-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Grant Competition: Lighting Africa Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:23:00 +0300 From: kmuthembwa@worldbank.org To: undisclosed-recipients:; Dear Colleague, I would like to draw your attention to an announcement (below) of a grant competition entitled ?Innovations in Off-Grid Lighting Products and Services for Africa". You are invited to participate if it is relevant, but if not, kindly display and/ distribute it to as many people as possible. Please note that the deadline is 30th October 2007. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Embedded image moved to file: pic18238.jpg) The World Bank Group and its partners are pleased to announce a Development Marketplace (DM) competition for the design and delivery of low cost, high quality, non-fossil fuel-based lighting products targeting low income consumers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The DM is part of the broader Lighting Africa program managed by the World Bank Group which seeks to reach 250 million customers with modern, affordable lighting by 2030. The grant competition entitled ?Innovations in Off-Grid Lighting Products and Services for Africa" will reward project ideas that address the various off-grid lighting needs of Sub-Saharan Africa, including alternative distribution models, new clean lighting technology, stronger production chains, and improvement of the policy environment. Ten to 20 winners will receive grant funding up to $200,000. The competition is open to a broad range of innovators around the world, including private businesses, nongovernmental organizations, universities, government entities, and individuals. Lead sponsors include the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program, the Global Environment Facility, and the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility. Other supporters include Good Energies Inc., the Governments of Norway and Luxembourg, and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership. The deadline for submitting proposals is 23:00 GMT on October 31, 2007. (See attached file: DM Competition_Brochure_English.pdf) For more information on how to apply, visit the Lighting Africa Web site at: http://www.lightingafrica.org