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The CATAL1.5°T Initiative aims to boost investments in early-stage climate tech ventures from West Africa including Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. To ensure long-lasting impact, this initiative strengthens climate tech networks within regional start-up and venture capital ecosystems. CATAL1.5°T is run by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in cooperation with EIT Climate-KIC and Investisseurs & Partenaires Entrepreneurs & Développement (IPED). 

The programme at a glance
8 Entrepreneurship Support Organisations - Per Cohort
8 Countries
40 Climate Start-Ups - Per Cohort
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Pre-Phase: Capacity building for Entrepreneurship Support Organisations (ESOs)

Eight ESOs will be selected for an intensive capacity building programme, focusing on key topics like Climate Mitigation, Impact Assessment, System Transformation, Adaptation & Resilience and Gender Equality & Diversity. This initiative aims to enhance their ability to support climate ventures and empower them to play a more active role in their local entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems, contributing to the acceleration of regional climate mitigation technologies.

Open Call Documents

ENG Open Call for ESOs West Africa CATAL1.5T
ENG Open Call for ESOs West Africa CATAL1.5T
FR Open Call for ESOs West Africa CATAL1.5T
FR Open Call for ESOs West Africa CATAL1.5T

Open Call for Entrepreneurship Support Organisations

We invite all Entrepreneurship Support Organisations (ESOs) that wish to initiate or deepen their involvement in addressing climate change by supporting start-ups focused on mitigating carbon emissions. This invitation extends to incubators, accelerators, start-up associations, chambers of commerce, entrepreneurship or business creation units at universities or research institutes, or any other organisation with a core focus on supporting early-stage ventures develop business ideas.

Female-led entrepreneurship support organisations are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

Programme benefits

  • Expert knowledge & training to elevate your involvement in climate innovation.

  • Collaboration & networking to engage with like-minded organisations.

  • Visibility & recognition as a key partner in our regional network.

  • Investor network and potential funding that can help scale the impact of your organisation.

Eligible countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo.

 

Minimum requirements:

  • Formally registered organisations in one of the eight West African countries.

  • The ESO has been active in the entrepreneurship support market for at least the last two years.

  • The ESO can demonstrate commitment to the programme and operational capacity to ensure effective delivery of the envisaged activities.

  • The ESO has a need for funding and requires funding up to EUR 40,000 to carry out ClimateTech start-up support programs.

  • The products/services offered by the ESOs in the market must serve the public interest in line with GIZ guidelines (Environment, Climate, Public Goods, Social Benefits, Employment Creation, Poverty Reduction, etc.).

  • None of the ESO activities fall under the IFC exclusion list.

  • Basic written and spoken English competency.

 

4 March 2024 – Launch Open Call for ESOs

13 March 2024 at 11AM CET – Info session in English – Register 

14 March 2024 at 11AM CET – Info session in French – Register

2 April 2024 at 12:00 CET, Noon – Deadline for Applications

3-30 April 2024 – Evaluation of applications and interviews

3 May 2023 – Announcement of selected ESOs

2-24 May 2023 –Due diligence and contracting

27-31 May 2024 – Expected starting week of planned activities

 

Contact If you have any questions, please send them to catalist@climate-kic.org. 

 

Preview the application questions before initiating your application with the ‘Apply’ button:

Application form questions in English, click here.
Application form questions in Français, click here.

Apply
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Phase 1: Pre-Accelerator Programme

Four to five ESOs will be selected to run the Pre-Climaccelerator programme, aimed at supporting climate ventures at the pre-seed stage. This programme will help further develop their climate solutions and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). It plans to onboard at least 40 ventures from selected countries, providing them with professional resources, knowledge, and networks. Each cohort, lasting three to four months, will focus on scaling their climate solutions.

A second cohort for the pre-accelerator programme is expected in July 2024, focusing on new climate innovations.

Successful start-ups will progress to Phase 2, managed by GIZ via an external contractor, for advanced training, mentoring, and financial support to refine their business models and amplify their impact. Phase 2 is not run by the initially selected ESOs.

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Ongoing: Accelerator Programme

Over a span of three years, it will scale up to 30 ventures, ensuring they are well-positioned for growth and market impact. This initiative operates on a rolling basis, allowing for continuous intake and support of ventures as they reach pivotal stages in their development.

Our funding partners

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The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the world’s largest dedicated climate fund. GCF’s mandate is to foster a paradigm shift towards low emission, climate resilient development pathways in developing countries. GCF has a portfolio of projects and programmes across more than 100 countries. It also has a readiness support programme to build capacity and help countries develop long-term plans to fight climate change. GCF is an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and serves the 2015 Paris Agreement, supporting the goal of keeping average global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius.

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The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is responsible for German development policy within the federal government. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) form the framework for their actions in accordance with the United Nations and the Paris Climate Agreement.