Strengthening Local Coalitions to Accelerate the E-Mobility Transition in Africa and Southeast Asia

Leapfrogging to E-Mobility Acceleration Partnership (LEAP) Fund is now open and accepting applications.

The shift to electric mobility is no longer a leading-market story. One in four cars sold globally in 2025 was electric, and the fastest growth in adoption is now happening in emerging economies. Ethiopia became the first country in the world to end fossil fuel car imports. Kenya recently launched a National Electric Mobility Policy. Vietnam and Thailand are seeing EVs approach a third of new car sales.

These aren’t isolated wins, they’re proof that emerging economies are taking action to leapfrog over combustion, skipping decades of fossil fuel lock-in to secure a clean transportation future.

But durable progress depends on strong policy led by the people closest to the ground: local organizations with the relationships, credibility, and technical know-how to move institutions, industry, and communities together. We’re thrilled to present a funding opportunity to back that work directly.

A new, catalytic funding opportunity

The Drive Electric Campaign is excited to announce a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Leapfrogging to E-Mobility Acceleration Partnership (LEAP) Fund. Now in its fourth round, the LEAP Fund aims to invest in the next generation of e-mobility advocates in Africa and Southeast Asia, providing catalytic funding to local non-profit organizations with the potential to accelerate the Electric Vehicle (EV) transition in their countries.

A total of US$1.5 million in funding is available through this RFP to non-profit organizations based in Thailand, Vietnam, The Philippines, Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Nigeria.

We’re looking to support 10 to 12 organizations building local coalitions, supporting policy adoption, and engaging industry champions to make the case for electric vehicles, with grants ranging from US$100,000 to US$150,000 over an 18-month project period.

Our goal is to strengthen the local capacities needed to turn early EV momentum into durable policy change that can move the market at scale. Extensive expertise in e-mobility is not required. We welcome applications from organizations with experience in adjacent sectors – such as renewable energy, sustainable transport, or environmental policy – that are committed to growing their role in the EV transition.

What we’re investing in

We’re focusing our support on three application tracks, all of which ladder up to durable EV policy outcomes.

Track 1: Institutional Readiness & Policy Design

Supporting local organizations as they build the technical and regulatory groundwork for e-mobility policy — through research, technical assistance, and training — so governments have what they need to design and adopt sound policies.

Track 2: Mobilizing Business Voices

Engaging industry stakeholders as active advocates for the EV transition. By strengthening coalitions of companies, such as fleet operators and utilities, who can make the economic case for EVs and support for smarter government policy to accelerate the transition.

Track 3: A People-Powered Transition

Building people-powered coalitions and facilitating the engagement of key constituencies in policy processes to support the EV transition – such as workers, drivers, health advocates, youth advocates, and communities.

Every project, regardless of its track, must connect to one of our key policy areas, detailed in the complete RFP document available below.

Eligibility at a glance

This RFP is only open to organizations that meet the following criteria:

1. Non-profit or charitable organization legally registered in an eligible country (Thailand, Vietnam, The Philippines, Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, or Nigeria).
2. Able to receive grant funding from a US-based organization.
3. Has not previously received funding from the Drive Electric Campaign (prior funding from other ClimateWorks programs is accepted).