Concessional Investment Instruments Grant
In context
This call is open to startups, small and medium-sized businesses and large companies and 3 others, at prototype and pilot stage, pre-seed and seed stage. Coverage is read from the notice itself: Africa.
SEFA provides concessional financing (loans, equity, results-based instruments) blended with African Development Bank capital to close funding gaps in renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects across Africa. The fund targets viable projects that need subordinated or patient capital to reach financial close.
About this grant
The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) is a multi-donor Special Fund managed by the African Development Bank that provides catalytic finance to unlock private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency across Africa. SEFA offers technical assistance and concessional finance instruments to remove market barriers, build a robust pipeline of projects, and improve the risk-return profile of individual investments. The Fund's overarching goal is to contribute to universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services for all in Africa, in line with the New Deal on Energy for Africa and Sustainable Development Goal 7. Established in 2011 in partnership with Denmark, SEFA has received contributions from the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Germany, the Nordic Development Fund, and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. SEFA supports interventions across three strategic priorities: green baseload (increasing renewable energy penetration in power systems), green mini-grids (accelerating electricity access through clean energy solutions), and energy efficiency (improving efficiency of energy services including clean cooking and pico-solar technologies). The Fund provides technical assistance grants to public and private sector entities, as well as concessional investment support through results-based financing, loans, and equity instruments, often blended with African Development Bank investments to close viability gaps. Please note that SEFA is currently at full capacity and unable to accept new project applications.
Get the official link (free account)
Create a free account to open the official notice and application link: 1 official link a month, free. Pro opens every link.
Eligibility
Technical assistance grants are available to both public and private sector entities. Concessional investment support is available for projects aligned with SEFA's strategic priorities in renewable energy, green mini-grids, and energy efficiency across African countries. Specific eligibility criteria beyond sector and entity type are not detailed on this page. SEFA is currently not accepting new project applications due to full capacity.
Key requirements
- ✓Project must be in renewable energy or energy-efficiency sector in Africa
- ✓Viability gap must be addressable through concessional/blended finance instruments
- ✓Alignment with African Development Bank investment criteria and SEFA mandate
- ✓Results-based performance metrics or loan/equity terms must be defined
Recent past awardees
Knowing who's won the last rounds tells you whether you're in the strike zone.
- Metier Fund · 2020 · $20M
- Africa Renewable Energy Fund (AREF)
- Facility for Energy Inclusion (FEI)
- Democratic Republic of Congo green energy program
- Burkina Faso green energy program
- Angola Green Mini-Grid Market Assessment · 2020
- Sub-Saharan Africa small-scale renewable energy projects · 2020 · $760K
- Guinea green mini-grid development · 2020
Frequently asked questions
- Who can apply for Concessional Investment Instruments?
- Eligibility covers organisations in AFRICA; startup, sme, large-company, nonprofit, social-enterprise, consortium. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.
Relevant sectors
About this sector
Renewable energy funding covers solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal and bioenergy, from early research to grid-scale deployment. Public money tends to back demonstration, grid connection and access to energy in emerging markets, while procurement notices buy installation, operation and maintenance. Calls often ask for proof of resource assessment, permitting progress and local partners.
Free accounts: 1 official link a month · Pro: every link
Quick facts
Get alerts for notices like this
Create a free account and we save a search for this sector and country, so new grants like this one arrive in your weekly email.
Get alerts, free →