Sub-Saharan Africa Desk Studies
Photo: Lollie-Pop / Creative Commons"
Client: United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)
Dates: 08/16/2021–08/15/2023
Location(s): Research conducted in Washington, D.C., for projects in sub-Saharan Africa
Project Description:
Desk studies support USTDA’s decision-making on funding activities for the energy sector. GPTech was the prime contractor for this Service Activity, conducting screening and pre-feasibility assessments for energy projects throughout sub-Saharan Africa. GPTech evaluated the viability of a wide array of technologies, some of which have yet to be deployed in the markets targeted by prospective USTDA grantees. This was GPTech’s fifth sub-Saharan Africa desk study contract with USTDA.
GPTech provided reports to USTDA that address the following topics:
Assessed and provided a recommendation on whether USTDA should fund proposed feasibility studies, technical assistance, pilot projects, or other project planning activities.
Provided supporting analysis for the recommendation in project reports that analyze all relevant issues.
Assessed the potential of the energy sector and sub-sectors in Africa for U.S. suppliers of goods and services.
GPTech analyzed the complex factors that determine the success of each project, including:
legal and regulatory considerations for project development,
procurement issues, such as local content restrictions and sourcing options,
due diligence on developers seeking grants as well as their partners,
climate resilience screening to identify risks and opportunities early in the project scoping stage, and
pre-project planning to attract equity investors and lenders and to obtain the necessary permits for development.
Goals & Achievements:
Under this contract, GPTech completed up to six preliminary evaluations of proposals for energy-sector feasibility studies, technical assistance activities, or pilot projects in Africa and up to 18 project reports with fully developed funding recommendations for activities for USTDA funding consideration. In addition, GPTech will complete a Public Market Report.
Over the course of GPTech’s work on multiple sub-Saharan Africa desk study contracts, specialists have completed more than 40 desk studies.
