ECOWAS ROGEAP Grant Call for Stand-Alone Solar SMEs ($15,000 and $250,000 Funding)

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Are you a start-up, established SME or large company in the off-grid solar sector? Applications are open for ECOWAS ROGEAP Grant. Join the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP) in delivering off-grid solutions and achieving universal access to sustainable electricity services by 2030.

ROGEAP is financed by the World Bank, the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and the Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS) of the Government of the Netherlands.

ECOWAS in partnership with Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement (BOAD) implements ROGEAP. The Project and Fund Manager (PFM) with offices in Abuja and Lomé supports ECOWAS in implementing the project ROGEAP specifically aims to improve access to sustainable energy by building a regional market for off-grid solar (OGS) products and supporting value chain stakeholders.

Objectives of ECOWAS ROGEAP Grant

Improve access to sustainable energy by building a regional market for off-grid solar products.
Support stakeholders across the off-grid solar value chain.
Promote quality off-grid solar products and environmental, social and gender risk management.

ECOWAS ROGEAP Grant Benefits

Customised training programmes for entrepreneurs, SMEs, large solar companies and financial institutions
windows for eligible and qualified businesses between $15,000 and $250,000 for certified off-grid and standalone solar systems
Application support & milestone monitoring
B2B networking & annual business plan competition

Matching Grant

For start-ups and early-stage companies to launch or expand operations
Locally registered businesses owned in majority by national, ECOWAS or project country citizens and operating in an eligible country is an advantage
Grant amount: $10,000 – $25,000
10% equity contribution
Acceptable co-financing includes business investments (rent, equipment, labour), private investments and loans
Disbursement based on agreed pre-milestones of up to 75% of the total amount, final 25% postspecific agreed deliverable within 12 months.
Reported results will be verified before releasing funding after which final payment is made.

Market Entry Grant

For early-stage and growth-stage companies to increase operations across communities and countries
Locally registered businesses owned in majority by national, ECOWAS or project country citizens and operating in an eligible country is an advantage
Grant amount: $50,000 – $150,000
10-15% equity contribution
Acceptable co-financing includes business investments (rent, equipment, labour), private investments and loans
Disbursement is based on agreed milestones of up to 50% of the total amount in up to 3 tranches, this can be reduced to 2 disbursements depending on milestones agreed.
Reported results will be verified before releasing funding after which final payment is made.

Performance-Based Grant

For early-stage and growth-stage companies to deploy off-grid solutions in hard-to-reach markets and remote communities
Locally registered businesses owned in majority by national, ECOWAS or project country citizens and operating in an eligible country is an advantage
Grant amount: $150,000 – $250,000
15-20% equity contribution
Acceptable co-financing includes business investments (rent, equipment, labour), private investments and loans
Disbursement of up to 50% of the total amount per tranche based on agreed milestones within 24 months
Reported results will be verified before releasing funding after which final payment is made.
First round only in Sahel

Eligible Countries for ECOWAS ROGEAP Grant

Among 19 project countries, 13 are eligible for financial support and technical assistance: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.