We are excited to announce the launch of the GSMA Innovation Fund for Green Transition for Mobile (“the fund”), designed to support small and growing enterprises across Africa, Central and South America, and South and Southeast Asia. The fund aims to tackle the dual challenge of digital and clean energy transition and to explore innovative solutions for refurbished handsets. This blog summarises the key aims and ambitions of the fund, high-level eligibility requirements, and the offer of the fund. Full details are available in the funds Terms and Conditions; with an application deadline of 6 April 2026.
While mobile has been a key driver of digital inclusion, persistent gaps in access to reliable electricity across many markets act as a key limitation for both providers and customers. It is critical that digital inclusion and energy access are no longer seen as isolated goals, but as part of a ‘twin’ transition that can catalyse development impact at scale. Lagging electrification rates as well as unreliable and high-cost grid access, limit access to online services and participation for individuals in energy-dependent economic activities such as agricultural processing, refrigeration, small-scale manufacturing, e-mobility, and the digital economy.
For mobile operators, the lack of consistent and reliable renewable electricity power both limits their ability to expand coverage and increase their reliance on more expensive and carbon-intensive sources. A recent GSMA survey highlighted that the key energy challenges facing the industry include frequent power outages, lack of grid access, high energy costs, and difficulties accessing renewable energy. According to a 2020 GSMA study, 80% of mobile towers across Africa located in off-grid and weak-grid areas are powered by diesel.
Circular products and services such as refurbished phones and repair services, projected to exceed $150bn globally by 2027, are gaining traction within the mobile industry. The GSMA’s Global Consumer Survey of over 13,000 smartphone users found that consumers increasingly want to repair their phones, keep them for longer, and are interested in buying refurbished devices. Refurbished phones can save consumers money and have 80–90% lower environmental impacts compared with a new phone. In 2024, the GSMA launched the Handset Affordability Coalition with the aim of reducing barriers for the 3 billion people (38% of the world’s population) that live within mobile broadband coverage but do not use mobile internet.
Within this context the fund welcomes applications from for-profit private sector small and growing enterprises that are working towards improving digital inclusion and climate action in at least one of the two key focus areas:
- Enabling digital inclusion and clean energy access. The fund seeks to support business models that enable climate action by bridging energy access and affordability gaps; thereby supporting digital inclusion by enabling reliable access to mobile networks and devices. These could include but are not limited to: supporting the productive use of energy through asset financing, smart metering and energy efficiency solutions, small scale mini-grid or mesh grid models and other renewable energy solutions.
- Increasing device circularity, reducing value chain emissions, and improving handset affordability. Circular services such as repair and refurbishment support longer device lifespans, reducing the environmental impact of manufacturing new handsets. Recovering, repair and refurbishing dormant devices also has the potential to increase the supply of lower cost handsets, potentially increasing the accessibility of devices for new users.
Within these focus areas applications are particularly welcomed applications from:
- Organisations that are female founded and/or female-led and/or have strong representation of women at all levels;
- organisations that are locally led or have a strong presence in the country of project implementation and a commitment to supporting/upskilling and promoting local staff; and
- Solutions that present a compelling value proposition for partnership with MNOs. Preference will be granted to organisations that not only demonstrate potential and appetite for strategic partnerships with MNOs but also already have an existing relationship/partnership with an MNO.
Successful organisations will be supported with grant funding of £100,000 to £200,000; alongside a broader package of support that includes: participation in bootcamps (a programme of learning exchange with grantees and alumni), technical assistance, connections with investors and other ecosystem stakeholders, and the opportunity to increase visibility through GSMA publications and events.
For more details on eligibility, funding and the application process, please refer to the webpage for the Fund’s Terms and Conditions.
We look forward to receiving your applications and working with the organisations selected.
