Rules and regulations - Call for applications

Social & Inclusive Business Camp - East Africa Energy Transition

Article 1 – Presentation of the programme

Created in 2017 by the Agence Française de Développement, AFD, the Social & Inclusive Business Camp (SIBC) brings together and supports entrepreneurs with a positive impact in Africa (social, environmental, inclusion...) to prepare for their scale-up phase. More than just a training course, the SIBC brings together an active and dynamic community of entrepreneurs who are agents of change, and thus promotes networking, collective intelligence and peer-to-peer sharing.

All information about the Social & Inclusive Business Camp is available on the website www.socialbusinesscamp.fr

Article 2 – Purpose of the Call for Applications

The purpose of the call for applications is to select the entrepreneurs who will form the cohort participating in the SIBC East Africa Energy Transition program.

The selection of candidates will be carried out by the French Development Agency (AFD) :

Agence Française de Développement, RCS PARIS B 775 665 599. Adress : 5 rue Roland Barthes, 75598 Paris Cedex 12, represented by Campus Groupe AFD.

Eligibility requirements for applicants:
Applicants must:

Hold a high-responsibility position within the organization with which they are applying;
Belong to an organization legally registered in one of the following countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda;
Belong to an organization that has been active for at least 3 years;
Demonstrate a balanced business model or a medium-term profitability objective;
Demonstrate proven social and environmental impact in the field of Energy Transition in East Africa;
Present a clear willingness to scale (nationally and/or internationally), with a strategy to maximize positive impacts;
Belong to an organization that promotes inclusive governance, emphasizing diversity and the representation of women or other underrepresented profiles.

The following are not eligible for the program:

Individual applications (without a legally registered organization);
Structures less than 3 years old;
Structures that do NOT have a clearly demonstrated social and environmental mission in the field of energy transition;
Structures that do NOT present an economic model or income generation, or that rely solely on grants;
Public and semi-public bodies.
Structures at the project stage (without first revenues, prototype or proof of concept)

Participation in the call for applications is free of charge.

To submit their application, candidates must complete and validate, by November 30, 2025 at 11:59 pm (CET – France time), the online application form available on the Wiin platform for the SIBC: https://afd.wiin.io/fr/applications/sibc-energytransition-eastafrica.

Deadline has been extended to January 26th 2026.

AFD reserves the right to close the call for applications before the set deadline once at least 150 eligible applications have been received.

For further information, a FAQ is available to address the main questions, and applicants can also contact the program by email at sibc.programme@gmail.com.

Article 3 – Calendar

October 17th – January 11th : Application period
January 26th 2026 (11:59 pm UTC+2 = EAT): Application deadline (extended)
January 25th – January 30th : Application review and selection
February 2nd : Announcement of selected participants
February : Program kick-off
Mid- May 2026: Bootcamp in Nairobi, Kenya

We recommend that applicants ensure they can be available in the first second quarter of 2026 for the bootcamp in Nairobi.

In any case, the schedule is subject to change by the program organisers in case of major events or events beyond the control of the organisers. In this case, these changes will be made known to the public and to the applicants on the call for applications platform, or to the selected participants if the event occurs after the closure of the call for applications.

Article 4 - Terms of participation

Only natural persons can participate in the Social & Inclusive Business Camp.

Applicants, also referred to as "project leaders" or “applicants”, represent their structure and must be founders, co-founders, managers or at least in a position to take strategic and operational decisions for the structure.

Applicants for the call for applications must meet the eligibility criteria and obligations set out in the present rules and regulations.

Article 5 – Description of the selection process

To participate in the program, the applicant must:

· Complete the application form with questions about the project leader, the structure, the project, its impact and its scaling strategy.

· Tick the box relating to his or her commitment to actively participate in the entire programme.

· Provide evidence of legal registration of the structure.

· Provide the structure's financial statements for the last three years.

· Provide the detailed CV of the project leader.

Applications completed by applicants to the programme as well as the deliberations of the juries are confidential. Persons having to know the contents of the applications are bound by the strictest professional secrecy.

The organisers have the right to refuse incomplete applications.

The organisers and juries associated with the programme cannot be held legally responsible for the protection of ideas, patents, files, models or trademarks invented by the candidates.

Application review process:

A first review by the organizers to identify eligible applications and reject non-compliant ones;
A second review and scoring of eligible applications by jury members, based on pre-established evaluation criteria;
Eligible and scored applications are presented to a selection committee that validates the final cohort. The selection committee is led by the Agence Française de Développement, which chooses its members from among the programme's partners.

Organizers reserve the right to contact applicants whose submissions lack clarity, in order to request additional information.

Indicative evaluation criteria include (non-exhaustive list):

Innovative nature of the proposed solution;
Business model potential and scaling strategy;
Social and environmental impact and contribution to the Energy Transition.

