ECREEE, with the financial support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Co-operation (AECID), is calling for concept notes for grant support through the ECOWAS Facility for Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Access (ECOW-GEN Facility).

This special call is focused on supporting local civil society organisations (CSOs), women and community-based groups and associations (including youth organisations). Therefore, the project's concept notes should be conducted by local communities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Objectives

The specific objectives are:

• Increasing women's productivity levels in agricultural practices by increasing the use of renewable energy technologies;
• Building the capacities of women farmers to use and maintain clean energy technologies;
• Raising awareness and educating the public about the use of renewable energy for poverty eradication at the household level and, more broadly, for rural development.

Focus Areas

• Energy efficiency improvements;
• Lighting (green electricity);
• Electricity for powering equipment used for productive activities;
• Heat for productive activities including agricultural purposes, etc.

Financing Information

• The selected projects will receive grants ranging from 30,000 dollars to 50,000 euros per project.

Prioritised project criteria

It is important to note that applications will also be prioritised against certain additional priority criteria, namely:

• The project must demonstrate that the grant will be additional in contributing to women's economic empowerment by increasing employment and self-employment opportunities for women, especially those living below the poverty line.
• The project should be market-oriented, producing services for both rural and urban markets, and should support the development of the local labour market and improve employment opportunities and skills development.
• Project proposals must describe a sustainability strategy that guarantees that the project will continue to provide benefits for poverty eradication and women's empowerment even after the grant has been awarded.
• Project proposals should demonstrate how the community will be involved from the start to the final implementation of the project, in particular the role of men in project activities. Emphasis should be placed on demonstrating how the project benefits the entire community.
• The proposal must demonstrate practical and immediate results that the project will offer in the short term, for example increased income or greater availability of resources.
• Proposals should integrate elements aimed at facilitating the monitoring and evaluation of gender-responsive results.
• Proposals must show how the approaches and activities developed in the project are adapted to the needs of the beneficiaries, especially women.
• A significant proportion of the heat or electricity generated from renewable energy technology should be dedicated to income-generating activities.
• Projects for the "economic empowerment of women through energy for productive uses" are projects that lead to an increase in women's income levels and decision-making capacity.
• Projects must have a clear management structure, including structures for the operation and maintenance of the renewable energy installation.
• The projects must be seen and visited by others so that they act as a real demonstration project.
• Projects must fulfil environmental requirements and not infringe on nature reserves.

Criteria

All applications will be subject to the following criteria that must be met:

• Sectoral or strategic adjustment: The project falls within the priority areas considered by the ECOW-GEN Centre.
• Impact on development: The project improves the quality of life of the local population.
• Regional priority: The authorities (e.g. government ministries, traditional leaders, etc.) are aware of and support the project as a contributor to the country's development goals and agenda.
• Institutional capacity: Currently, the project must have the capacity or must have credible plans to add capacity for project management and implementation.
• Gender response: The project must demonstrate its gender responsiveness, specifying how the proposal has been designed with
  
  the intention of addressing gender inequalities or inequities and/or harnessing gender benefits.

For more information, visit http://www.ecreee.org/procurement/call-project-concept-notes-womens-economic-empowerment-through-energy-productive-uses