Mwayi Kampesi: Lessons from Malawi’s Young Clean Cooking CEO
Mwayi Kampesi is the Founder of Planet Green Africa, a renewable energy company that seeks to eradicate energy poverty by providing access to clean cooking solutions to support health and provide environmental benefits whilst economically empowering women across Malawi. She received several awards and recognitions, including an honoree recognition in Forbes Magazine as a 2017 Forbes Africa 30 Under 30, recognition by the 2018 World Youth Forum for the 100 Top Start-Ups, the Obama Foundation African Leader of 2019 Award, 100 Faces of Hope Award, and most recently, the Commonwealth-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Green Investment Award.
The Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) spoke with Kampesi about her valuable experience as a young entrepreneur and leader in clean cooking.
This story is part of a series featuring youth leaders from across the clean cooking sector.
CCA: What motivates you to work towards a cleaner and more sustainable future for all?
Kampesi: Malawi is a very beautiful country. However, we are experiencing an alarming rate of forest loss due to the need for trees for cooking because 96% of the population depends on fuel from trees for cooking. It is almost impossible not to notice the alarming rate at which trees are disappearing each day to serve this need. I was shocked to learn that every eight seconds, someone in the world dies because of the effects of inhaling fumes from open cooking fires. The impact is greater than malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS combined.
Even with such horrific consequences, clean cooking is not given much attention, and wood fuels remain a major source of fuel for cooking across the globe. I knew then I needed to do something.
CCA: Tell us about your experience as founder and CEO of Planet Green Africa.
Kampesi: I founded Planet Green Africa, which works to provide low-income households across Malawi access to a safer, cleaner, and eco-friendly cooking fuel option. We produce and distribute a biofuel briquette called ‘Nyasa Moto’, which converts recycled agricultural waste into high-quality briquettes. We pride ourselves for being immersed in the local community. For example, we procure agricultural waste by working with smallholder women farmers, and we partner with a network of women as sales agents who earn a commission.
I love being the CEO of Planet Green Africa and it has been an enjoyable experience this far. I have learned that the world’s most successful leaders are never-ending students. So, I keep learning and seeking to be better than I was yesterday, which means I am still actively reaching out to and learning from people who are ahead of me in my field.
CCA: What do you consider to be your most significant professional achievement?
Kampesi: Along my professional journey, I received different awards and recognition for the positive impact Planet Green Africa has been able to achieve, which motivates us and reminds us that our work matters. However, I think my most significant achievement is not the number of awards, but the positive impact Planet Green Africa makes, and particularly how we can help transform the lives of women and communities. We started with just 8 farmers to procure our raw materials. Now, we are working with 518 farmers and are reducing indoor pollution in thousands of Malawian homes.
CCA: Why do you find it important to empower women in the clean cooking ecosystem?
Kampesi: It is crucial to change the narrative across Africa that ‘women belong in the kitchen’. It is a well-known fact that women are natural caregivers, and if a woman has an income, she will spend it in ways that benefit her family and community. At Planet Green Africa, we deliberately work with women in our value chain to ensure we offer them economic opportunities.
CCA: What advice would you give to women and girls considering careers in entrepreneurship and clean cooking?
Kampesi: I like to believe there is no right or wrong way or time to start. However, I recommend finding a mentor or a role model, and tapping into the experience of someone whom you can ask for insightful, reliable, and relevant advice. Don’t underestimate your value to take up space. Go with your gut instinct and you will be successful and make a positive impact.