Article 6 - Applications

The application form is available on https://afd.wiin.io/fr/applications/sibc2026-energyeastafrica from October 17th to November 30rd, 2025. The Campus Group AFD reserves the right to close the call for applications before the official deadline, depending on the number of applications received. The call for applications will close upon receiving 150 eligible applications or by November 30th, 2025, at the latest.

Application forms must be completed online starting October 17 at 12:00 pm (GMT+2). The application deadline might be extended in case of insufficient number of applications.

Deadline has been extended to January 26th 2026.

Applications are only accepted in English.

Once a candidate account is created, applicants may log back into their application at any time until final submission. Only complete applications will be considered.

Application files must be fully completed and include all required documents (proof of legal registration, financial statements, detailed CV of the project leader). Any incomplete application will be rejected and therefore not validated. Applications will be transmitted to jury members.

If you choose to fill out the form manually, you must ensure that all responses are clear and legible.

Eligible applications will be compiled into a dossier and presented to the selection committee, which will choose the final cohort. To ensure maximum objectivity, applications will be evaluated twice before final scores are consolidated.

Article 7 - Verification of Application Eligibility

The eligibility of applications is validated by the program organisers based on the information submitted through the online form and the supporting documents.

Article 8 - Evaluation of Applications

The quality of each application is evaluated by panels of examiners invited by AFD, who will have access to the content of the online forms but not the supporting documents. Each application will be reviewed by several examiners who will each assign a score, based on three evaluation criteria: Innovation, Impact, and Development Potential. The examiners will likely be a mix of AFD Group staff, experts, actors from entrepreneurial ecosystems in Africa, and program alumni.

Article 9 – Selection Committee

The committee will be chaired by AFD and will be composed of a representative of the AFD Campus, the SIBC programme coordinator and possible representatives of institutions invited by AFD.

Eligible applications are sent to the members of the selection committee at least one week before the committee meeting. Each jury member reviews the applications and the pre-established grades prior to the meeting.

The committee is a time for discussion and deliberation around the applications in order to agree on a cohort of 50 participants. This final selection takes into account the overall balance of the cohort: grades, genders, nationalities, etc.

Jury members are sovereign in their decisions and are not obliged to give reasons for their decisions, which are without appeal.

Article 10 – Announcement of winners

Selected entrepreneurs are notified by e-mail and/or telephone between early January and mid-January.

Eligible candidates but not selected into the program are also notified by e-mail.

The cohort will be officially announced on the SIBC website and social networks after confirmation of availability to participate.

Article 11 – Commitment of applicants

By submitting an application, each participant agrees to:

Read and fully accept these regulations, without reservation.
Provide only accurate and verifiable information in their application file. Any false, misleading, or unverifiable information may lead to immediate disqualification, cancellation of selection if already confirmed, and, where applicable, a demand for reimbursement of any funds received.
Refrain from reproducing or using the brand name, company name, logo, or any distinctive sign belonging to a third party without prior authorization, and from infringing on privacy rights, image rights, or intellectual property rights (copyrights, patents, trademarks, etc.). Each applicant expressly guarantees the organizers against any claims from third parties related to non-compliance with these rules.
Commit to fully participating in all components of the program: e-learning modules, mentorship, Bootcamp (in Nairobi, Kenya).
If selected, expressly authorize the organizers to use and disseminate their name, surname, image, city, and country, as well as information about their project and activities, on all media (print, digital, internet). Applicants also accept that photographs and videos may be taken during the program and distributed freely, without compensation, exclusively for program-related communication purposes.
If selected, participate in communication and press activities related to the program and respond to journalist requests arranged by the organizers.
For a period of one year after the end of the program, keep the organizers informed of their organization’s progress and major achievements to contribute to the SIBC’s impact monitoring.

A contract of agreement will be submitted to the selected candidates in order to agree on the terms and conditions of participation in the bootcamp, including the minimum threshold for participation in the programme.

Article 12 – Responsibility

The organisers cannot be held responsible for any telecommunication problem, connection difficulties, etc.

Participation in the programme implies knowledge and acceptance of the characteristics and limitations of the Internet.

Consequently, the organisers cannot be held responsible under any circumstances, without this list being exhaustive:

· for the transmission and/or reception of any data and/or information on the Internet;

· for any malfunction of the Internet network preventing the proper conduct/operation of the call for applications;

· for the loss of any data;

· for the consequences of any virus, computer bug, anomaly, technical failure;

· for any damage caused to a candidate's computer;

· for any technical, hardware and software failure of any kind that prevented or limited the possibility of participating in the programme or damaged a candidate's system.

It is specified that the organisers cannot be held responsible for any direct or indirect damage resulting from any interruption or malfunction for any reason whatsoever, or for any direct or indirect damage that would result, in any way whatsoever, from a connection to the platform https://afd.wiin.io/fr/applications/sibc-energytransition-eastafrica

It is the responsibility of each applicant to take all appropriate measures to protect his or her own data and/or software stored on his or her computer equipment against any attack. The connection of any person to the platform https://afd.wiin.io/fr/applications/sibc2026-energyeastafrica as well as their participation is done under their full responsibility.

