Ines Smiti

Pioneer of Tunisia's renewable energy revolution through community-driven solar projects

Ines Smiti is a Tunisian engineer and founder of Solar Tunisia, a social enterprise that has installed over 500 solar power systems in rural villages since 2021. Her innovative Pay-As-You-Go financing model allows families earning under $2/day to access clean energy through microloans. In 2023, she launched the Green Jobs Initiative, training 800+ locals as solar technicians - 40% of whom are women. Smiti's work directly addresses Tunisia's 23% rural electrification rate while creating sustainable livelihoods. Her partnership with IRENA established North Africa's first solar cooperative in 2022, enabling communities to collectively own and manage energy grids. Featured in National Geographic's 2024 documentary Solar Sisters of Tunisia, her approach has reduced diesel generator use by 70% in target regions. Winner of the 2025 Ashden Award for Clean Energy, Smiti's model is now being replicated in Morocco and Algeria through the Mediterranean Solar Alliance.