The French Agency for Development (AFD) Digital Energy Challenge for African Start-ups 2026

Published: May 02, 2026
Deadline: Ongoing
Category: Entrepreneurs
Eligible Locations: Nigeria Africa

Applications are currently being accepted for The French Agency for Development (AFD) Digital Energy Challenge for African Start-ups 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.

About AFD Digital Energy Challenge for African Start-ups

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

Sponsor Organisation: The French Agency for Development (AFD)

Benefits of AFD Digital Energy Challenge for African Start-ups

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

AFD Digital Energy Challenge for African Start-ups 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.

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.