EDP is looking for energy access projects to finance in five African countries

EDP - Energias de Portugal, an ALER member, launched the 5th edition of A2E Fund with a budget of one million euros to support projects in Mozambique, Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya and Rwanda.

Organisations wishing to promote access to renewable energy in developing African countries can apply until May 22nd, followed by an evaluation and pre-selection phase in the following months.

In this 5th edition, entities may apply for financial support between 50 thousand and 150 thousand euros for each project - the fund guarantees up to 75% of the real total costs of the project (in the case of non-profit organisations) and up to 50% of the costs for other profit-making entities.

The regulations and application form for the 5th edition of the A2E Fund can be found here.

With the aim of contributing to a fair and inclusive transition in remote and more vulnerable communities in these regions, EDP intends to help develop solutions for access to clean and affordable energy that impact fundamental sectors in the life of these communities.

As in previous editions, the A2E Fund once again focuses on five priority areas - education, health, water, agriculture, community, and business - and values evaluation criteria such as social impact, partnerships, sustainability, expansion potential or technical and financial feasibility.

A relevant intervention when it is estimated that there are still more than 700 million people worldwide without access to electricity, with around 70% located on the African continent.

"It is urgent to develop solutions that help combat the poverty and exclusion that still affect the lives of millions of people around the world," says Miguel Stilwell d'Andrade, CEO of EDP. "With this new edition of the A2E Fund we want to ensure that the most remote and vulnerable communities have access to clean and affordable energy. We want to help them break the cycle of poverty, while contributing to their social and economic development."

EDP thus continues the programme started in 2018 with the ambition to support clean and sustainable energy projects in emerging countries.

In the last four editions, the A2E Fund received more than 540 applications, having invested €2.5 million in 28 projects that directly impacted the lives of 120,000 people and, indirectly, of around two million in seven African countries - Mozambique, Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya, Angola, Tanzania, and Rwanda.

These interventions include, for example, projects to bring electricity and drinking water to schools and medical centres, to supply irrigation systems for agricultural fields and refrigeration equipment for small traders, or to support the work of artisans, among many other cases.

A2E FUND - 5th edition

Application deadlines: April 18 to May 22
Applications here
Eligible entities: organizations from any sector or geography, with projects for access to renewable energy with impact in the areas of education, health, water and agriculture, community and business, to be developed in 5 countries - Mozambique, Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya and Rwanda
Intervention areas: education, health, business, community, water and agriculture