The Climate and Finance Innovations (ClimaFii) Alliance is an initiative anchored by Shell Foundation in partnership with Accion, with co-funding from UK aid through the UK government’s Transforming Energy Access platform. It aims to address critical challenges faced by micro-entrepreneurs in accessing affordable and appropriate clean energy solutions in Africa and India. Upaya joins the ClimaFii Alliance as the India partner and BFA Global joins as the Sub-Saharan Africa partner.
Upaya will work with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) or startups in the clean energy space to improve livelihoods for micro-entrepreneurs. By targeting key sectors such as Food, Agriculture & Allied, Waste Management & Circularity, Textiles, and others, the program will focus on 10 selected businesses to drive sustainable growth, increase productivity, and enhance income for rural micro-entrepreneurs.
About The Program
India’s rural economy, powered largely by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), faces challenges due to limited access to scalable renewable energy solutions. This gap leaves MSMEs dependent on inefficient, high-cost energy sources, limiting productivity and income potential. With India’s Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) sector poised for growth, there is a significant opportunity to transform how rural enterprises operate by introducing climate-smart solutions, such as clean energy innovations, to adapt to climate change and protect livelihoods.The ClimaFii Alliance is designed to catalyze this change. By selecting a dynamic cohort of SMEs or startups focused on sectors like Food, Agriculture & Allied, Waste Management & Circularity, and Textiles, the program will drive sustainable growth in these key areas. Through strategic partnerships, financing options, and technical support, the program aims to foster job creation, boost income, and enhance climate resilience among rural micro-entrepreneurs.
Focused on clean energy innovations, the ClimaFii Alliance is designed to drive impact through DRE solutions. We are looking for innovations in India across the following sectors:
- Food, Agriculture, and Allied
- Waste Management and Circularity
- Textiles
- Other sectors
All businesses will get $70,000 in funding through an innovative, business-friendly, no-interest loan.