The women in clean cooking mentorship program announces its second cohort of participants

This article was first published by the Global Women's Network for the Energy Transition.

The Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA), Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and the Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET) have kicked off the second cohort of a mentorship program for early to mid-career women working in the clean cooking sector.

With an expanded cohort of 60 participants, the program boasts of participants from Africa, Asia, and Haiti, spanning a diversity of countries and areas of expertise.

We sincerely thank all the applicants who took part in this process and congratulate the selected participants for this year’s program.

• Abena Ampontuah Karikari, Engineer at the Ministry of Energy, Ghana
• Abhilasha Bhuju, Consultancy Delivery Responsible – Energy at Practical Action Consulting, Nepal
• Adong Athian Athian Mawien, Project Manager at Sungate Solar Solutions, South Sudan
• Alina Dangol, Environmental officer at People Energy and Environment Development Association, Nepal
• Amanda Isidi, Product Manager at PowerUp TEECO, Uganda
• Amina Ali, Group Project Coordinator at Ener-G-Africa, Malawi
• Ansila Kweka, Product Researcher – Africa: Clean Cooking at PowerUP, Tanzania
• Ashaba Kamahoro, Group Legal & Compliance Manager at KOKO Networks Limited, Uganda
• Awo Mukhtar, Energy Specialist at Bikaac Energy, Somalia
• Barbra Bulinda, Finance Officer at BioLite Holdings Kenya Limited, Kenya
• Beatrice Gesisa, Innovation Analyst at Bboxx Capital Kenya Ltd, Kenya
• Beryl Onjala, Researcher at the International Centre for Frugal Innovation Kenya Hub, Kenya
• Bezawit Mekonnen, Project Manager at Ethiopia Electric Utility, Ethiopia
• Carine Buma Lehtem, Professional Officer, Energy and Low Emission Development at ICLEI Africa – Local Governments for Sustainability, Cameroon
• Chebet Viola, Group Coordinator at Bidhaa Sasa Company Limited, Kenya
• Chhengheang Long, Project Manager at African Clean Energy, Cambodia
• Chiamaka Charity Okoli, Business Development Associate Senior at Solar Sister Nigeria, Nigeria
• Claire Agondeze, Marketing Manager at Potential Energy, Uganda
• Dominica Una, Program Manager at Asteven Group, Nigeria
• Dorcas Benson Yingami, Business Development Manager at Roshan Renewables, Nigeria
• Emily Ngutah Mutea, Researcher at CETRAD, Kenya
• Enid Nzisa Ngugi, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at Practical Action, Kenya
• Esther Wanza, Energy Business Mentor at Energy 4 Impact, Kenya
• Etumuka Amamize, Founder at REnalytics, Nigeria
• Eunice Claire, Human Resource Manager at African Clean Energy, Kenya
• Faida Zoubeda Uwase, Chief Operating Officer at Inkingi Eco ltd, Rwanda
• Florence Nyawira Mutahi, Customer Service Representative at Burn Manufacturing Company USA LLC, Kenya
• Ginika Okoroafor, Junior Advisor, Sustainable Energy Access, Nigerian Energy Support Programme at GIZ Nigeria, Nigeria
• Halima Dube Sago, Customer Care Representative – Team Lead at BURN Manufacturing LLC USA, Kenya
• Isioma Martins, Head of Operations at Strategic Energy Limited, Nigeria
• Jacqueline Eshiwakwe Mushi, Chief Executive Officer at Pace Initiative for Smallholders, Tanzania
• Jane Ekeh, Co-founder/Chief Operations Officer at Goods and Services 360 Ltd, Nigeria
• Joan Kwamboka Mogaka, Business Mentor at Practical Action, Kenya
• Josephine Atieno Obingo, Field Supervisor – Women in Energy Enterprises Kenya at Practical Action, Kenya
• Kagoya Melanie Patience, Finance and Office Administrator at PowerUP, Uganda
• Kalinda Magloire, CEO at SWITCH SA, Haiti
• Kanchan Yadav, Project Manager at Carbon Impact Capital, India
• Ketaki Kokil, Director at Ecosense Appliances Pvt Ltd, India
• Leila Kateferi, CEO at KTF Concept, Burundi
• Lilian Olajumoke Aremu, Business Manager at Green Energy Biofuels, Nigeria
• Louise Williamson, Self-employed- Innovator and Manager at Sustainability Professionals (PTY) LTD, South Africa
• Lucia Yah Paye-Layleh, Project and Environment Manager at Green Gold Liberia, Liberia
• Madrin Maina, Technical Operations Manager – East Africa at Sistema.bio, Kenya
• Magdaline Njeri Muigai, Project Officer (Professionalization of Improved Cookstoves) at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kenya
• Monika Noshin, Funding Coordinator at ATEC Australia-International Pty. Ltd, Bangladesh
• Naramath Lucas, Solar Trainer of Trainers & Field Officer at Rural Community Support Organization (RUCOSUO), Tanzania
• Nora Jeanne Joseph, CEO at RADIKAL, Haiti
• Oluwamayowa Oyenuga, Business Development Associate at Solar Sister Nigeria, Nigeria
• Onyekachi Chukwu, Associate, Environment and Climate Action at Clean Technology Hub, Nigeria
• Pauline Njeri Mwangi, Head of Carbon Credit Programmes at Mwangaza Light Limited, Kenya
• Rhoda Akinyi Adipo, Category Assistant at d.light, Kenya
• Ruth Oluwatomisin Olowosile, Executive Director at Sustainable Green Environment Initiative, Nigeria
• Samora Teresia Sophia Raisa Atieno, Emerging Markets Shipping Manager at BioLite Holdings Kenya Ltd, Kenya
• Sanjidaa Hoque, Manager at IDCOL, Bangladesh
• Shruti Jaiswal, Impact Projects Executive at Renewagri Om Ecommerce Pvt. Ltd., India
• Shruti Sharma, Senior Policy Advisor at International Institute for Sustainable Development, India
• Shukurat Usman Abolaji, Accountant at Qwikgas, a subsidiary of Viridescent Limited, Nigeria
• Susan Blixen Nderitu, Emerging Markets Procurement and Logistics Lead at BioLite, Kenya
• Veronica Edeminam, Finance and Admin Manager at Cuso International, Nigeria
• Zainab Abubakar, Technical Assistant to the Honorable Minister for National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme at National Social Investment Programmes under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Nigeria

Each of the selected mentees will be matched with a hand-picked mentor with whom they will engage in a bilateral exchange between June 2022 and June 2023; this matchmaking is done based on career aspirations stipulated in the application form and will take place on a customised mentorship platform.

In parallel, networking opportunities and knowledge-transfer webinars on clean cooking and personal development topics will be organised for the mentee cohort. The benefits of the program include:

• Gaining experience from seasoned professionals in the energy sector;
• Obtaining career-enhancing activities to support concrete goals;
• Enhancing professional and personal development;
• Fostering strategic thinking and innovative ideas.

Stay tuned for updates on the participants and the program, including the announcement of selected mentors.