Mini-grid Development in Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement (Uganda)
Deadline: 8-Feb-22
The Power Africa Off-grid Project (PAOP), a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-contracted project implemented by RTI International, seeks applications to fund one or multiple awards to provide incentives, in the form of grants, to mini-grid developers to collaborate on the development of mini-grids in Ntenungi village, Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement in Western Uganda.
These mini-grids should support provision of safe and reliable electricity to refugees and host communities in areas not being served by the national grid. This RFA provides prospective applicants with a fair opportunity to develop and submit competitive applications to PAOP for potential funding.
This grant funding will support the development of a maximum of 3 solar photovoltaic (PV) mini-grids, along with financing and promotion of productive use of energy equipment in Ntenungi village, Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, Western Uganda.
Applications must include:
Design, installation, and a commitment to at least 5 years of operation and maintenance of off-grid solar PV and battery mini-grids in Ntenungi village
A strategy for promotion and financing of productive use of energy equipment to stimulate energy demand and increase economic development
Preliminary market studies and socio-economic assessments including geospatial data have been conducted for the target geography; however, the successful applicant is expected to verify and update data to reflect actual situation.
The successful applicant will be required to perform the technical implementation of the project, including:
Procurement and installation of all mini-grid equipment
Procurement and installation of the Low Voltage (LV) distribution line
Coordination with the Rural Electrification Program (REP) for the design and construction of the requisite distribution system and customer connections
REP will provide customer connections in accordance with the Electricity Connections Policy
During the award period, title or ownership to all property purchased and constructed, including mini-grid/distribution infrastructure, will be vested in the grant recipient.
Coordination with the Office of the Prime Minister for access to Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement
Application for license exemption from the Electricity Regulatory Authority
Operation and maintenance of all mini-grid equipment installed
Fulfilment of national environmental and social permitting obligations
Execution of the proposed productive use of energy financing and promotion strategy
Documentation and dissemination of lessons learned during implementation
Funding Information
Final funding levels will depend on the content and quality of applications received, needs, availability of funding, and competing priorities. Individual grants awarded as a result of this RFA, and submission of a final application are intended to be for a maximum of USD 500,000. The USD 500,000 is the maximum value of an individual grant award, not the maximum value of combined grant awards.
Programs funded under this RFA will conclude no later than 30 September 30, 2022.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications from joint ventures (JVs) are permitted, however applications must specify a lead applicant and have no more than 3 JV members. If a JV application is successful, contracting and payments will be exclusively with the lead applicant specified in the original application. Each eligibility criteria must be fulfilled by at least 1 JV member.
Applicants or at least one joint venture member must be a registered company/enterprise (including micro-enterprises or groups of micro-enterprises), associations, cooperatives, and cooperative unions in Uganda and be in operation for at least one year at the time of application. Applicants should:
Be legal persons;
Be formally constituted at the time of grant award;
Be compliant with the Uganda’s regulations (submit tax compliance certificate or equivalent);
Have a physical presence in Uganda (employees, offices, operations, etc.) or be partnering with an entity that has a physical presence in Uganda;
Have realized financing (income, grant, debt, equity) of at least the amount of grant funding sought within calendar year 2019 or 2020.
For more information, visit https://www.rti.org/sites/default/files/mini-grid_development_rwamwanja_refugee_settlement_uganda_rfa.pdf