Application Deadline: 17th June 2026 – 23:59 CET
Applications are now open for the 2026 French Agency for Development (AFD) Digital Energy Challenge. The 2026 Digital Energy Challenge Call for Projects invites innovative SMEs to apply in one or both of the following categories
- Partnership for a collaborative project in Nigeria, developed with the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC)
- Tech Accelerator for innovative digital projects in one of the 51 specified countries in Africa
Requirements
The 2026 Call for Projects is open to innovative SMEs that:
- Employ fewer than 250 people and have a turnover of less than €50M
- Are independent (ownership criteria apply)*
- Have a strong R&D component*
- Have no conflict of interest with AEDC
While companies from around the world are invited to apply, proposals from local African companies are strongly encouraged and will receive favourable consideration.
Project eligibility
Projects must:
- Be digital by nature (software, data, telecom, cloud-based technology etc.)
- Demonstrate innovation (new or adapted to local context)
- Include a clear R&D dimension
- Address the 2026 thematic priorities
- Be beyond ideation stage (already piloted)
- Be implementable within 12 months
- Not depend on regulatory changes
Additional criteria:
- Tech Accelerator: the project must take place in an eligible African country (see list below).
- Partnership: the project must take place in Nigeria with AEDC
ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES
The Digital Energy Challenge Call for Projects 2026 supports projects in the following countries:
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Benefits
A total budget of €827K will be allocated to selected projects to develop, test and implement innovative digital and AI-enabled solutions.
Winners benefit from:
- Grants to contribute to costs for equipment, software, products or services and training, as well as expert support for project management.
- Up to €400K (Partnership)
- Up to €150K (Tech Accelerator)
- Expert support and bootcamp for hand-on guidance, sector insights and collaboration opportunities between project winners and African utilities
- Visibility and networking through communication campaigns piloted by AFD and access to the Digital Energy Community
Application Timeline:
- 20th April 2026: Call for projects opens
- 5th May 2026: Information webinar Register for the webinar
- 17th June 2026 – 23:59 CET: Deadline for submission of applications
- Autumn 2026: Selection results and bootcamp
Themes
The themes of the two categories are structured around three priority areas that represent common challenges for AEDC and several African utilities: optimizing planning and investments, integrating data from mini-grids, and improving network operations. In this context, the selected themes are:
- Product 1: Grid Planning and Investment Optimization
- Product 2: Microgrid and DER Management Platform
- Product 3: Data Platform and Integrated Network Visibility
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the French Agency for Development (AFD) Digital Energy Challenge
