LocationsTurning her passion into a thriving business.
Margaret Yainkain Mansaray, Founder of Women in Energy Sierra Leone Limited
UNDP Sierra Leone/Desmonda Aminata Cole
In Sierra Leone, where almost every home uses traditional cooking methods (including firewood and charcoal), Margaret Yainkain Mansaray saw not just a problem, but a mission. Despite the health hazards and environmental harm caused by open fires and charcoal, many families continued to rely on these outdated cooking practices.
In recent years, the Government of Sierra Leone, in collaboration with international organizations, has been working to improve access to green clean cooking energy. This initiative has opened opportunities for service providers to make a meaningful impact. One such individual is Margaret Yainkain Mansaray, the founder of Women in Energy Sierra Leone Limited, who is playing a key role in this transformation.
Margaret’s journey began with a deep understanding of energy and its impact on everyday lives. As the only woman in her energy studies class at Njala University, she felt a desire to make a change. “I wanted to create a tool families could cook safely and sustainably,” she reflects. So, she set out to develop green clean cooking technologies that would not only reduce energy poverty but also save lives.
Her solution was simple yet transformative - green clean cooking stoves and eco-friendly briquettes from coconut husk. Through her company, Women in Energy Sierra Leone Limited, Margaret began producing Smart Green Stoves .
But bringing this vision to life wasn’t easy. The traditional methods were deeply ingrained, and many in her community were skeptical. Access to affordable materials and financing posed additional challenges.
Margaret Yainkain Mansaray in her production factory with staff.
UNDP Sierra Leone/Desmonda Aminata Cole
UNDP’s support from ideation to growth
That’s when the UNDP stepped in, identifying her grassroots solution and providing her crucial support through its Accelerator Lab . With seed funding, technical training, and mentorship, Margaret gained the tools to overcome the barriers in her path.
“The UNDP’s backing was a game changer,” she says. “It helped me lay a strong foundation for my business.”
In 2023, as part of the UNDP’s Growth Accelerator Programme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Margaret’s company received further support, allowing her to reach new milestones. The support entailed the provision of technical assistance, access to finance through a grant to scale her enterprises coupled with mentorship and business development services.
Utilizing the Growth Accelerator Programme’s support and funding from other sources ,, Margaret has trained over 100 women, youth, and even persons with disabilities, helping them access green clean cooking solutions while providing them with sustainable employment opportunities in Bo, Pujehun, Kenema, Moyamba, Kono and Freetown.
Margaret’s footprints
Margaret finds the greatest reward not only in profits, but in seeing a positive change in her customers' lives. “Women now enjoy better health, more free time, and a cleaner environment,” she smiles. The stoves not only reduced indoor air pollution but also helped curb the deforestation caused by excessive firewood collection, a major problem in Sierra Leone.
"With the clean cooking stove, I no longer worry about harmful smoke when cooking. My stove is three years old, uses less charcoal and cooks faster. It is healthier for my family, more affordable, and helps protect our environment”. – Adama Barrie, resident of Ascension Town, Freetown shares her experience using the stove.
Adama Barrie, a resident of Ascension Town, Freetown and a proud owner owner of Green Smart Clean Cooking
UNDP Sierra Leone/Desmonda Aminata Cole
Margaret’s innovations didn’t stop at the green smart stoves. As her business grows , so has her creativity. She has introduced solar-powered cold rooms and smoking kilns for women fishmongers in Freetown, King Jimmy Markey, Dove Court , DoveCot market etc These innovations not only served the local economy but also contributed to environmental sustainability.
Today, Women in Energy Sierra Leone has produced over 3,500 green clean cooking stoves, improving the lives of hundreds of families.
Margaret Y. Mansaray hands over a Smart Green Stove to a lady in her community.
Women in Energy Sierra Leone/Waheed Awonuga
Looking into the future
Looking ahead, she envisions a future where green clean cooking solutions are accessible to every household in Sierra Leone. She aims to make sustainable cooking the norm, not the exception. “The vision is to expand beyond Sierra Leone, into Liberia and Guinea, and to make a real impact across West Africa,” Margaret says with conviction.
To achieve this, she is strengthening partnerships with public and private sectors, investing in research and scaling up production. Margaret's inspiring journey is a powerful reminder of how individual vision, passion, and perseverance can transform lives. With the right blend of technical expertise and financial support, one person can lead the way in creating innovative solutions that spark meaningful change .
Margaret Y. Mansaray with her team at the Women in Energy Sierra Leone
UNDP Sierra Leone/Desmonda Aminata Cole
About the Growth Accelerator Programme
The UNDP's Growth Accelerator Programme, launched in 2022 in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs (MOYA), aims to boost the economic and social development of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Sierra Leone, particularly those led by women and youth. The programme offers financial grants, technical assistance, and mentorship and business development services to help entrepreneurs grow and succeed. It also monitors business progress to ensure sustainable development. The programme has had a significant impact, reaching a total of 52 MSMEs through two cohorts. The Growth Accelerator Programme is funded through UNDP’s Core Funding. Thanks to contributions from Government's of Germany, United States of America, Switzerland, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Denmark, South Korea, Qatar, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, India, we are empowering communities, building resilience, and promoting the creation of solutions in communities.
