Applications are now open for USAID Household Solar Workforce Development Challenge with upto $350,000 in award prize. The challenge will award up to $350,000 in grant funding to support scalable, innovative, third-party training solutions to the off-grid solar home system sector’s workforce needs in sub-Saharan Africa.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the ResilientAfrica Network (RAN) have launched a call for proposals under the Household Solar Workforce Development Challenge, as part of the Scaling Off-Grid Energy Grand Challenge for Development (SOGE).

Moreover, SOGE seeks to accelerate growth in the off-grid solar home system market to provide millions of households and businesses across sub-Saharan Africa with access to modern, clean, and affordable electricity. However, talent acquisition and retention for off-grid solar home system companies remains an ongoing industry challenge, limiting
enterprise growth and the sector’s capacity to scale and mature as an industry.

USAID Household Solar Workforce Development Challenge

Third-party organizations that focus on training workers for the off-grid solar home system sector offer a viable, and potentially more efficient and effective workforce development solution, but are not yet widely supported or utilized.

The specific objectives of this funding window are to identify and support scalable, innovative, third-party training solutions to the off-grid solar home system sector’s workforce needs in sub-Saharan Africa.

Prizes

The prize of USAID Household Solar Workforce Development Challenge is as follows:

• The selected organizations will receive awards ranging from USD 100,000 to USD 350,000 for project implementation over the course of one year, subject to the availability of funding.

Eligibility

• The call is open to for-profit and nonprofit organizations, social enterprises, programs under academic institutions and non-government organizations (NGOs) with capabilities and programs in energy workforce development and capacity building that are ready to scale.
• Likewise, this call seeks third-party training providers with features including initiatives that train management staff, technicians, or sales agents for the off-grid solar home system sector.
• Similarly, solar home system companies seeking to build out in-house training capabilities exclusively focused on their own employees/staff will not be considered.
• Companies engaging in training individuals for employment throughout the sector (i.e. trainees are then suitable for hire by multiple companies) are eligible.
• Joint proposals by two or more applicants are welcome.
• Applicants may also submit proposals that include individual consultants, non-profit organizations, and industry

How to apply for USAID Household Solar Workforce Development Challenge?

All applicants apply online through the official website.