WASCAL Innovative Ideas Competition for Sustainable Energy (WISE) 2025 | up to €20,000

Job Description

Applications are now open for the WASCAL Innovative Ideas Competition for Sustainable Energy (WISE) 2025.
With funding support from the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) is seeking innovative short-term projects, development ideas, and research concepts that use renewable energy and green hydrogen to tackle West Africa’s energy challenges while promoting sustainable development.

🌱 Focus Areas
Project ideas should centre on renewable energy and green hydrogen, and may be linked to (but not limited to) the following themes:
• Renewable energy solutions
• Green hydrogen technologies
• Green mobility
• Energy access and services through renewables
• Biomass / waste-to-energy solutions
• Energy–Water–Food Nexus innovations
• Productive uses of renewable energy in rural areas
• Thematic trainings, conferences, workshops, and awareness campaigns
• Energy efficiency solutions
• Women’s and girls’ empowerment in the renewable energy sector
• Renewable energy for socio-economic development and value creation in rural areas
• Innovative business models for energy technologies and services

💶 Grant Details
• Maximum grant per project: €20,000
• Project duration: Up to 15 months

✅ Eligibility
This call is open to:
1. Young West Africans
Individuals or groups (students, academics, practitioners, scientists, technologists, entrepreneurs, associations, etc.) from any ECOWAS country:
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo.
o A bank account is required.
2. Associations / Organisations
o Must be legally registered in a West African country
o Must have a local bank account in the association/organisation’s name

📄 Application Requirements
Your submission package must include:
• Completed and signed application form
🔗 Download here: https://wascal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WISE-grant-application-form.docx
• Endorsement letter from the applicant’s institution/organisation
• CV of the applicant(s)
• Certificate of registration (for associations/organisations)
• A full proposal (not just a concept note)
All documents must:
• Be sent via email to: 📧 application.wise@wascal.org
• Be in PDF format
• Be written in English or French

⏰ Deadline
📅 31 December 2025
⏱ 11:59 pm (GMT+00)
Late applications will not be considered.