AfDB Opens $20 million Funding Call for Green Hydrogen Projects

The African Development Bank, through its Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), has announced a Call for Proposals under its newly introduced Green Hydrogen Programme, targeting private sector players across the continent.

The initiative, approved towards the end of 2025 with initial funding support from the German government, is designed to accelerate the development of green hydrogen and its derivative projects in Africa.

Under the programme, selected projects, estimated between three and five, will benefit from pre-investment financing of up to $20 million, subject to due diligence processes.

According to the bank, funding will be provided mainly as reimbursable grants aimed at supporting advisory services. These include feasibility studies, front-end engineering design, procurement preparation, construction planning, and transaction advisory services to help projects reach Final Investment Decision (FID) and financial close.

Speaking on the development, Dr. Daniel Schroth, Director of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the AfDB, noted that green hydrogen presents a significant opportunity for Africa.

He said the sector could play a key role in decarbonising hard-to-abate industries while fostering new industrial value chains and driving socio-economic growth across the continent.

Schroth added that the SEFA Green Hydrogen Programme is structured to bridge the gap between early-stage development and bankability, ensuring that projects meet the stringent requirements of emerging energy markets.

The application portal opens on April 10, 2026, at 09:30 GMT, while submissions will close on May 11, 2026, at 17:00 Abidjan time. Interested applicants are required to submit proposals via the SEFA website, where detailed eligibility criteria and application guidelines are also available.