Call for Proposals — 2026
SEFA Green Hydrogen Programme
The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), managed by the African Development Bank, invites eligible private sector entities to apply for pre-investment grant financing to support the development of commercially viable green hydrogen and derivatives projects in AfDB Regional Member Countries.
Total envelope
Up to US$20 million
Projects to fund
3 to 5 top-ranked
Application deadline
11 May 2026, 5pm Abidjan
About the programme
Green hydrogen — produced from renewable energy through electrolysis — is a clean fuel and feedstock with the potential to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors and create new economic opportunities across Africa. SEFA's Green Hydrogen Programme provides reimbursable grant financing to de-risk the pre-investment phase of projects that are technically viable, commercially structured, and ready to progress to Financial Close.
Funding is reimbursable at Financial Close and allocated across projects according to ranking and requirements.
Who can apply
Applications are open to private sector entities. All seven conditions below must be met.
1
Registered private sector entity involved in green hydrogen or derivatives value-chain activities — including project development, construction, production, industrial use, transportation, or agriculture.
2
Application covers at least one eligible activity: feasibility studies (excluding RE resource assessments alone), FEED, Detailed Engineering Studies, structuring of offtake or supply agreements, or transaction advisory.
3
Pre-feasibility studies and site/land acquisition have been completed.
4
Government endorsement, RE resource assessments, E&S permitting, relevant licensing, and commercial structuring are completed or actively in progress.
5
The project is located in an AfDB Regional Member Country.
6
Proven renewable energy resources — solar, wind, hydro, or geothermal — that can support green hydrogen or derivatives production.
7
Confirmed or secured access to land and water, and identified domestic and/or international offtake markets or supply-chain linkages.
What SEFA will fund
Feasibility studies (excluding standalone RE resource assessments)
Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) for RE generation, BESS, electrolysers, or desalination
Detailed Engineering Studies
Structuring of offtake or supply agreements
Transaction advisory services
How applications are assessed
Applications that pass the eligibility screen are ranked against the following criteria.
Technical readiness and project maturity
GHG reductions and climate impact
Local socio-economic impact — jobs, enterprise development, community benefits
Financial viability and additionality of SEFA support
Quality and specificity of the funding request
Strength of government endorsement and stakeholder engagement
Key dates
7 April 2026
Call for Proposals launched — application form live
20 April 2026, 5pm Abidjan
Deadline for questions and clarifications
11 May 2026, 5pm Abidjan
Application deadline — late submissions will not be considered
Confidentiality
All information submitted is treated as strictly confidential by AfDB and used solely for evaluating applications under this Call for Proposals. Applicants requiring a formal Non-Disclosure Agreement before submitting may download the NDA template from the application form.
Questions and clarifications: Send to
SEFA.APPLICATION@afdb.org by 20 April 2026. Responses to questions of general relevance may be published on this page.
