About this opportunity
More than 267 million people in West Africa still depend on traditional biomass fuels to cook. The health cost falls hardest on women and children, and the environmental cost shows up in deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. The West Africa Clean Cooking Fund was created to change how that region cooks, by moving households onto clean and safe liquid propane gas (LPG).
The fund is accelerated by a US$1 million commitment from The Worthington Companies Foundation, alongside contributions from other organisations. Its model is unusual and worth understanding before you apply. Rather than simply writing cheques, the fund works through selected NGOs who oversee the collection and deployment of resources for approved community projects. Support can arrive as product donations from the LPG industry, including LPG supply, stoves, cylinders and related equipment, as well as direct financial grants for clean cooking projects, infrastructure development and educational initiatives that drive adoption.
The fund has already mapped the kinds of pilot projects it wants to see. Behaviour change campaigns use cooking classes and demonstrations of traditional foods prepared with LPG to build lasting habits. Consumer education helps communities weigh the health, economic and environmental case for LPG. Consumer financing expands access through microfinance and flexible payment options so households can make the switch affordably. Women's empowerment puts training, leadership roles and resources in the hands of women, who make most household energy decisions.
There are obligations that come with this support. Implementers submit quarterly progress reports covering distribution metrics, training sessions and community engagement, and regular audits may be conducted to confirm transparency and effective use of funds. Project expenses must stay within the budget limits set by the fund, all LPG equipment must meet national and international safety standards for installation and operation, and ethical and regulatory requirements apply for the full project period. The foundation notes that it cannot fund governments directly, though it supports collaborative work with them to widen community access and strengthen impact.
To register interest you will need to create an account on the application portal. The fund publishes no closing date and works through a rolling pipeline: identify NGOs and LPG supply partners, gather community insights, issue project guidelines, then design projects collaboratively with local input.
What you receive
- Access to LPG industry donations including LPG supply, stoves, cylinders and related equipment
- Direct financial grants for clean cooking projects, infrastructure development and educational initiatives
- A role as the implementing NGO overseeing collection and deployment of resources for approved community projects
- Four funded pilot pathways: behaviour change campaigns, consumer education, consumer financing through microfinance, and women's empowerment
- Collaboration with the LPG industry, the WLGA and the Clean Cooking Alliance
- Backed by a US$1 million commitment from The Worthington Companies Foundation plus contributions from other organisations
Who can apply
- You are a registered NGO or a local organisation with strong financial stability
- You have proven experience in community outreach or clean energy projects
- You operate in one of the thirteen target nations: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo
- You can submit quarterly progress reports on distribution metrics, training sessions and community engagement
- You can ensure all LPG equipment meets national and international safety standards for installation and operation
- Impact minded organisations and LPG supply partners that are not NGOs can also express interest in participating
Who should not apply
- Governments cannot be funded directly, although collaborative efforts with government are supported
- Projects whose expenses exceed the predefined budget limits set by the fund
- Applicants outside the thirteen target West African nations
Documents to prepare
- The fund does not publish a document list. You create an account on the application portal and submit an expression of interest, after which project guidelines are issued for approved community projects
How to apply
- Read the fund overview on the Worthington Companies Foundation page, with English and French PDF summaries available
- Open the expression of interest form and create an account on the portal, which is required before you can proceed
- Describe your organisation, its registration, financial standing and your experience in community outreach or clean energy work
- Set out which pilot pathway you would run in your community, whether that is behaviour change, consumer education, consumer financing or women's empowerment
- Submit the expression of interest. The fund is running a rolling pipeline, so submit while you are preparing rather than waiting for a call to open
- If selected, take part in collaborative project design with local input, work within the project guidelines issued to you, and report quarterly on progress
Selection process
- The fund identifies NGOs and LPG supply partners, then gathers community insights before issuing project guidelines
- Project design is collaborative and built on local input
- Registered NGOs and local organisations with strong financial stability and proven community outreach or clean energy experience are selected to manage and execute funded initiatives
- Selected implementers are subject to quarterly progress reporting and may undergo regular audits to ensure transparency and effective use of funds
Sources and verification
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Questions applicants ask
Is there a deadline?
The provider publishes no closing date. The fund describes a rolling sequence of identifying partners, gathering community insights and issuing project guidelines, so expressions of interest are submitted on an ongoing basis.
Do you have to be an NGO?
NGOs equipped to manage and implement projects are the core applicants, but the fund also invites impact minded organisations interested in participating, and works with LPG suppliers on product donations.
Can a government apply?
No. The foundation states it cannot directly fund governments, though it supports collaborative efforts with them to facilitate community access, promote knowledge exchange and strengthen project impact.
What does the fund actually provide?
Both equipment and money. Support types include LPG supply, stoves, cylinders and related equipment, plus direct financial grants for clean cooking projects, infrastructure development and educational initiatives that ensure adoption.
What is expected of implementers?
Quarterly progress reports covering distribution metrics, training sessions and community engagement, strict adherence to the fund's budget limits, compliance with national and international LPG safety standards, and ethical and regulatory compliance throughout the project.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
