The Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund (EEP Africa), managed by the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) and funded by Austria, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, NDF, and Switzerland, aims to support a climate-resilient, zero-carbon future. EEP Africa's mission focuses on enhancing clean energy access, development, and investment, particularly benefiting vulnerable and underserved groups. It seeks to contribute to the achievement of the Paris Climate Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
EEP Africa's grant program supports innovative early-stage clean energy projects in Southern and Eastern Africa that are in an active development phase. The grant focuses on projects demonstrating innovation in technology, business model, financing model, distribution approach, service, or partnerships. Projects must show they are unlikely to proceed without the grant, bridging the gap where private sector financing is too risk-averse, thus necessitating the grant to de-risk early stages of development. Grants cater to locally-driven initiatives, requiring applicants to show a commitment to sustainable, long-term local development through local company registration, majority local ownership, or a strong existing local team/partner. Applicants can apply for grants and repayable grants ranging from EUR 200,000 to 1,000,000, with a minimum required co-financing of 30-50% of the total project budget. The program highlights the essential nature of innovation, active development, additionality, and locally-driven projects.