Organisation: WASCAL (West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use)
Period: 1st November – 31st December 2025
Grant Value: Up to €20,000 per project
Geographical Scope: West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo)

About the Call

WASCAL aims to tackle climate change in West Africa by enhancing resilience in human and environmental systems. Through its Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen Coordination, WASCAL champions renewable energy and green hydrogen projects, policies, capacity-building initiatives, and pilot projects across the region.

The WISE competition targets young innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and associations to develop innovative projects, research ideas, and business models in renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies.

Objectives

Overall: Support the implementation of innovative projects in renewable energy (RE) and green hydrogen (GH2) in West Africa.

Specific objectives include:

• Improve electricity access through RE and GH2 innovations

• Promote rural and peri-urban development via renewable energy systems

• Develop innovative solutions for community energy needs

• Positively impact livelihoods through sustainable energy solutions

Eligibility

Eligible applicants:

• Individuals or groups of young people (students, academics, entrepreneurs, technologists, associations) in West Africa with a bank account

• Associations/organizations legally registered in a West African country with a local bank account

Project focus areas may include:

• Renewable energy solutions (solar, wind, hydro, biomass)

• Green hydrogen technologies and applications

• Green mobility and energy efficiency

• Energy access, water-food-energy nexus, and rural productive uses

• Awareness, training, and capacity-building initiatives

• Women and girls’ empowerment in energy

• Innovative business models for energy technologies

Grant Details

• Maximum funding: €20,000 per project

• Duration: Up to 15 months

• Eligible expenses: Operational costs, travel, procurement, project-related training

• Ineligible expenses: Administrative costs, taxes, debt service, in-kind contributions, land/building purchases, institutional overheads

Fund disbursement:

• Initial transfer after contract signing

• Subsequent payments based on technical and financial reports

Application Process

• Proposal submission: Full project proposals via email to application.wise@wascal.org in PDF format (English or French) by 31st December 2025, 11:59 PM GMT

• Required documents:

  • Completed and signed application form

  • Endorsement letter from institution/organization

  • CVs of applicants

  • Certificate of registration (for associations/organizations)

• Joint proposals are allowed but applicants cannot submit both individually and as part of a group

Evaluation Criteria

1. Eligibility check – submission deadline, documents, and eligibility criteria

2. Technical assessment

   • Relevance to WASCAL objectives

   • Originality and innovation

   • Expected impact and contribution

   • Sustainability and long-term viability

   • Applicant qualifications and capacity

3. Financial assessment – detailed, realistic, and justified budget

Project Implementation & Monitoring

• Selected applicants receive clarification meetings and sign contracts

• Monitoring and evaluation include periodic reports, site visits, and technical supervision

• Deliverables:

  • Technical and financial reports at milestones

  • Prototypes, models, business plans, or research outputs

  • Scientific publications acknowledging WASCAL and BMFTR

  • Patent ownership shared with WASCAL if applicable

Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement by Agri-web. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the official WASCAL website for complete program details and verified application instructions. Applicants should exercise due diligence before submitting any personal or sensitive information.