 Enhancing the adoption of productive use of solar energy services among
underserved agrisolar entrepreneurs within farmer cooperatives and groups
 Improve access to affordable Productive use of Solar Energy (PUSE)
financing among youth and women entrepreneurs within cooperatives and
farmer groups in the dairy and horticultural value chains through the
establishment of a self-sustaining Revolving PUSE loan Fund.
 Establish a well-governed and independent distributed renewable energy
ecosystem hub organization to coordinate and provide long-term support for
underserved agrisolar entrepreneurs within Kenya’s PUSE sector

KCIC has identified four counties for the initial three years: Isiolo, Laikipia, Makueni, and Kitui. Farmer cooperatives/groups in these counties are encouraged to apply.

KCIC invites applications from farmer cooperatives/groups in the four counties to join the DREEM HUB program. The program will support the adoption of solar-powered agricultural solutions in the dairy and horticulture value chains.

•Application Window:3rd April 2025 to 21st April 2025 11:59pm EAT
•Evaluation & Selection: Applications will be reviewed, and successful applicants will be notified by 30th April 2025.

•Due diligence: A physical field assessment will be conducted to verify the applicant’s eligibility for the program and for access to finance.

• Applicants (Cooperatives/Farmers groups) fromIsiolo, Kitui, Makueni and Laikipia can apply to join the DREEM Hub program
• Applications must be submitted online via the KCIC website portal or physically at:
o KCIC Main office (3rd Floor, Strathmore Business School, Ole Sangale Road, Madaraka) P.O Box 49162-00100 Nairobi.
o KCIC Meru Hub Office (Agriculture Training Centre -ATC Kaguru, Nkubu, Meru) P.O Box 49162-00100 Nairobi.
• The Applicants must complete an application form by answering a series of mandatory questions.
• Personal information supplied in the application form such as names, addresses and date of birth should be verifiable, and the applicant is solely responsible for informing KCIC of changes in current contact methods indicated in their application.
• The Applicant must provide current correspondence address, email and telephone numbers and inform of any changes during the review and onboarding process.
• Upon submission of the application form, an email will be sent to the Applicant or via the preferred contact method indicated in their application.
• Once submitted, applications cannot be altered or amended.
• Review of applications will commence immediately after participants applications have been received in our system. Shortlisting of applicants will take place following the close of the Application Window.

•Farmer cooperatives/ groups within the Dairy and Horticulture value chains located in the select four counties (Isiolo, Kitui, Makueni and Laikipia).
•Be legally registered in Kenya and actively support youth and women Agri-solar entrepreneurs in the dairy and horticulture value chains.
• Engage in dairy or horticulture production and value chain activities with active farmer membership including but not limited to:
o Dairy: Milk Production, collection, handling, storage,
processing, value addition etc.
o Horticulture: Production, harvesting, aggregation,
packaging, storage, handling, marketing, distribution,
value addition etc.
• Have at least 500 dairy farmers or 100 horticulture farmers as active members
• Operate at least two collection centers/aggregation centers
• Have been in operations for at least three years with a defined management structure.
• Demonstrate financial solvency with a track record of successfully servicing affordable financial products.
• Show a commitment to adopting solar energy for productive use. -Applicants in off-grid areas will be prioritized
• Have Access to Land and Water: Applicants should have available land, registered in their name and irrigation needs suitable for solar powered solutions.
• Demonstrate Market Readiness and Value Addition Potential:
o Applicants engaged in value addition and post-harvest handling will be an added advantage
o Applicants Located near profitable markets or have existing
buyers but struggle with produce handling infrastructure will
be prioritized (storage, transportation, or energy-related challenges)
• Demonstrate Financial Readiness-Applicant MUST be willing to explore concessional loan financing offered under the DREEM hub program for solar adoption.

NB: CBOs and self-help groups that meet the criteria are eligible to apply but MUST commit to transitioning into formally registered farmer cooperatives/groups with support from the DREEM Hub.

• The applications will be screened for eligibility.
• The eligible applications will then be evaluated on a set
of criteria.

