Tanzania has awarded a total of 250 million Tanzanian Shillings in seed funding to ten innovators through the second Energy Efficiency Innovation Challenge. This initiative directly supports the implementation of Tanzania's first Energy Efficiency Action Plan (2022–2025) and the recently adopted National Energy Efficiency Strategy (2024–2034).
The event, held on Friday, September 12, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, was organized by the Ministry of Energy in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It served as a platform for government officials, development partners, media representatives, and young people to celebrate local solutions that are driving Tanzania's sustainable energy transition.
This year's challenge attracted 95 applications from across the country. From this pool, ten promising innovators were selected to each receive up to 25 million Tanzanian Shillings, along with technical mentorship to pilot their solutions. These solutions focus on key areas such as:
- Energy-efficient appliances
- Sustainable building practices
- Behavior-change models to promote energy conservation
Government and Partner Perspectives
Speaking at the event, Innocent Luoga, Commissioner for Electricity and Renewable Energy, representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, emphasized the broader benefits of energy efficiency. "Energy efficiency is not only about reducing consumption but also about unlocking opportunities for innovation, job creation, and sustainable industrialisation," Luoga stated. He further added, "Through this Challenge, we are empowering Tanzanians, especially youth and women, to take part in shaping the country’s energy future. Tanzania is committed to working closely with other stakeholders to ensure the country achieves its national goals."
Lamine Diallo, the EU Head of Natural Resources, reiterated the European Union's commitment to supporting Tanzania's clean energy agenda. "The European Union is proud to support Tanzania’s journey towards clean energy for all. These innovators represent the creativity and commitment needed to make energy efficiency a reality for households, businesses, and communities," Diallo said. He also noted that this collaboration would contribute to global climate goals and Tanzania's Vision 2050.
John Rutere, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, highlighted the far-reaching impact of local innovation. "Energy efficiency is a cornerstone of Tanzania’s just energy transition and an enabler of sustainable development. By investing in local innovators, we are not only reducing emissions and creating green jobs but also ensuring that energy access is affordable, inclusive, and leaves no one behind," Rutere explained.
Innovator Spotlights: Cutting-Edge Solutions
The Energy Efficiency Innovation Challenge not only provided funding, but also showcased the ingenuity and dedication of Tanzanian innovators.
- Ubuntu Afyalink: Green Energy for Healthcare
Anodi Kaihula, CEO and co-founder of Ubuntu Afyalink, a youth-led start-up, is one of the beneficiaries. Ubuntu Afyalink offers green energy solutions tailored for the healthcare sector. Their project, Ubuntu GreenPower+, provides solar-powered systems (ranging from 500W to 2kW) bundled with ultra-efficient medical appliances. These appliances include vaccine freezers and diagnostic device chargers designed for use in last-mile healthcare clinics.
The system features a real-time monitoring dashboard accessible via WhatsApp or the web, which allows facility managers to track energy consumption, battery health, and uptime. This technology replaces diesel, optimizes loads, and encourages preventive energy habits, thereby improving service delivery, cutting carbon dioxide emissions, and ensuring reliable power for life-saving treatments.
A key aspect of Ubuntu GreenPower+ is its innovative financing model, which allows facilities to pay only for the energy they consume on a pay-as-you-use basis. This reduces operational costs while providing affordable, reliable, clean energy solutions.
- Smart Energy Management for Homes and Businesses
Dr. Godiana Philipo, a lecturer at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology in Arusha, also received funding for her innovation focused on energy monitoring, management, optimization, and recommendations.
Her system aims to empower users to actively manage their electricity consumption. It involves installing smart meters or sockets to measure usage, incorporating user behavior to control loads, and automatically switching appliances on or off based on usage patterns and user preferences. The system also provides personalized recommendations, identifying inefficient appliances and suggesting improvements, while predicting potential savings.
Dr. Philipo's team has already begun prototyping the product, building upon her PhD research. The 25 million Tanzanian Shillings prize money will be instrumental in further developing and implementing the solution, strengthening the prototype and expanding the impact of her innovation.
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