GSMA, an ANDE partner organization, launched in February an Innovation Fund that backs small and growing enterprises tackling digital inclusion, clean energy access, and device circularity—three interconnected barriers to economic participation in emerging markets.
For enterprises working to expand digital inclusion while addressing energy access and climate challenges, time is running short. The GSMA Innovation Fund for Green Transition for Mobile closes April 6, 2026. The fund backs small and growing enterprises across Africa, Central and South America, and South and Southeast Asia that integrate mobile and digital technologies into solutions addressing three interrelated bottlenecks: unreliable electricity, device affordability, and device lifecycle emissions.
Why This Matters for ANDE Members
The numbers are stark: 3 billion people—38 percent of the global population—live in areas with mobile internet coverage but do not use it. The barriers are well documented. Limited digital skills, lack of relevant content, online safety concerns, unreliable electricity, and the prohibitive cost of handsets keep people offline and cut off from economic opportunity.
For ANDE members and partners, this fund is strategically relevant because it targets precisely these bottlenecks. Reliable electricity still determines whether people can charge devices and access digital services. Affordable, durable devices remain essential for expanding connectivity in underserved communities. When these constraints persist, they lock entire populations out of the digital economy—limiting jobs, markets, and resilience.
The fund addresses both infrastructure and affordability: digital solutions for clean, reliable energy (productive-use systems, smart metering, mini-grids, mesh networks) and solutions that reduce device costs and emissions through repair, refurbishment, reuse, and responsible e-waste management.
The Package
Selected enterprises receive grants of £100,000–£200,000, plus technical assistance covering:
- Partnerships and visibility within the mobile ecosystem
- Connections to investors and mobile network operators
- Strengthened monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems
- Preparation for scale
Eligibility at a Glance
The fund is open to for-profit small and growing enterprises with:
- Up to 250 employees
- Operations in eligible low- and middle-income countries
- Mobile or digital technology as a core business model
- Demonstrated commercial revenue and active user base
- At least 25 percent matching funding available
Organizations already advancing digital inclusion, clean energy access, circularity, or handset affordability should act quickly. Review the fund criteria, confirm your eligibility, and submit your application before April 6, 2026.
Terms and Conditions, FAQs, and application guidance are available on the fund portal.
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