Catalyzing acceleration and support of the climate ecosystem

The CATAL1.5°T Initiative aims to boost investment 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
8 Countries
80 Climate Start-Ups
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Phase 1: 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 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 organization 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 program and operational capacity to ensure effective delivery of the envisaged activities. 

  • 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.). 

  • Basic written and spoken English competency.

 

24 November 2023 – Launch Open Call for ESOs

5 December 2023 – Info session in English – Register 

14 December2023 – Info session in French – Register

8 January 2023 – Deadline for Applications

29 January 2023 – Announcement of selected ESOs

March to May 2024 – Capacity Building and Co-Creation of ClimAccelerator Plans

 

To access the call document in English click here

To access the call document in French click here

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

Apply
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Phase 2: 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 80 ventures from the selected countries, providing them with professional resources, knowledge, and networks for a duration of six months to scale their climate solutions.

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

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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.