Article 13 – Bootcamp Provisions

Coverage of Participation Costs

Participation in the program is not fully covered; a contribution from participants is required.

The following costs are covered by the organizers:

Accommodation for the full duration of the Bootcamp;

Some of the meals;

A participation to travel espenses up to EUR 500 might be granted as scolarship.

The following costs are not covered:

Per diem or daily allowances (no per diem will be provided);

All personal expenses and extras (local transportation outside planned activities, meals taken outside Bootcamp hours, additional hotel charges, etc.).

Each participant is responsible for the validity of their passport and visa procedures, if required. The organizers will provide administrative support (invitation letters, certificates, etc.) but cannot be held responsible for visa refusals.
Participants are expected to respect session schedules and punctuality. A respectful and professional attitude is required toward other participants, trainers, speakers, and the organizing team. Any inappropriate behavior, including harassment (moral, sexual, or discriminatory), may lead to sanctions, including immediate exclusion from the Bootcamp.
Attendance at all scheduled sessions is mandatory. Participants are expected to actively contribute to collaborative activities, workshops, and co-development sessions. Any absence must be reported and justified in advance.
Participants must comply with safety instructions given by the organizers and/or local authorities. Each participant remains responsible for their personal belongings and valuables.
By participating in the Bootcamp, entrepreneurs accept that photos, videos, and testimonials may be collected and used for program communication and promotion.

Article 14 – Disqualification

The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any candidate whose actions or words in the context of this programme are indicative of inappropriate behaviour towards other candidates, organisers, or partners including bad faith, lack of fairness, etc.

Article 15 – Consultation of the rules and regulations

The present rules are available on request to the organiser by e-mail at sibc.programme@gmail.com and can be consulted on the platform https://afd.wiin.io/fr/applications/sibc2026-energyeastafrica, under the heading "Rules and regulations”

Article 16 – Personal information and right of access

In accordance with the provisions of Law No. 78-17 of January 6, 1978 relating to computers, files and freedoms, participants have the right to access and rectify the information provided by contacting:

Agence Française de Développement

5 rue Roland Barthes, 75598 Paris Cedex 12

Article 17 – Personal data

The personal data concerning candidates collected in the context of the call for applications are compulsory and necessary for the processing of their application and the management of the operation.

The processing of these personal data is justified by the legal basis of carrying out pre-contractual formalities, which are measures prior to the signature of a contract and which facilitate the conclusion of a contract.

The personal data are intended solely for the use of the programme organisers, the associated consortium members, the Agence Française de Développement and the members of the selection committee.

Sensitive information about the applicants’ structures will be disclosed to the evaluation juryies’ examiners. However, the examiners will not have access to the personal information of the project owner.

Persons with access to the files are bound by professional secrecy with regard to this data. However, the organisers shall be authorised by the participant to communicate data concerning him/her to subcontractors and/or service providers for management purposes relating to the programme. The information communicated in the context of the programme shall be used solely for the purposes of the programme.

No other use of personal data will be made. No profiling will be carried out and, more generally, no automated decisions will be taken on the basis of the data collected.

Furthermore, no commercial use will be made of these data.

The storage period of personal data will be limited to the time necessary to achieve the purposes for which they were collected, namely the selection of candidates to participate in the SIBC programme. These data will not be retained after the programme has ended.

The organisers undertake, with regard to the persons concerned, to take all useful precautions to preserve the security of the information and in particular to prevent it from being communicated to unauthorised third parties.

The personal data may give rise to the exercise of the right of access, rectification, opposition under the conditions provided for by Law No. 78-17 of January 6, 1978 relating to computers, files and freedoms by writing to: Agence Française de Développement, 5 rue Roland Barthes, 75598 Paris Cedex 12.

Participants may also exercise their rights to the removal, limitation of processing, portability of their data and define guidelines applicable after death, by writing to the address indicated above. Any participant also has the right to file a complaint with the Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL).

Article 18 – Miscellaneous provisions

In the event of circumstances beyond their control, the organisers of the Social & Inclusive Business Camp reserve the right to postpone, shorten, extend or cancel this programme without being held liable for this. For the purposes of these rules, the Covid-19 pandemic and the governmental measures that relate to it and/or are the consequence of it constitute circumstances beyond their control.

Similarly, the organisers of the Social & Inclusive Business Camp cannot be held responsible for any changes affecting the terms and conditions of the program.

Any modification of the present rules will come into force from the moment they are put online and any candidate will be deemed to have accepted them by the simple fact of participating in the programme, from the date on which the modification comes into force.

Any violation of these rules will result in the cancellation of participation in the programme and the reimbursement of any sums paid, without any possible claim by the candidate.

In the event of a dispute relating to the provisions of the present rules or the application of the latter, the difficulty raised will be settled by the Agence Française de Développement, the programme's sponsor.

Failing this, only the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris will be competent to hear and rule on this difficulty.

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