In a push to accelerate renewable energy deployment across Africa, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) invites project developers active in member countries to submit their project proposals ahead of the second APRA Investment Forum in Freetown, Sierra Leone, scheduled for October 20-23, 2025. Submissions must be made under the Climate Investment Platform (CIP) or the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing (ETAF) Platform by August 31, 2025.

IRENA will help selected projects by preparing their project documents and organising meetings with potential funders both during and beyond the Investment Forum. This initiative supports the continent’s ambitious clean energy transition goals, building on the momentum from the inaugural forum held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2024.

Eligible Project Categories

The forum welcomes a diverse range of renewable energy initiatives:

• Renewable energy projects (on-grid, off-grid, centralised and decentralised distribution)
• Grid infrastructure projects integrated with renewable energy generation
• E-Mobility
• Green industrialisation projects
• Renewable energy supply chain development
• Critical minerals and materials for renewable energy technologies
• Biofuels

How to Apply

To qualify for the CIP, projects must be beyond the conceptual stage and align with sustainable development goals and national climate action priorities. Meanwhile, ETAF caters to larger-scale projects requiring substantial capital investment, with criteria including completed feasibility studies and financing readiness.

Climate Investment Platform (CIP)

The CIP is a joint initiative of IRENA, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), in collaboration with the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The CIP seeks to enhance capital mobilization and impact investing in renewable energy in developing countries.

Eligibility Criteria for CIP:

• Supports clean energy transition and national climate goals.
• Be beyond the conceptual stage, with pre-feasibility or preliminary studies completed.

How to Submit:

Energy Transition Accelerator Financing (ETAF) Platform

ETAF provides financing support for large-scale, investment-ready renewable energy projects, backed by over USD 4 billion in committed resources from 14 global financing, investment and de-risking partners

• Capital expenditure requirements of at least USD 25 million for private or Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and USD 10 million for public sector projects
• A readiness level that includes a completed feasibility study, grid availability, offtake agreements, and financing readiness.

How to Submit:

What Makes a Strong Proposal

Based on insights from current CIP and ETAF project pipelines, investors tend to favor projects that

• Present a sustainable business model with positive cash flow potential
• Demonstrate significant positive environmental and social development impacts supported with necessary studies
• Have a completed feasibility study
• Show a secured project site and necessary land permits
• Include preliminary agreements with creditworthy off-takers
• Reflect a meaningful equity contribution from the project developers.

Submit your proposal to the CIP or ETAF by August 31, 2025, for an opportunity to showcase your project at the Forum. For more information, contact cip@irena.org or view our webinars online CIP and ETAF.

About APRA

APRA aims to create robust project pipelines that enhance energy access, enable green industrialisation, and strengthen economic resilience across African nations. An African country-led international partnership, APRA brings together governments and stakeholders committed to renewable energy transformation. Current members include Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe, alongside founding partners Denmark, Germany, UAE, and the United States with IRENA and UNOPS fulfilling the role of secretariat.

Contribute to the APRA countries clean energy transition by submitting a bankable renewable energy project today. For more information on APRA, please visit https://www.aprafrica.org/.