General information about the grant scheme
Enterprise Development for Jobs aims to contribute to job creation in developing countries by stimulating the establishment of new business enterprises or expansion of existing ones.
The ultimate beneficiaries of the activities funded through the grant scheme are people in developing countries for whom new jobs are created.
The main objective for this call is to stimulate renewable energy projects that increase access to renewable energy and thereby contribute to job creation and poverty reduction.
The purpose of this call for proposals is to fund feasibility studies of renewable energy projects, pilot projects and training, that can start implementation during 2018 or 2019.
Objective and target group
Potential grant recipients are companies that can demonstrate ability to increase access to renewable energy, measured by net increase in production capacity (in MW).
Please note that support is given only to grid-connected power projects and off-grid projects that serve local communities, but not to projects for own power consumption.
Allocation criteria
The scheme does not provide investment support or loans but does provide grants to activities that contribute to early-phase project development and activities that limit commercial risk before investment decisions are taken.
Eligible activities include but are not limited to feasibility studies, partner search, pilot projects, training of local staff, and local infrastructure investments related to the company’s investment in energy production capacity.
Only projects in the following sector will be given priority under this call for proposals:
- Energy, defined as renewable energy
The minimum grant size is NOK 500.000 (around 45 million MWK). Proposals will be assessed on a competitive basis. Norad will assess and select the best applications for grants based on a pre-defined set of criteria.
Only projects in developing countries eligible for Norwegian development assistance can be considered for funding (Malawi is included). Among these, projects in low-income countries will be given priority.
Requirements
- The applicant must own a minimum of 25% of the planned investment (in cases where joint ventures are considered). Any exception to this rule must be based on special justification.
- Grant recipients must have ethical guidelines for their business operations. These shall as a minimum meet the requirements of “Guidelines for the preparation of ethical guidelines for Norad grant recipients”. See ethical guidelines – Guide for Norad’s grant recipients. See also Declaration concerning ethical guidelines.
- The applicant shall confirm that it has undertaken adequate security assessments for the employees that will work in high-risk areas, hereunder any mitigating measures related to training, guidance material, insurance and equipment.
- Projects supported under this scheme must comply with the EEA Agreement rules on state aid.
Application process:
Further information about the call as well as application details can be found here.
DEADLINE: 6th of April 2018