Youth Leadership Series

Universal access to clean cooking cannot be achieved without youth leadership, advocacy, innovation, and entrepreneurship. All stakeholders across the clean cooking ecosystem need to recognize and support the power of youth-led change in clean cooking.

Young changemakers around the world are working to increase access to clean cooking in their communities and beyond. To highlight some of the youth-led innovations, businesses and contributions in clean cooking, the Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) is interviewing youth leaders working across the clean cooking sector.

Read more below about how youth are tackling clean cooking challenges and working toward providing clean solutions for all.

If you’d like to suggest a young person to be featured as part of this ongoing series, please contact CCA’s Global Networks & Partnerships team at partnerships@cleancooking.org.

Jane Nakasamu: Empowering Zambia’s Clean Cooking Advocates

Jane Nakasamu is the Chief Executive Officer at Greenbelt Energy Limited, a company dedicated to providing clean cooking solutions and organic fertilizer to low-income communities in Zambia. Inspired through her work to empower youth in the clean energy space, Jane conducts trainings for young people on biogas and off-grid solar systems.

CCA learned about her passion for connecting households to clean-burning biogas, her motivation to empower the future agents of change, and the importance of advocacy.

Amina Ali: Meet the Aspiring Young Clean Cooking Expert

Amina Ali is the Compliance and PR Manager for Southern Africa at Ener-G-Africa, a company that addresses the obstacles posed by climate change through locally developed sustainable energy solutions and clean energy products spanning the entire continent. Aspiring to soon become an expert in the sector, Ali is currently writing her master’s dissertation on clean cooking.

CCA learned about her interest in clean cooking, passion to serve others, thoughts on the importance of meaningful youth engagement in clean cooking, and more.

Mercy Kyalo: Fostering Institutional Clean Cooking in Schools Through Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Mercy Kyalo is the Co-founder and CEO of Feion Green Ventures, a pioneering sustainable technology company dedicated to developing innovative solutions for eco-friendly cooking and energy efficiency. At Feion Green Ventures, her primary focus is on orchestrating the development and launch of their flagship product, the Jiko-Kul, an institutional solar-powered electric cooker.

CCA spoke with Kyalo about her remarkable achievements and efforts to foster institutional clean cooking, key lessons learned as an inspiring young woman leader in clean energy, and more.

Norah Magero: An Engineer and Entrepreneur Who Redefined Energy Access

Norah Magero is an engineer who runs Drop Access Limited, a non-profit that has redefined energy access in rural Kenya by championing the productive use of energy through innovation and financing. Magero currently serves as a council member for the UN Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET) that reports to the UN Secretary General as well as the Youth Task Force by the RES4Africa Foundation.

CCA talked to Magero about her exemplary professional achievements, the role of youth in shaping the future of the clean cooking sector, and more.

Calvin Shikuku: A Young Kenyan Leader’s Journey Toward Sustainable Energy Solutions for All

Calvin Shikuku is Chief Executive Officer at Motobrix Limited, a social enterprise with the primary goal of creating sustainable solutions that address energy challenges while making a positive impact on communities.

CCA spoke to Shikuku about his current work on spearheading a social enterprise dedicated to the production of renewable energy from waste, as well as his role in empowering young people and engaging them in clean cooking.

Chido Cleopatra Mpemba: The African Union Youth Envoy’s Vision for the Future of Clean Cooking

Chido Cleopatra Mpemba currently serves as the African Union Youth Envoy, where her primary focus is to empower young people across the African continent. She works on amplifying youth voices and engaging them in advocacy and policy recommendations. One of the critical aspects of her work is advocating for the meaningful participation of young people in decision-making processes at all levels, from local to continental. This includes advocating for policies that address youth unemployment, access to quality education, and healthcare, among other key issues.

CCA spoke with Mpemba about her remarkable leadership and vision for the future of clean cooking.

Cherop Soy: Advocating for a Young and Gender-balanced Clean Cooking Sector

Cherop Soy is the SDG7 Global Youth Ambassador at Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), where she calls for affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all, and works to increase awareness for SDG7 among youth and those who are not familiar with the energy sector. She also runs the EcoWarrior Kenya blog, which presents an embodiment of her journey navigating the energy sector space and is available for early career professionals to have a glimpse of what this profession looks like.

CCA spoke with Soy about her experience as a young energy enthusiast and advocate for an inclusive clean cooking sector.

Jabri Ibrahim: Meet the Young Climate and Clean Cooking Champion

Jabri Ibrahim works for the two current United Nations (UN) Climate Change High-Level Champions in their regional team in Africa, focusing on clean cooking, renewable energy, green hydrogen, and critical minerals mining. Previously, Jabri worked at the Stakeholder Engagement Team of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat and has prior multilateral experience working at the UN Environment Program, Red Cross Kenya, and Crevit Mulier, as well as volunteering with Greenpeace Africa and the Kenya Environmental Action Network.

CCA spoke with Jabri about his remarkable experience as a young climate leader and advocate for clean cooking.

Mwayi Kampesi: Lessons from Malawi’s Young Clean Cooking CEO

Mwayi Kampesi is the Founder of Planet Green Africa, a renewable energy company that seeks to eradicate energy poverty by providing access to clean cooking solutions to support health and provide environmental benefits whilst economically empowering women across Malawi. She received several awards and recognitions, including an honoree recognition in Forbes Magazine as a 2017 Forbes Africa 30 Under 30, recognition by the 2018 World Youth Forum for the 100 Top Start-Ups, the Obama Foundation African Leader of 2019 Award, 100 Faces of Hope Award, and most recently, the Commonwealth-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Green Investment Award.

CCA spoke with Kampesi about her valuable experience as a young entrepreneur and leader in clean cooking.

Kakembo Galabuzi Brian: Empowering Uganda’s Youth and Women in Clean Cooking

Kakembo Galabuzi Brian is the Executive Director WEYE Clean Energy, a social enterprise empowering youth and women to start and run clean cooking businesses. He is also part of the steering committee of the Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Action Group under the Commonwealth Youth Sustainable Urbanization Network.

CCA interviewed Brian about his experiences navigating the clean cooking ecosystem as a youth leader.

Ben Odongo: How Youth Engagement Accelerates Clean Cooking Access

Ben Odongo is the Business Lead for Electric Cooking at UpEnergy Group, an impact organization that builds platforms to reach low-income clients while enabling access to technologies that benefit income, health, and decarbonization efforts. In his role, he develops and implements strategies to accelerate access to electric cooking solutions.

CCA spoke to Odongo about his experiences, achievements, and lessons learned as a youth leader in the clean cooking sector.

Granny Lesiamang: A Young Entrepreneur’s Journey to Expanding Clean Cooking in Botswana

Granny Lesiamang is the founder and CEO of Clauseph Enterprises, a youth-led and impact-driven startup increasing access to clean cooking by manufacturing solid biomass and low-cost, energy-efficient cookstoves.

CCA spoke to Lesiamang about her achievements and challenges as an entrepreneur in Botswana.