DRC Country Programme can be sought to accelerate energy access not only in rural and peri-urban areas but also in certain urban areas. Note however that: the four largest cities in the country (Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Kananga and Mbuji-Mayi) are excluded from support in the Final Application Guidelines so as to target poorer urban areas not already served by existing providers

Eligible Applicants are private companies that have already established business in DRC or are willing to establish business there. In case the Applicant is not already established in DRC, the application should be filed by the parent company. Nefco will only be able to enter into BGFA financing contracts with for-profit ESPs once established in DRC and will require that the local company leads and undertakes full responsibility for the project implementation towards Nefco.

Due to the large size and relative immaturity of the off-grid market in DRC, the Country Programme offers funding under one combined Funding Lot, which enables the direct comparison of the value for money to BGFA and DRC of different off-grid business models and technology solutions. Applicants may freely choose to apply for BGFA4 funding for the provision of one type of off-grid solution (Standalone Solar Systems; Mini-/Micro-grids; or Productive Use Energy, PUE). Each of these solutions can in turn use different technologies and business models for electricity generation and the provision of energy services.

To receive BGFA4 funding, ESPs are required to engage in selling and delivering affordable and renewable off-grid energy services directly to end consumers in an enduring and sustainable manner.

Project implementation is expected to start in 2023 and end in 2027.

Kindly note that registration for the online application system opens at 16:00 Helsinki time (UTC +3) on 21 June. 

Download the Pre-Qualification Guidelines

Pre-Qualification Guidelines for BGFA4

Pre-Qualification Questions & Answers for BGFA4

Apply for funding by registering to SmartME intake system

The system will open on 21 June 2022 at 16:00 Helsinki time (+3 UTC).

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Questions and answers

For questions related to the on-line application tool and how to submit applications, please visit the SmartMe Intake system’s Support section for guidance.

For questions related to the Call for Proposals, Applicants are kindly invited to post those only via the SmartME Intake system’s Support section as specified in the Guidelines.

All questions and answers related to the Call for Proposals will be provided in a redacted form and at the same time to all Applicants via the SmartME Intake system’s Support section as specified in the Guidelines.

 

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