• All applicants will receive an official response via email on their application determining whether they were successful or not. KCIC is not obligated to provide detailed feedback on unsuccessful applications.
• Successful applicants will receive an email indicating terms of the program and proposed due diligence dates.
• Unsuccessful applicants can contest the evaluation by submitting a formal request to KCIC within 14 days upon receiving the rejection email.
• Due Diligence shall be carried out on the successful applicants to verify eligibility prior to any potential offer of a placement in the program.
• Applications that do not meet all or some of the eligibility criteria will not be accepted.
• If Applicants are offered a place in the program, they will be expected to execute a legal agreement with Kenya Climate Innovation Centre, by signing a Letter of Agreement, which will be sent to them via email. They will also be expected to collaborate with all DREEM hubs spoke partners to ensure the program achieves its objectives.

Successful and eligible applicants may access

concessional loan financing

through

RAFODE Limited and ECLOF Kenya

under the

DREEM Hub Program

Loan allocation will be based on identified PUSE capacity needs from the baseline assessment.
Loan terms include flexible Repayments periods, grace periods, and collateral options.

External Financing

• KCIC through its Enterprise support and development and access to finance spoke partners will also provide fiscal management advisory services to applicants to be able to access third party financing such as debts, grants and equity investments.
• Facilitation of access to third-party financing
• Expose participants to business expansion opportunities & international investors.
Definitions, Terms and Conditions
• Successful Applicants shall be subject to the stated terms and conditions, the Letter of Agreement and other rules and guidelines published by Kenya Climate Innovation Centre from time to time for the running of the DREEM hub program.

• Kenya Climate Innovation Centre and its program affiliates reserves the right to cancel or amend all or any part of the Rules without notice. Any changes to the Rules will be posted on the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre website. It is the responsibility of Successful Applicants to keep themselves informed as to any changes to the Rules. Kenya Climate Innovation Centre shall not be liable for any loss suffered by a Successful Applicant due to any changes to the Rules, including failure to complete some or all tasks under the program due to such change.
• The Farmer Cooperatives/group is expected to be 100% committed towards the success of the program this is through providing feedback on business updates to the Program Officer , providing quarterly data to the monitoring and evaluation team and spoke partners and also time spent in the program , if the Farmer Cooperatives/group is in breach of this, Kenya Climate Innovation Centre has the right to terminate the agreement with the successful applicant.
• If for any reason the program is not capable of running as planned for reasons including but not limited to tampering, unauthorised intervention, fraud, technical failures, force majeure events or any other causes beyond the control of the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre, the Spoke partners and its funding partners which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this program, Kenya Climate Innovation Centre reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the program and disqualify any Successful Applicant.
• Kenya Climate Innovation Centre shall not be liable for any loss arising from modification, suspension, or cancellation of the program.

Employees of KCIC, KCIC Consulting, KCV, and spoke partners and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply.

Privacy Policy
• By applying to the DREEM hub Program, Applicants consent to have details of their application – other than commercially sensitive information – featured in any media or promotional activity for the DREEM hub Program being carried.
• Kenya Climate Innovation Centre will contact Applicants in advance of any media request for interviews.
• Kenya Climate Innovation Centre will only use the personal details supplied for the administration of this program, and for no other purpose except with the Applicant’s consent.
• The Contracted Spoke partners and other consultants are required to sign a non- disclosure agreement as it relates to personal information which may come into their possession during the DREEM hub Program and are committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards.

Fraud, Bribery and Corruption
Kenya Climate Innovation Centre is completely against fraud, bribery, corruption, unethical conduct and abuse of power or authority.
Kenya Climate Innovation Centre does not ask for money for applications or proposals. If approached for money or other favours, or if you have any suspicions of attempted fraud, bribery, corruption, unethical conduct and abuse of power or authority please report immediately and provide as much detail as possible with any reports.
Likewise, if any fraud, bribery, corruption, unethical conduct and abuse of power or authority during the call process is discovered, Kenya Climate Innovation Centre reserves the right to terminate the cooperation with the individual or agribusiness in question.
Report to the Internal Auditor through any of the channels below:
Email: kcic.transparency@kenyacic.org
Toll Free Line: 0800 721 211
Report on KCIC Website: https://www.kenyacic.org/whistle-blow/
Postal Address
Chief Executive Officer,
Kenya Climate Innovation Centre,
P.O Box 49162 – 00100, Nairobi.
Strathmore Business School, Ole Sangale Road, Madaraka