Facilitating Solar Business Acceleration Activities for the ROGEAP Project
The proposed Customized Business Acceleration Support program aims to enhance the capacity, skills, and bankability of solar businesses operating in 13 eligible countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone). The program will involve partnering with established national training providers, incubators, accelerators, and entrepreneurial support organizations to deliver tailored training and mentoring programs.
These mentorship programs to be delivered by ESOs to SMEs will cover a wide range of topics including business strategies, business models, technology development, and investment facilitation. The process will begin with a comprehensive training needs assessment, followed by the design and implementation of specialized training materials.
Selected SMEs will be assigned to ESOs to receive follow-up coaching over a period of 9-12 months to support their growth and financial linkage, ultimately aiming to improve their access to finance and market opportunities.
Objectives of the Business Acceleration Support
To accelerate the growth and sustainability of early-stage solar businesses in 13 eligible countries through customized business acceleration support, thereby improving energy access and fostering economic development.
Sub-Objectives/ thematic Approach to the acceleration support
ESOs that can apply
ESOs in all ECOWAS countries and Seven Sahelian countries (namelyCameroon, Chad, Mauritania, Central African Republic, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali).
- Proven track record in supporting SMEs in business development, capacity building, and entrepreneurship.
- Experience working with solar energy or renewable energy SMEs
- Strong expertise in Business strategy development, innovation, and market expansion and penetration.
- Ability to offer mentorship, business coaching, and networking opportunities to medium and large-scale enterprises.
- ESOs must be organizations owned by entities from eligible ROGEAP countries.
- Must be Locally registered company within the eligible ROGEAP countries.
- No direct link to activities of the exclusion list of BOAD.
- Must be willing to comply with environmental and social safeguards.
ESOs Responsibilities
- Facilitate business development training sessions.
- Provide tailored mentorship and business coaching to participating SMEs.
- Support SMEs in refining their business models, financial strategies, and market approach.
- Collaborate in preparing SMEs for investor engagement.
- Facilitate Access to finance for SMEs.
- Support SMEs towards becoming Job creators.
- Foster connections with industry stakeholders, partners, and investors to drive SME growth.
- Report on predetermined Monitoring and evaluation indicators, especially SMEs growth and access to credit lines and financial services.
SMES that will apply for Acceleration/ESO support?
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in 13 countries eligible for CTF and DGIS funding (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone).
- SMEs operating in the off-grid solar energy sector
- Companies offering innovative solutions for off-grid electrification
- Entrepreneurs aiming to scale their solar businesses across the region
- Growth and Matured stage companies seeking for funding and market expansion
Start up, Early stage, Growth stage, Maturity stage in the off-grid sector, Thus, each stage of the enterprise development life cycle requires different strategies, resources, and management approaches to ensure sustained success and growth.
