CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSAL: UNIDO GEF 5 Project on promoting the use of small to medium scale renewable energy systems in the productive sectors of the gambia

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is planning a project entitled: “Greening the productive sectors in Gambia: Promoting the use and integration of small and medium scale renewable energy systems in the productive sectors”, under the 5th Global Environment Facility (GEF) funding cycle. The project will be executed by the ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) with the support of the Ministry of Energy of the Gambia.

GEF is an international partnership comprised of 183 countries jointly working with development institutions, the private sector and civil society groups to tackle national and global environmental issues.  Since joining the GEF, the Gambia has received a total of US$ 19,869,082 in grants, leveraging US$ 65,128,546 in co-financing resources for 15 national projects, of which six were projects in climate change, five projects in biodiversity, two in multifocal areas, and one each on land degradation and persistent organic pollutants.

The upcoming UNIDO GEF 5 project is a follow-up to the ongoing UNIDO GEF 4 project which provided grants to project promoters for the deployment of renewable energy in the Gambia. The new GEF 5 project will build upon this, co-financing three projects that demonstrate the techno-economic feasibility of renewable energy technologies in income generating activities.

UNIDO is therefore calling for renewable energy project proposals that meet the following criteria:

1. Demonstration projects must be implemented in the Gambia.
2. Renewable energy projects which either generate electricity or off-set electricity demand on the grid are eligible. B) In areas not yet connected to the grid, the project must show that when the locality becomes electrified the GEF project has the potential to off-set the demand on the grid.
3. Projects should be between 20 kW and 500 kW (electrical capacity or the equivalent thermal capacity).
4. Demonstration projects should demonstrate a replicable approach to renewable energy.
5. A significant proportion of the electricity or heat (at least 50%) must be dedicated for productive uses or sold to the grid, in situations that apply (see 2b).
6. Productive uses encompass any income generating enterprise or industry.
7. Demonstration projects must be able to show that they are commercially viable.
8. Projects should demonstrate a strong incorporation of women as target beneficiaries. 
9. Private enterprises are encouraged to participate in the project.
10. Economic pay back for the projects should be within 5 years.
11. The project beneficiary must be able to demonstrate availability of co-finance of between 60% to 85% of total costs,  depending on the GEF grant available.
12. Eligible co-finance includes equity, debt, cash, land, equipment and personnel.  Co-finance is only eligible if clearly identified with the project and spent at the time of the project implementation.
13. The plant design and the quality of equipment and the operation (maintenance) must ensure a plant life time of at least 15 years.
14. The project beneficiaries should apply for the project on a voluntary basis.
15. The organizations should be able to provide the complete set of legally required documentation for any project permitting or licensing by the Government.
16. The beneficiaries should have the management and technical capability to run the project.
17. The beneficiaries should have a good economic basis, the capacity to repay loans, provide the required security and the required contribution.
18. Total assets must be larger than the total liabilities.
19. The project should be able to be viewed and visited by others so that it acts as a true demonstration project.
20. All proposed projects must show environmental benefits as compared to using alternate conventional energy sources.
21. The project should have no secondary pollution.
22. Beneficiaries should not infringe on nature reserves.
23. Any project emissions have to be controlled according to local environmental legislation.

For information on how to submit your project proposal, kindly send your inquiries to unidogef5@ecreee.org or visit the GEF Project Management Office at the Gambian Renewable Energy Centre (GREC), Behind GTTI, TK Motors Road, Kanifing. Submission of proposals will be open until 30 June 2014.