…as he wins US$4M award to advance Clean Energy across Africa

By Moses Ziyambi

Widespread energy poverty in Zimbabwe and across Africa should inspire young people to innovate sustainable energy solutions that minimize environmental impact, says Green Governance Zimbabwe (GGZ) Director Nyasha Frank Mpahlo.

Mpahlo recently spoke to EnviroPress after being named one of four recipients of the 2026 Climate Breakthrough Awards, which include a US$4 million multi-year funding package for each winner.

“Many of the problems we face in the country, and indeed across the African continent, relate to limited access to electricity. Even for those connected to national grids, consistent supply is never guaranteed. The onus is therefore on us to find sustainable solutions,” said Mpahlo.

Highlighting the widespread felling of trees for wood fuel, Mpahlo emphasized that deliberate steps must be taken to develop clean energy solutions that cater directly to the needs of rural communities.

“The reliance on firewood and charcoal has led to severe deforestation in Zimbabwe. In parts of Zambia I have visited, the problem is even more pronounced, with extensive charcoal use on a scale I haven’t seen anywhere else. Businesses there have also been slower than ours to adopt solar energy, relying heavily on diesel generators, which is deeply regrettable,” he said.

Mpahlo explained that he is working to rally innovators across Africa and the broader Global South to build sustainable energy solutions tailored to local realities. Through the Climate Breakthrough Award program, he plans to build a supporting ecosystem to connect African innovators and help locally led energy projects scale from promising pilots into systems capable of transforming entire communities.

He described the award as an exciting catalyst for the ambitious ideas being developed by his Mutare-based organization.

“While I am excited about the possibilities ahead, I recognize the immense work our team at Green Governance Zimbabwe must do to turn these ideas into measurable outcomes,” Mpahlo added.

Climate Breakthrough is a major global philanthropic program that provides flexible, multi-year funding to exceptional leaders working on bold, large-scale climate mitigation initiatives. The programme supports visionary leaders as they develop, launch, and scale transformative policies, economic strategies, and social solutions to combat climate change.

Other winners of the 2026 awards programme are Delphine Lévi Alvarès from France, Josimara Baré from Brazil, and Valmir Ortega from Brazil.