Deadline: 16 August 2019

Efficiency for Access Coalition (EforA) is currently accepting applications for the second call of its Research and Development Fund to accelerate innovation in off-grid and weak grid appliance technologies.

The Efficiency for Access Coalition (EforA), supported by UK aid, will invest fundinginto Research and Development (R&D) projects with the aim to accelerate the availability, affordability, efficiency and performance of a range of low energy inclusive appliances that are particularly suited to developing country contexts and promote social inclusion.

For this call, they have introduced changes to provide additional funding support and application assistance to start-ups and micro-sized organisations, as well as applicants based or conducting R&D in UK aid priority countries (Afghanistan, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Democratic Republic of the), Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt (Arab Republic of), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iraq, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tanzania (United Republic of), The Occupied Palestinian Territories, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (República Bolivariana de), Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe). They encourage these organisations to apply.

Research & Development projects must focus on developing an innovative appliance technology or product for use in off-grid and weak-grid settings, which has both a strong potential to positively benefit targeted users and to scale. Research & Development projects must also take into account gender equality and social inclusion issues.

Scope

To be in scope for this call, R&D project must focus on developing an innovative appliance technology or product focused on cooling for use in off- and weak-grid settings. Access to sustainable cooling is essential in achieving many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as the SDGs for poverty and health.

Access to cooling is also a prerequisite for broader economic development, enabling farmers to access new markets, as well as reducing food loss and waste. At the same time, cooling provides much-needed relief and helps to save lives in an increasingly warmer climate. In this second call, they are interested in funding projects related to Fans, Refrigeration, and Cold Chain.

Funding Information

• Grants are available from £50,000 to £200,000.
• The minimum total funding pool available under this call is £1m.

Categories and Length

Applicant’s project should fall under one of the following categories based on the stage of R&D. The allowable length of R&D project is based on the stage of R&D:

• Early stage for feasibility studies (lasting 6 to 12 months)
• Mid-stage for industrial research (lasting 12 to 24 months)
• Late stage for experimental development (lasting 12 to 30 months)

Eligibility Criteria

The minimum eligibility criteria are:

• Applicants must be a legally registered and physically established business, academic organisation, non-profit, public sector organisation, or research and technology organisation from anywhere in the world. Applicants for funding may also form partnerships (such as between academics and businesses, or between entrepreneurs and established businesses). However, the lead partner will assume responsibility for the project and will be the recipient of the grant funding.
• Applications must demonstrate outcomes linked to both the programme’s overall objective (of accelerating the availability, affordability, efficiency and performance of a range of low energy inclusive appliances particularly suited to developing country contexts) and the R&D scope for this call.
• Applicants must demonstrate sufficient match funding for project costs, as outlined in the Funding section.
• Applicants must demonstrate a track record in research and innovation, and/or provide strong evidence of their capacity to successfully implement the R&D project.
• Applicants must be compliant with fundamental in-country and international human rights, labour standards, and environmental management laws. Applicants must not be involved in any act of terrorism or support terrorist activities.
• Applicants must allow regular due diligence.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can register themselves via the given website.

For more, visit https://efficiencyforaccess.org/grants