AFD Digital Energy Challenge 2026 for African Start-ups (Up To €150,000 Funding)

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Applications are open for AFD Digital Energy Challenge 2026. Do you have a cutting-edge digital product or service that can increase energy access, accelerate the energy transition, or improve the operational efficiency of energy utilities in Africa? The 2026 Digital Energy Challenge Call for Projects invites innovative SMEs to apply in one or both of the following categories

Tech Accelerator for innovative digital projects in one of the 51 specified countries in Africa
Partnership for a collaborative project in Nigeria, developed with the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC)

Nigeria represents one of the most demanding and impactful environments for energy innovation. With around 90 million lacking reliable electricity, it offers a unique opportunity to:

Test solutions in real-world conditions
Demonstrate scalability and resilience
Develop innovations with strong R&D value
Create models replicable across other countries in Africa.

Funding & Support

A total budget of €827K will be allocated to selected projects to develop, test and implement innovative digital and AI-enabled solutions.

Winners benefit from:

Grants to contribute to costs for equipment, software, products or services and training, as well as expert support for project management.
- Up to €400K (Partnership)
- Up to €150K (Tech Accelerator)
Expert support and bootcamp for hand-on guidance, sector insights and collaboration opportunities between project winners and African utilities
Visibility and networking through communication campaigns piloted by AFD and access to the Digital Energy Community

The themes of the two categories are structured around three priority areas that represent common challenges for AEDC and several African utilities: optimizing planning and investments, integrating data from mini-grids, and improving network operations. In this context, the selected themes are:

Product 1: Grid Planning and Investment Optimization
Product 2: Microgrid and DER Management Platform
Product 3: Data Platform and Integrated Network Visibility

For the Partnership category, applicants are invited to submit proposals covering one or several products. However, preference will be given to proposals that cover all products.

For the Tech Accelerator category, applicants are required to submit a proposal covering one product only.

For a detailed description of each theme, please see the Challenge Rules in the Application Pack.

Eligibility Criteria

The 2026 Call for Projects is open to innovative SMEs that:

Employ fewer than 250 people and have a turnover of less than €50M
Are independent (ownership criteria apply)
Have a strong R&D component
Have no conflict of interest with AEDC

While companies from around the world are invited to apply, proposals from local African companies are strongly encouraged and will receive favourable consideration.

Projects must:

Be digital by nature (software, data, telecom, cloud-based technology etc.)
Demonstrate innovation (new or adapted to local context)
Include a clear R&D dimension
Address the 2026 thematic priorities
Be beyond ideation stage (already piloted)
Be implementable within 12 months
Not depend on regulatory changes

Additional criteria:

Tech Accelerator: the project must take place in an eligible African country (see list below).
Partnership: the project must take place in Nigeria with AEDC

ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES

The Digital Energy Challenge Call for Projects 2026 supports projects in the following countries:

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.