Inclusive Investment Pilots
Applications have now closed.
Applications have now closed for the THEA Inclusive Investment Pilots to support the development of clean, affordable and sustainable energy delivery models in displacement settings in Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia.
We will be awarding 12 grants of up to £10,000 (local currency equivalent) – 6 in Uganda, 3 in Ethiopia and 3 in Kenya.
Our funding will support projects for 12 months, with all projects being completed by the end of June 2026 at the latest.
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 applications from individual entrepreneurs who are a refugee or forcibly displaced person.
English
Download the below documents for full details on the grant and how to apply.
French
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
Reba hano kubyerekyeranye no gusaba inkunga nuburyo burambuye bwo gusaba imfashanyo.
Eligibility Criteria
To have been eligible to apply, applicants must use existing clean energy technologies and focus on revenue generating energy delivery models. Inclusive Investment Pilot funds are not be available for technology research and development.
Eligible technologies include (but are 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).
Applicants could have been start-ups, operational enterprises or not-for-profit organisations. But funding will only support projects which are revenue generating, or have the potential to generate revenue.
Grantees must 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 may apply.
Projects must serve households, micro- and small-enterprises in the following refugee/IDP settlements:
- UGANDA – Kyaka II; Rwamwanja; Kyangwali; Nakivale; Rhino Camp; Kiryandongo; Bidibidi; Impevi; Palorinya; Palabek; Adjumani
- ETHIOPIA – Barahale; Aysaita; Sheder; Aw-barre; Kebribeyah; Melkadida; Helaweyn; Bokolmanyo; Kobe; Buramino
- KENYA – Kakuma-Kalobeyi Integrated Settlement
- Projects can serve both displaced people and host communities
Funding mechanisms – Inclusive Investment Pilot funding will be made available through three different products:
Product One – Enhancing group savings linked loans:
This funding is targeted towards refugee-led organisations who support Village Savings & Loan Associations and Saving Co-operatives (“Savings Groups”). Refugee-led organisations (the “Lead Applicant”) can use Inclusive Investment Pilot funds to match savings made by Savings Groups for them to purchase renewable energy or clean cooking products.
Loan disbursement, management and repayment will build on the existing Savings Group administration, and Savings Groups are expected to access and repay loans as per the Groups’ existing protocols. All capital repaid will be revolved for future lending with the existing Savings Group, or revolved by the Lead Applicant to provide loan matching to other Savings Groups.
Product One will provide funding in two tranches of £5,000 each, and anticipates an approximate ratio of 3 : 1 (Inclusive Investment Pilot funding : Group Savings).
Overheads up to a maximum 20% will be permitted within the overall grant amount
Product Two – Results-based funding:
This funding is targeted towards refugee-led organisations who support Village Savings & Loan Associations and Saving Co-operatives (“Savings Groups”). Refugee-led organisations (the “Lead Applicant”) can use Inclusive Investment Pilot funds to match savings made by Savings Groups for them to purchase renewable energy or clean cooking products.
Loan disbursement, management and repayment will build on the existing Savings Group administration, and Savings Groups are expected to access and repay loans as per the Groups’ existing protocols. All capital repaid will be revolved for future lending with the existing Savings Group, or revolved by the Lead Applicant to provide loan matching to other Savings Groups.
Product One will provide funding in two tranches of £5,000 each, and anticipates an approximate ratio of 3 : 1 (Inclusive Investment Pilot funding : Group Savings).
Overheads up to a maximum 20% will be permitted within the overall grant amount
Product Three – Revenue sharing repayable grant
This funding is targeted towards refugee-led organisations who support Village Savings & Loan Associations and Saving Co-operatives (“Savings Groups”). Refugee-led organisations (the “Lead Applicant”) can use Inclusive Investment Pilot funds to match savings made by Savings Groups for them to purchase renewable energy or clean cooking products.
Loan disbursement, management and repayment will build on the existing Savings Group administration, and Savings Groups are expected to access and repay loans as per the Groups’ existing protocols. All capital repaid will be revolved for future lending with the existing Savings Group, or revolved by the Lead Applicant to provide loan matching to other Savings Groups.
Product One will provide funding in two tranches of £5,000 each, and anticipates an approximate ratio of 3 : 1 (Inclusive Investment Pilot funding : Group Savings).
Overheads up to a maximum 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.