Sierra Leone’s energy sector poses daily challenges for its people, with nearly 96.8% of the population relying on firewood or charcoal for cooking. This dependency is not without consequences—deforestation, soil erosion, and declining biodiversity- which are some of the ecological impacts. And it’s women and girls who bear the weight of this reality, often spending hours collecting fuel from surrounding forests.
Living in Sierra Leone, Margaret Yainkain Mansaray witnessed firsthand the struggles of cooking meals. She saw women and young girls exposed to dangers like sexual violence and harmful encounters with wildlife, all while sacrificing time that could be used for education or earning an income.
Determined to address these challenges, Mansaray developed the Smart Green Stove, a clean cooking solution designed to improve women’s and the environment’s lives. Running on briquettes made from recycled agricultural waste, the stove offers a safer alternative to traditional cooking methods, significantly reducing pollutants and associated health concerns. Crafted with a sturdy, recycled metal frame and an insulator of clay, coconut fibre, and sawdust, Mansaray’s stove uses natural materials that are both accessible and eco-friendly.
Through this solution, Margaret Mansaray addresses more than just the dangers of gathering fuel; the stove reduces energy consumption by 70% and is designed for portability, fitting comfortably into indoor and outdoor spaces. By tackling issues like indoor air pollution, a pressing health risk, her work contributes to a cleaner, safer home environment for families.
The stove’s impact goes beyond cooking efficiency. By freeing up time previously spent sourcing fuel, Margaret Mansaray enables women and girls to reclaim hours for learning, work, and personal growth. Her commitment to women’s empowerment is central to her mission, shaping her vision for lasting change.
In 2020, she formalised this commitment by establishing Women in Energy Sierra Leone Limited, an organisation dedicated to broadening energy access in underserved communities. Her company doesn’t stop at distributing clean stoves—it’s equally focused on providing education, skills training, and resources that empower women in the energy sector. Since its founding, the company has helped transform lives in Sierra Leone, bridging gaps in energy access and fostering a more sustainable way of life.
Today, Mansaray’s efforts have earned international recognition, including her nomination as a finalist for the 2023 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.
Mansaray envisions expanding her clean-cooking initiatives across West Africa. She plans to create local production hubs, offer skills training to more people, and involve young women at every step, extending the impact of her mission beyond her home country. By incorporating sustainable agriculture and water purification projects, she hopes to increase her organisation’s positive effect on regional communities.
