OPEN CALL FOR APPLICATIONS COOKING ENERGY BUSINESS GROWTH FUND (CEBGF)

Energising Development (EnDev) a multi-donor funded multi-country initiative to support sustainable access to modern energy, invites interested companies and cooperatives to start applying for support from the Cooking Energy Business Growth Fund (CEBGF) for Rwanda. The fund aims to strengthen promising and ambitious businesses in the cooking energy sector. The application window opens on 19th November and will remain open until 19th December 2021.

The goal of the fund is to identify and support up to ten companies and cooperatives with good ideas that will reduce consumption of firewood and thereby protect the environment and enable Rwandans to save money and preserve their health. Under this initiative, successful businesses will receive an investment grant to support the implementation of one or more clearly defined business goals. In addition to grant investment, the CEBGF will also include capacity development support from Inkomoko, a leading business consulting firm in Rwanda, through an accelerator programme covering training, business assessment, investment readiness, and pitch preparation.

The fund is designed to be flexible enough to support businesses with products and ideas that are scalable or innovative across the cooking sector value chain. The categories of the fund are not restrictive but can include applied research or product testing, production techniques, marketing, innovative consumer finance models, and distribution approaches.

Context

Today, more than 97% of all Rwandan households rely on traditional biomass-based cooking systems like firewood and charcoal. Inefficient cooking methods are reducing the country’s forest cover and contributing to climate change. In addition, indoor air pollution originating from inefficient wood or charcoal stoves results in respiratory problems and is associated with 1.6 million deaths around the world every year, which disproportionately affects women, as they are often the main cooks of the households.

EnDev’s work builds on the government’s efforts through capacity development, technical and financial support initiatives within the energy sector. EnDev’s component “Reducing Climate Impact of Cooking in Rwanda through Improved Cooking Systems” (ReCIC) is implemented by GIZ (German Development Cooperation) and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation and funded by the European Union and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

Eligibility criteria

• Idea or business must reduce the consumption of firewood or switch to other types of cooking energy (except LPG)
• The business must be registered with RDB or RCA (attach certificate)
• The total investment required to implement the idea or solution should not be above 50 million Rwandan francs
• The business must be seeking funding for 10% to 80% of the total cost of implementing the business idea or solution
• The business must have been in operation for at least 6 months

Applications will be evaluated based on the following:

• Expected benefits of the proposed activity or idea
• Economic viability and sustainability of the proposed activity or idea;
• Viability, robustness, and institutional strengths of the business (e.g. team composition, assets, own financial contribution, prior recognition);
• The proposal accelerates sustainable market development for improved/clean cooking solutions in Rwanda, avoiding market distortion or unfair competition (e.g., third-party funded free distribution)

Selected or winning companies and cooperatives will receive grant funding both cash prizes and in-kind support for their business idea with total cost up to 50 million Rwf and CEBGF shall support 10% to 80% of the total cost of implementing the business idea.

The selection process will include 1) screening candidates based on the eligibility criteria, 2) evaluation and ranking of the eligible candidates based on the evaluation criteria, 3) shortlisting of candidates, 4) due diligence in the field, 5) pitching competition and 6) final listing of the winners with a clear identification of CEBGF support (cash and in-kind support) based on the business plans.

The scope of the fund is not restrictive; therefore applicants can propose any idea or activity that falls within the above guidelines in any area, e.g. applied research or product testing, technology procurement, production techniques, marketing, innovative consumer finance models, distribution approaches, or others.

Interested companies and cooperatives are invited to apply immediately online at https://www.inkomoko.com/cebgf

For additional information or support with your application, please contact:

Phone: 0788358639

Email: info@inkomoko.com

The deadline:23^rdDecember 2021