Climate and Finance Innovations (ClimaFii) Alliance 2026 for Africa Clean Energy Microenterprises (Up to $70,000 Grant)

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Applications are open for Climate and Finance Innovations (ClimaFii) Alliance 2026. The ClimaFii Alliance is a five-year initiative accelerating climate innovation and inclusive finance for microenterprises across Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. We support early-stage startups delivering clean energy and electric mobility solutions that raise productivity, increase incomes, and build resilience for small business owners—while reducing emissions and local pollution.

Launched by Shell Foundation and Accion, and delivered in partnership with BFA Global (Sub-Saharan Africa) and Upaya Social Ventures (India), ClimaFii focuses on the “missing middle”: microentrepreneurs who power local economies but are underserved by climate finance and technology.

Microenterprises (0–10 employees) are the backbone of Africa’s economy, yet unreliable electricity, high fuel costs, post-harvest losses, and inefficient transport systems directly limit their productivity. Clean energy and electric mobility solutions can increase microenterprise income by 20–30% and reduce energy costs by up to 50%, but most cannot access them due to: high upfront costs, lack of suitable financing, weak last-mile distribution, barriers faced by women-led MEs.

ClimaFii Alliance Benefits

Selected businesses benefit from a package of support that can significantly strengthen early-stage climate ventures:

Catalytic Funding
- Participants receive $45,000–$70,000+ in milestone-based capital designed to help refine business models, test products, deploy technology, and prepare for scaling.
Tailored Venture Support
- Hands-on guidance in:
  - Product refinement and go-to-market strategy
  - Pricing and unit economics
  - Operational systems and growth planning
  - Investment-readiness preparation and pitch support
Finance & Credit Pilots
- Through partnerships with financial service providers (FSPs), the programme helps design affordable finance products — such as mesh financing or embedded credit — that enable microentrepreneurs to afford clean energy and mobility technologies.
Access to Investors & Market Linkages
- ClimaFii connects founders with networks of institutional investors, financiers, and partners to support follow-on capital and broader commercial expansion.
Technical Ecosystem & Knowledge Sharing
Participants join an ecosystem of climate-tech innovators, fostering collaboration, user research, and insights that help tailor solutions to real world microenterprise needs.

Focus Areas & Eligible Solutions

ClimaFii targets climate innovations that deliver practical impact for smaller enterprises, including but not limited to:

Clean energy systems and distributed renewable energy (solar, biogas, shared power)
Productive energy solutions (mills, cold-chain, post-harvest tools)
Electric mobility and logistics for small transport operators
Waste-to-energy and circular solutions
Fintech platforms that improve affordability and financial access for climate products
Nature-positive IoT or ecological solutions linked to climate-resilient livelihoods

Eligibility Criteria for ClimaFii Alliance

ClimaFii is looking for startups and SMEs that:

Are registered and active in Sub-Saharan Africa (with one co-founder based in the region).
Offer clean energy, electric mobility, or product technologies that improve the productivity and resilience of microentrepreneurs.
Have a minimum viable product (MVP) in the market or proven usage by micro, small, or medium enterprises.
Show potential to reach at least ~2,000 microentrepreneur customers within the first year of the programme.
Are ready to engage with financing channels and partnerships that make climate solutions affordable to smaller businesses.

Women-led or women-impacting businesses are encouraged to apply.