Fátima Vasconcelos

Mozambican renewable energy leader accelerating solar adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa

Fátima Vasconcelos is the CEO of Kwetu Energy, a company that has installed over 150,000 solar home systems across Mozambique since 2020. Her Solar Microgrid for Schools program, launched in 2021, provides reliable electricity to 300+ rural schools, enabling extended operating hours and digital learning.

In 2023, Vasconcelos pioneered Pay-as-you-go Solar systems using blockchain technology, making renewable energy affordable for low-income households. The World Bank's Energy Sector Management Assistance Program highlighted her model as a best practice for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Her 2024 collaboration with Greenpeace Africa created Africa's first solar-powered fishing boats in the Zambezi Delta. Vasconcelos' TEDx talk 'Sunlight as Liberation' (2022) has become a blueprint for community-driven renewable transitions. She was awarded the African Energy Leadership Prize in 2023 for her impact.