The Scaling Off-Grid Energy Grand Challenge for Development (Scaling Off-Grid) is a global partnership between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Shell Foundation, and the African Development Bank working to provide 20 million households across sub-Saharan Africa with access to modern, clean, and affordable electricity.
Given the high volume distribution of technology/appliances/devices/electronics that these electricity connections will require, Scaling Off-Grid has a vested interest in the sustainable management of solarhome system end-of-life processes, including take-back programs, recycling, disposal, and repair. This also includes the environmental sustainability of battery storage technologies, as storage is currently the component of a solar home system with the highest cost and environmental risk, but also the lowest longevity.
In an effort to promote sustainable product design and the development of a robust solar electronic waste management infrastructure for solar home system distribution across sub Saharan Africa, USAID is seeking an implementing partner to administer USAID grant award programming to engage and support off-grid solar home system companies and e waste management companies seeking to develop the e-waste management ecosystem for the off-grid sector. This program will catalyze innovative technologies and business models around sustainable battery technology and recycling infrastructure for the off-grid solar industry. Given the lack of existing company take-back programs and e-waste recycling infrastructure across sub-Saharan Africa where the Scaling Off-Grid team is actively working to accelerate the market, this project will focus on the long-term sustainability of solar household system distribution, repair, and recycling.
This program will include a small grants or innovation prize component, with awards supporting companies or organizations working to improve end-of-life processing and disposal of a solar home system. Disruptive innovations around recycling, repair, and design-for-recycling are of particular interest under this program. The implementing partner will work with the Scaling Off Grid team to promote industry advocacy around sustainable corporate product management and the secondary e-waste recycling industry supporting the off-grid solar industry, particularly around battery technology.
Award Program Objectives
This program aims to provide grant and technical support for:
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Recycling and e-waste management companies seeking to expand business activities in support of the off-grid sector across sub-Saharan Africa
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Solar home system distributors seeking to implement an end-of-life program without sufficient resources to pilot on their own
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Solar home system suppliers seeking to improve existing product design to solve recycling challengesto increase system value at end of life - Battery technology suppliers with an especially compelling innovation that increases ease ofrecycling , longevity, and overall product environmental sustainability while remaining cost competitive
Cost Sharing or Matching:
USAID has established a suggested cost share of 50-100% for the recipient of the award. The capacity to provide match funding by the Applicant will support an application, but this will not disqualify the Applicant if match funding is limited. Such funds may be mobilized from the recipient; other multilateral, bilateral, and foundation donors; host governments; and local organizations, communities and private businesses that contribute financially and in-kind to implementation of activities at the country level. For guidance on cost sharing in grants and cooperative agreements, please refer to USAID ADS 303.3.10.
For more information, please view the FOA.
Interested applicants should send the following documents in sequence in one PDF no later than 4:00 p.m. on the internal submission deadline:
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Cover Page must include:
- Project Title
- Any partnerships; and
- PI and Co-PIs name(s) and title(s)
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2 page summary to include:
- Ensuring the achievement of the program objectives and the efficient and effective administration of the award through the application of sound management practices
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Formatting Guidelines and Page Limit:
- Font/size: Times New Roman (12 pt.)
- Document margins: 1.0” (top, bottom, left and right)
- Standard paper size (8 ½” x 11)