Transforming Humanitarian Energy Access
Inclusive Investment Pilots
Applications have now closed.
Inclusive Investment Pilots are supporting the development of clean, affordable and sustainable energy delivery models in refugee-led settlements in Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia.
12 grants of up to £10,000 (local currency equivalent) have been awarded to refugee-led organisations – six in Uganda, three in Ethiopia and three in Kenya. All projects will be completed by July 2026.
Our open call for applications went out to enterprises and not-for profits who are founded and led by refugees and forcibly displaced people, as well as individual entrepreneurs who are a refugee or forcibly displaced person.
Applications for the pilots are now closed. But on this page we’re continuing to share our multi-lingual application material, as well as detail of our inclusive criteria and funding mechanisms. We do this to inform and inspire other funders, so that more finance opportunities can be built around the needs and potential of refugee-led organisations.
English
Download the below documents for full details on the grant and how to apply.
Français
Téléchargez la note d’orientation et le formulaire de demande pour obtenir tous les détails sur la subvention et la façon de postuler.
عربي
قم بتحميل ملاحظة الإرشادات ونموذج الطلب للحصول على التفاصيل الكاملة حول المنحة وكيفية التقديم
Juba Arabic
Nagilu wasika (waraga) ma kulu mohimat forgot an daam wa kef inta bi gedim talab.
Kinyarwanda
Somali
Halkan kasoo dejiso faahfaahinta deeqda iyo habka codsiga.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants were required to use existing clean energy technologies and focus on revenue generating energy delivery models. Funds were not available for technology research and development.
Eligible technologies included (but were not limited to) solar power for irrigation, refrigeration/cold storage, grain milling and other agro–processing; electric mobility; and clean cooking (biogas, carbonised briquettes, and electric cooking).
This opportunity was open to start-ups, operational enterprises and not-for-profit organisations: as long as they were revenue generating, or had the potential to generate revenue.
Grantees had to be:
- An enterprise or not-for-profit organisation founded and led by refugees and forcibly displaced people may apply.
- An entrepreneur who is a refugee or forcibly displaced person.
Serving households, micro- or small-enterprises in the following refugee/IDP settlements:
- Kyaka II; Rwamwanja; Kyangwali; Nakivale; Rhino Camp; Kiryandongo; Bidibidi; Impevi; Palorinya; Palabek; Adjumani (UGANDA)
- Barahale; Aysaita; Sheder; Aw-barre; Kebribeyah; Melkadida; Helaweyn; Bokolmanyo; Kobe; Buramino (ETHIOPIA)
- Kakuma-Kalobeyi Integrated Settlement (KENYA)
Projects serving both displaced people and host communities were eligible for funding.
Funding mechanisms – Inclusive Investment Pilot funding was made available through three different products:
Product One – Enhancing group savings linked loans:
Product Two – Results-based funding
This funding supports applicants who are at an early stage in their project or initiative and are seeking start-up capital. Half of the total funding (up to a maximum of £5,000) is released in a first payment tranche, with follow-on tranches paid out if the project meets certain impact objectives.
Follow on tranches will be paid out in proportion to revenues generated by the project, encouraging applicants to take a market-based approach to their energy delivery model. An anticipated approximate ratio of 4:1 (Inclusive Investment Pilot funding : revenues generated) will be used to calculate payment of follow on tranches.
Overheads up to a maximum of 20% will be permitted within the overall grant amount.
Product Two – Results-based funding:
This funding will support applicants who are at an early stage in their project/initiative and are seeking start-up capital. Half of the total funding (up to a maximum of £5,000) will be released in the first tranche, with follow-on tranches paid out if the project meets certain impact objectives.
Follow on tranches will be paid out in proportion to revenues generated by the project, encouraging applicants to take a market-based approach to their energy delivery model. An anticipated approximate ratio of 4 : 1 (Inclusive Investment Pilot funding : revenues generated) will be used to calculate payment of follow on tranches.
Overheads up to a maximum of 20% will be permitted within the overall grant amount.
Product Three – Revenue sharing repayable grant:
This product supports initiatives which are already generating revenue, enabling the applicant to expand their operations and make grant repayments in proportion to the revenues generated. No interest will be charged on the grant, and after six months, 2.5% of original grant capital will be forgiven for each quarter that the applicant meets pre-agreed impact targets.
Overheads up to a maximum of 20% will be permitted within the overall grant amount.
This material has been funded by UK aid from the UK government via the Transforming Energy Access platform; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.