USAID/Colombia Special Call | Energy for Peace (E4P): Energy Transition for PDETs

USAID/Colombia is making a special call for the submission of concepts focused on implementing, co-financing, and sustainably operating an activity to support the energy transition for municipalities located in areas under the Rural Development Plan with Territorial Approach (PDET).

Energy for Peace (E4P): Energy Transition for PDETs supports the planning, building, operation, and transfer of sustainable solar energy projects in conflict-affected communities in support of the peace accords. Energy Transition for PDETs aligns with U.S. and Colombian government energy transition efforts, aiming to provide clean energy to promote economic growth and development in select PDET communities. More specifically, the activity seeks to strengthen the production, quality, incomes, and wellbeing of existing production clusters and their communities through the introduction of abundant and low-cost renewable energy and strengthening markets for their goods and services.

Objectives

• The specific objective(s) of this GDA Addendum are to:

  • Provide reliable and financially sustainable electricity to producer clusters in the nine selected PDET communities.

  • Improve economic, environmental, and social conditions for increased production, producers’ incomes, and a stable peace in the target communities.

  • Leverage private sector capital to invest in, build, and operate the solar mini grids in the nine selected PDET communities, thus demonstrating a model that can be scaled to more unserved communities.

Studies

• USAID/Colombia has funded and carried out the pre-feasibility studies for the portfolio of nine PDET mini-grid sites. These pre-feasibility studies included:

  • energy demand studies;

  • solar generation designs; and

  • budgets and financial analyses of each site in the portfolio USAID/Colombia has worked closely with the nine selected communities to determine their energy needs, and to identify key aspects of the solar energy designs.

Solicitation

• Through this GDA, USAID/Colombia seeks to engage the private sector to co-create, cofinance, operate and implement nine solar energy sites through creative, market-based approaches. The solar energy solutions will provide select PDET municipalities with access to renewable energy for development and social wellbeing and will make energy available to a range of value chains including nature tourism, dairy, honey, coconut, cocoa, coffee, and fishing. As evidence demonstrates, access to abundant, low-cost energy will increase productivity, quality, connectivity to markets, and incomes. Solar generation will also provide electricity for internet services, health centers, schools, and public lighting.

• This GDA APS addendum seeks to engage investors and private sector partners whose businesses are equipped to implement and operate the portfolio of nine E4P solar generation sites. USAID/Colombia welcomes consortia composed of local and/or international private sector entities. Concepts must mobilize and leverage private sector resources at a level that equals and preferably exceeds the level of resources allocated by USAID/Colombia. This engagement will support specific activities that contribute to the achievement of the following E4P: Energy Transition for PDETs objectives:

  • Mobilize private sector capital and operating capacity into the nine solar energy deployments to supply the productive clusters and their communities with clean energy.

  • Co-create and finalize the design of the solar installations, building on preliminary designs and pre-feasibility studies included in the “Masterplan” and “Virtual Data Room” included as Annexes 1 and 3 of this document.

  • Co-create and implement capacity building and investment incubation programs for the local producer clusters with the purpose of increasing productivity, enhancing incomes, ensuring capacity to pay for energy, and improving social well-being.

  • Supply the required levels of renewable energy to the production clusters and their communities in a reliable and sustainable way during the useful life of the project solar power plants.

  • Create conditions and opportunities for viable productive activities led by women and indigenous peoples.

• The objectives represent USAID/Colombia’s goals but are not meant to limit applicant creativity, and partners may put forward innovative ideas that are complementary to achieving the desired development results. However, the specific result(s) that the alliance will pursue in relation to the objectives must be explicitly stated in the submitted concept. USAID/Colombia will prioritize innovative, cost-effective, market and private sector driven concepts and proposals that support the advancement and effective implementation and operation of the stated in the Energy Transition for PDETs GDA objectives.

Funding Information

• Award Ceiling: $6,500,000

• Award Floor: $500,000