APRA Investment Forum

Nairobi, Kenya
109 days to start

Call for Projects is now open

The Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA) is an African country-led international alliance of governments and stakeholders working together to accelerate the deployment of renewables-based energy systems to enhance energy access, enable green industrialisation, and improve economic and societal resilience. Currently, APRA's members include Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe with Denmark, Germany, UAE and US supporting the Partnership and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) fulfilling the secretariat role.

The first APRA Investment Forum (IF) is being organised to help create and implement a pipeline of projects in support of APRA objectives.

The APRA Investment Forum is dedicated to:

  • Support decision-makers in creating a nurturing environment for investments.
  • Connect projects supported by CIP and ETAF with potential financiers through a curated matchmaking program, as well as projects coming from APRA partners and other international organizations in support of APRA development goals.

Call for Projects

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) invites project developers active in APRA member countries to submit their applications for project evaluation under the Climate Investment Platform (CIP) or the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing (ETAF) Platform. This call presents a unique opportunity for selected projects to be featured at the APRA Investment Forum, facilitating exclusive matchmaking with select financial institutions and significantly contributing to the APRA’s objective of mobilizing investments for renewable energy and green industrialization.

Application deadline: 31 July 2024

Supported projects include:

  • Renewable energy power generation projects (on-grid, off-grind, centralized and decentralized distribution)
  • Infrastructure projects as part of renewable energy generation projects
  • E-Mobility
  • Green industrialization projects
  • Renewable energy supply chain projects
  • Critical minerals and materials of renewable energy sources

Projects can be submitted through CIP or ETAF, based on their eligibility:

Climate Investment Platform (CIP)

The CIP is a joint initiative of IRENA, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), in collaboration with the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The CIP seeks to enhance capital mobilization and impact investing in renewable energy in developing countries.

Eligibility Criteria for CIP:

Projects must:

  • Support the Clean Energy Transition, align with Sustainable Development Goals, and adhere to national climate action priorities.
  • Be beyond the conceptual stage, with pre-feasibility or preliminary studies completed.

How to apply

  • Access the application portal at irena.org/irenaforcip.
  • Click 'Submit a project' to begin your application, providing detailed information about your project.
  • Upload your completed pre-feasibility/feasibility study along with any supporting documentation.

Energy Transition Accelerator Financing (ETAF) Platform

ETAF, aimed at supporting larger-scale renewable energy projects, complements the CIP's efforts. Projects suitable for ETAF should demonstrate:

  • Capital expenditure requirements of at least USD 25 million for private or Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and USD 10 million for public sector projects.
  • A readiness level that includes a completed feasibility study, grid availability, offtake agreements, and financing readiness.

ETAF Offers:

  • Access to over US$ 4 billion in pledged support, targeting 5 GW of renewable energy by 2030.
  • A mixture of debt, equity, and de-risking mechanisms from 13 ETAF partners.

Engage with ETAF:

Key Characteristics That Enhance Project Investment Appeal:

Based on the experience with current CIP and ETAF project pipeline, investors favour projects with:

  • A sustainable business model with positive cash accruals.
  • Significant sustainable development impacts.
  • A completed feasibility study or at a minimum, a pre-feasibility study.
  • A secured project site and necessary land permits.
  • A preliminary agreement with a creditworthy off-taker.
  • A considerable equity commitment from the project developers.

Please note that IRENA will only support projects that meet the eligibility criteria for showcasing at the Investment Forum.