Renewable Energy Enterprise Development - Seed Capital Access Facility

Provides "patient" seed capital and enterprise development/assistance services to small rural enterprises engaging in providing energy services based on renewable energy. Enterprises’ services are for both household systems and productive uses (income generating activities). Project removes key barriers preventing new or existing enterprises from expanding their services with renewable energy. This approach has been successfully demonstrated over several years by E&Co of the U.S. in particular. This project builds on the E&Co model and on the existing “REED” (Renewable Energy Enterprise Development) initiatives by UNEP underway in Africa and starting in Brazil, funded through UN Foundation. Total project $23 m., GEF $8 m., bilateral agencies and banks $10 m., enterprise co-investments $5 m.