Female Founders You Should Know: Meet Liliane Munezero

Candid, personal and authentic conversations with #Female #Founders across the globe going against the grain, challenging the status quo, creating change and impact in different industries.

Meet Liliane Munezero Ndabaneze Chabuka , CEO at WidEnergy Africa Ltd.Women’s Initiative for Delivering clean Energy to Africa (Widenergy Africa Ltd), is a women – led company, registered in Zambia, dedicated to the last mile distribution of clean, reliable, and affordable energy solutions. Their Mission is to provide last-mile renewable energy solutions and to empower African women the champions in clean energy distribution and active agents for climate change.

Who is Liliane?

I am a wife, a mother to two amazing daughters, and a proud, emotional impact-oriented entrepreneur. In September 2016, I Co-founded WidEnergy Africa ltd, a company empowering women in last-mile distribution of clean, reliable and affordable energy solutions to underserved households and small businesses. I am a firm believer in the ability of women to drive Africa's green growth. 

Why did you decide to start WidEnergy?

 In June 2012, I packed my bags, resigned from a job I loved in Washington, D.C, and joined my husband in Zambia, where we relocated. Zambia became my home, and I had to figure out what's next; I did not know what I wanted to do: But I knew whatever it was going to be meaningful and leave a sustainable impact on society.

In Zambia, 72% of the population have no access to reliable electricity. They rely on toxic and expensive alternative energy sources (candles, kerosene, diesel). For me, there was a business opportunity, while improving lives for those leaving in energy poverty—One Home at a time.

What drives you?

I am driven by the need to give back by making positive changes and differences in people's lives. I see the excitement on the faces of children who have never had lights on in their homes. Children are finally able to do their school/homework without having to strain their eyesight from the use of candlelight. About 80 % of our clients have never owned any other clean source of lighting system before purchasing our solar kit—the mere gesture of switching lights on and off in their homes, is done for the first time in their lives. I've seen first-hand how what we deliver is more than just lighting. It gives our customers a new sense of family: seating around the living room, catching up on how their days went for an hour or two before going to bed, is unknown: because they now can see each other appropriately. 

Coming up with creative ideas to improve lives for rural women and girls, with something new, safe and affordable. I am driven by connecting a targeted number of households within deadlines, as it gives me a sense of accomplishment, and it's something that I can look back and say "We achieved that".

I am also motivated by tangible results—for example, we just achieved the milestone of 5,000 households connected with Solar Home Systems bundled up with entry-level mobile phone. It gives me a sense of accomplishment—knowing that up to 30,000 people, will have lights and charge their phones even during these hard "stay Home" times of Covid-19.

What are your dreams concerning women, energy and technology, and what role do you see yourself playing to make this reality a possibility?

Women are the "primary" CEOs" in their households—especially in the rural set up: They are crucial to the economic growth if only they could be afforded equal opportunities and access to financial support and other options.

My focus is on increasing women's knowledge on the benefits of using high-quality clean energy products, knowing the risks of climate change on their lives and their abilities to become the change-makers in climate change adaptation and mitigation, at the community level.

The role we have played to make this a reality is to offer an affordable pack to electrification with our pay as you go solar solution to off-grid homes. 

My dream is for WidEnergy Africa to expand into all regions of Zambia and beyond, providing more employment opportunities to more women and girls within the communities. I hope to look back and realise how big of an impact and contribution we've achieved in bringing healthy and sustainable solutions towards attaining the SDGs—Especially on

SDG5 on Gender and Equality,

SDG1-No poverty: by creating employment,

SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 13: Climate Action by reducing CO2 emission. 

What kind of partners are you looking for?

As WidEnergy Africa, we focus our business on the lending portfolio. The company is a capital intensive business: and for a start-up like ours: We always need proper debt facility: debt (in the form of shareholder loans) and equity. Simply because we still need to raise more money to be able to sell more and expand. I am looking for partners who share the vision of the work we do. Partners who want to better the lives of women knowing that to empower a woman is to empower a community.

What is your personal relationship and thoughts around wealth, as a black African woman and entrepreneur? 

My thoughts around wealth building through entrepreneurship are:

WidEnergy is women-led company, owned and managed by Africans. I have experienced first-hand how hard the entrepreneur journey can be even more challenging for a black African woman. Most companies, especially in our industry, are set up from abroad, with relatively deeper pockets, and broader connections from the Western World.

Having said that, our commitment to contribute to the improvement of social issues that affect women such as unemployment, underemployment, poverty, and all other adverse climate impacts remain founded. And it is that same belief that gives me confidence that we can change the narrative. As per the energy sector, my hope is that there will be an increasing focus on women, especially women in senior management. The industry is male-dominated, even though it is new—also, more emphasis on the empowerment of women throughout the value chain.

Wealth is an end to a means. Which makes different meaning to different people. As a black female entrepreneur, my first measure of wealth is the impact my work will have on the lives of others. In building a sustainable business, one is guided by the 3 P's; PEOPLE, PLANET, PROFIT.

I would like to end by quoting one of the special force and believer in women empowerment

"Women's movements are often unseen, uncelebrated, and unfunded. But they have changed the course of history anyway—and they will again." Melinda Gates:

To all my sisters out there, remember that you are worthy and continue the challenging entrepreneur journey: never give up that resilience.

Liliane is looking to connect with Investors (Angels, PE, VCs, Institutional, Family Offices.