Apply: The French Agency for Development (AFD) Digital Energy Challenge for African Start-ups 2025
The application portal is currently open for French Agency for Development (AFD) Digital Energy Challenge and will close on 16th May 2025. See AFD Digital Energy Challenge for African Start-ups 2025 requirements, application requirements and how to apply successfully.
The aim of the Digital Energy Challenge is to support the development of innovative solutions for increased energy access, to facilitate the integration of renewable energies and to improve energy operators’ performance.
Since the launch in 2020, the Challenge, supported by the European Union, AFD and ADEME, has boosted more than 30 Start-up and Energy Utility projects. Following this success, the Challenge is being conducted for an additional year in 2025.
Requirements
The 2025 Call for Projects targets projects for implementation in Africa and owned by:
Start-ups in the pre-seed phase or with early-stage activities. NGOs can apply under the Start-up category (see more details on the eligibility criteria for Start-ups).
Innovative technology or service providers who have already developed a digital solution to be tested (see more details on the eligibility criteria for technology providers)
For the Start-ups Challenge, the project scope must address one of three themes:
- Universal electricity access and mini-grids
- Efficient grid management
- Resilience and decarbonization of power systems
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Each winning Start-up will benefit from:
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Financial support of up to €150K including: Grant funding to contribute to costs for equipment, software, training and recruitment ; Technical assistance (awarded on a case-by-case basis), which could include project management support, strategic and technical expertise, and accounting/reporting assistance,
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A joint boot camp run by cross-sectorial experts, to support project implementation, provide sectorial insights, foster synergies between project winners and encourage best-practice sharing,
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Widespread communication campaigns piloted by AFD during the selection phase, award ceremony, bootcamp and for a period of time after these events.
Application Starting Date:
10th March 2025: Launch of the Call for Projects
Application Deadline/Closing Date
16th May 2025 – 23h59 CET:
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should click https://digital-energy.eu/en/digital-energy-challenge-for-start-call-projects