United Nations has called on
businesses, governments, and
civil society to achieve Sustainable
Energy for All by 2030
EAPN Newsletter – May 2015 — Funding Opportunities
Funding Opportunities
C3E Award Nominations Open
The U.S. Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Awards honor mid-career leadership and achievement—and boost recipients’ careers. Awards are given in eight categories: Advocacy, Business, Education, Entrepreneurship, Government, International, Law & Finance, and Research. Each winner will receive $8,000 and national recognition. Submit nominations by June 1, 2015 at www.C3Eawards.org.
Lending opportunities via Agora Partnerships
Agora Partnerships has announced an exciting new lending venture with Kiva to provide entrepreneurs solving social and environmental challenges with access to the financing they need to grow their businesses. Their very first lending opportunity on the Kiva platform is Aflore, a 2014 Agora Accelerator Alumni. Through Kiva, Agora Partnerships will be able to directly provide loans to companies it supports through the accelerator program. Agora entrepreneurs raising money on the KIVA platform will only receive the loan when the full amount has been funded. Agora Partnerships provide entrepreneurs who are intentionally building businesses that solve social and environmental challenges in Latin America with the resources they need to grow.
EU unveils private equity fund to invest in African energy
The EU has unveiled plans to partner up with a Paris-based private equity firm to invest in energy companies across Sub-Saharan Africa. The EU-backed Electricity Access Fund, which will be directed by Astor Capital Partners, a Paris-based private equity firm, plans to invest up to €55m in around 20 businesses over five years, with investments ranging between €500,000 to €3 million.
The Electricity Access Ventures Fund, directed by a private equity firm, will invest in 20 small- and medium-sized companies that provide energy-related products and services.
Call for Applications: Zayed Future Energy Prize
The Zayed Future Energy Prize represents the vision of the Late Founding Father and President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, who championed environmental stewardship. This annual award celebrates achievements that reflect impact, innovation, long-term vision and leadership in renewable energy and sustainability. The prize was increased in 2012 totaling US$4 million, making it the world’s largest annual prize purse in renewable energy and sustainability. Applications are due by June 22, 2015.
