Applications are currently open for the USADF-All On Nigeria Off-Grid Energy Challenge. If you are a Nigerian off-grid energy company with innovative solutions to the country’s energy supply challenges, here’s a chance to get the support you need to scale it.
Read more about Opportunities
This contest is organized by the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) and All On, an impact investment organization with a focus on energy solutions. It is run with the aim of enabling off-grid energy firms in Nigeria to increase electricity generation to underserved and unserved communities, households, and productive business units.
Companies adjudged to have presented the best energy projects of all entrants into the competition will receive up to $100,000 in funding for their project.
Applications from businesses that leverage wind, hydro, gas and biomas are encouraged to apply, as are women-owned or managed enterprises that are developing an energy solution that fits with the competition’s criteria.
Benefits
A maximum of ten firms or projects could receive up to $100,000 in funding, split equally (50/50) between grant and debt or equity financing.
Eligibility
Entries will be accepted from companies that meet these conditions:
- Be a Nigerian-owned business; owners should provide government-issued IDs that prove their citizenship.
- Companies entering this competition should be for-profit businesses and not owned by the government.
- They should be legally registered in Nigeria and must be able to manage and track the project for which they seek financing.
- Applicants should either be the developers of the technology they use or use technology that’s been developed elsewhere.
- The project should benefit low income urban or rural populations that aren’t adequately served by utility companies; a focus on women and girls will confer an added advantage.
- It should demonstrate the potential for financial sustainability.
- The company should show proof of experience in executing similar projects, or be partners with (or sponsored by) entities that have a track record in delivering such projects.
- The proposed budget for the project should not exceed $100,000.
- Applicants’ proposed investment period should include three months of electricity or energy generation, as well as revenues from sales.
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The Application Process
Applicants are expected to submit these documents to the contest’s organizers:
- Name and ownership details.
- Passport verifying their citizenship.
- Business Certificate of Incorporation.
- Certified Copies of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Forms 2 and 7.
- Tax clearance certificate.
- Certificate of Occupancy for the company’s business address.
- The applicant’s history, legal address, and contact information.
These documents, along with a business proposal, should be submitted by email to OffGridChallengeNigeria2022@usadf.gov. Applicants should follow the business proposal template contained in the link at the end of this article.
Applications will be accepted until 18 March 2022.
Entries from applicants will be examined by a panel of judges who are experts in the competition’s subject matter. Contestants shortlisted from this stage will be contacted in April for a second phase of the application process.
Applicants that scale through the second phase will be contacted in April and May and will be asked to clarify their project concepts and details. The winning companies will be announced in December 2022.
To learn more about the USADF-AllOn2022NigeriaOff-GridEnergyChallenge, click here to download a PDF document that provides more information.
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