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The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund is a private sector fund for enterprise innovation hosted by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

OBJECTIVE

To achieve sustainable development through innovation in the rural economies of Africa.

RECIPIENTS

Private sector entities operating in the field of energy and agribusiness. Companies can be based anywhere in the world; however, the business idea must be implemented in one of the focus African countries. Only for-profit companies starting new ventures are eligible to receive funding.

GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE

Burundi; Cameroon; Democratic Republic of Congo; Ghana; Kenya; Malawi; Mali; Mozambique; Nigeria; Rwanda; Sierra Leone; South Africa; South Sudan; Tanzania; Uganda; and Zimbabwe.

FOCUS AREA

The Fund provides grants and interest-free loans to companies from the private sector investing in new and innovative business ideas in the field of energy, climate change and rural financial services. Several funding windows are in place, to support specific countries and/or sectors:

Renewable Energy and Adaptation to Climate Technologies (REACT) is a window dedicated to private sector companies operating in the field of renewable energy and adaptation to climate change. This mechanism supports initiatives that seek to improve access to low cost, clean energy for rural households and adaptation to climate change (including seed financing and early warning weather systems). Each funding round features newly defined priorities.
The Post Conflict Window (PCW) provides funding for innovative ideas in energy and rural development, but with a focus on Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Somalia/Somaliland.
Research Into Business is a special window established to support the private sector in linking agricultural research and technology projects for rural Africa to the market.
Agribusiness Africa provides grant funding to established businesses seeking to expand their core activities, enhancing opportunities for the rural poor.
Country-specific windows are open for South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

HOW TO APPLY

Specific rounds of calls for proposals are held for the different windows:

The second round of the REACT initiative was closed in December 2011. Notice of further rounds will be given on the website, guidelines for prospective grantees are available, as well as a demo version of the application form.
The last round of calls for proposals for the PCW window closed in June, 2012. Notice of further rounds will be given on the website.
The second round of calls for proposals for Research Into Business was held in 2010. Notice of further rounds will be given on the website.
The last round of calls for proposals for the Agribusiness Africa initiative closed in December, 2011. Notice of further rounds will be given on the website.
Round 3 of the Zimbabwe window closed in September, 2012. Notice of further rounds will be given on the website.