The AECF (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund) has opened applications for its REACT 2.0 Ethiopia programme, aimed at accelerating the adoption of renewable energy solutions in underserved rural markets.
The program seeks to catalyze private-sector investment in two key areas: (1) productive-use energy (PUE) technologies that support agricultural value-chain activities (e.g., irrigation, milling, drying, cold storage), and (2) household energy access via decentralized renewable sources such as solar home systems. And structured as a challenge fund (competitive grants) and will run over two years.
Eligibility Criteria
- Be a for-profit company, legally registered and physically based in Ethiopia.
- Have at least two full accounting years of operations by the time of application.
- Annual turnover in the most recent year must be at least 50% of the grant amount requested.
- Provide matching funding on a 1:1 basis (i.e., for every dollar the AECF gives, the company must contribute an equivalent amount). Matching funds can take the form of founder equity, supplier credit, inventory, or other verifiable business inputs.
- Applicants must operate in one of the target value chains defined by the programme: either PUE (irrigation, cooling, milling, drying, etc.) or household energy access (solar home systems, mini-grids).
- Enterprises must demonstrate sound financial management and a commitment to co-investment.
Benefits
- Grant Funding up to $ 400k
- Technical Assistance including business development services, investment-readiness support, and capacity-building to strengthen operations.
- Leverage for Scaling
- Cross-cutting Support: the programme embeds gender equality, youth empowerment, and environmental sustainability. AECF encourages inclusive business models, green job creation, and climate-smart practices.
