West African entrepreneurs with promising clean energy projects (renewable energy resources and energy efficiency) are invited to enter into a Business Plan Competition for the West Africa Forum for Clean Energy Financing (WAFCEF). The deadline for proposals is 30th April 2013.
West Africa Forum for Clean Energy Financing (WAFCEF) Business Plan Competition
WAFCEF is being promoted by ECREEE, CTI PFAN, RCEII together with the African Development Bank (AfDB) through its Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), Banque Oeste Africaine de Developpement (BOAD), and the African Biofuels and Renewable Energy Company (ABREC), which is affiliated with the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID).
The purpose of the Forum is to identify and nurture entrepreneurs, start-up companies and existing companies with promising clean energy projects by linking them with investors and financiers.
West African businesses selected through the Business Plan Competition will receive free mentoring to help them polish their business plans, develop convincing investment pitches, and formulate a commercially, financially, socially and environmentally viable growth strategy that in turn will significantly enhance the possibility of obtaining financing.
Forum to be held in October 2013
WAFCEF will be held in Accra, Ghana over three days during the week of October 7, 2013, with final dates to be announced no later than July 1, 2013.
At the Forum, five to ten (5-10) qualified projects will have the opportunity to present their Business Plans to invited investors and make a pitch for financing.
As part of the competition, an Expert Panel including investors, industry specialists and business executives with a keen interest in enabling cleaner and greener projects in West Africa, will judge the Finalists' presentations and select the top three (3) projects for the West African Clean Energy Financing Awards.
Prior to the Business Plan Competition Awards, all Investment Forum participants will be invited to attend a one-day Dialogue on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency which will provide an opportunity for dialogue with policymakers on policies, regulations and laws and investment in clean energy in West Africa.
For instructions on how to submit proposals please download the WAFCEF Call For Proposals and Flyer by clicking on the links below. Deadline for submission of proposal is 30th of April 2013.
Sponsors
The ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), the Climate Technology Initiative Private Financing Advisory Network (CTI PFAN) and the Regional Clean Energy Investment Initiative (RCEII) of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), together with their West Africa CTI PFAN partners are issuing this invitation.
Call for proposals document and flyer
The Business Plan competition request for proposals and flyers can be downloaded below in English, French and Portugese.