Local partners have a unique ability to bring a first-hand understanding of their market needs and context, which is crucial to tangible and lasting progress towards SDG7. However, among the challenges they face in bringing innovative solutions from concept to commercialisation, lack of access to finance is one of the most significant. Even when grant funding opportunities exist, many local partners may face additional challenges in developing competitive applications due to a lack of specialist training or experience within their teams.
To help overcome this challenge – as part of the Transforming Energy Access platform’s wider Local Partnership and Inclusion initiative, and building on successful experiences such as the Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) programme, which has funded an increasing proportion of local partners in each successive open call, TEA has launched a new support facility, delivered by EED Advisory. This aims to maximise the potential of local partners to successfully access grant funding – unlocking opportunities for them to drive impact in the markets they know best.