BRILHO Programme wins SEforAll’s Africa Changemaker - Energy Heroes Award 2025
The BRILHO programme, funded by the Governments of the United Kingdom and Sweden and implemented by SNV, has been awarded the Africa Changemaker - Energy Heroes Award 2025, during the SEforALL Global Forum in Barbados. This recognition highlights BRILHO’s systemic approach to transforming off-grid energy markets and its role in accelerating access to sustainable and inclusive energy solutions in Mozambique.
As a pioneering market-driven programme, BRILHO has been instrumental in strengthening the off-grid energy sector, bridging gaps between the private sector, government, and communities to drive scalable and lasting change. Since its launch in 2019, BRILHO has enabled clean energy access for over 3.1 million people across Mozambique, supported the distribution of over 375,200 solar home systems and 252,200 improved cookstoves, mobilized £41.7 million in private sector investment to scale energy solutions, avoided 790,100 tonnes of CO₂ emissions contributing to global climate action, and created more than 2,400 jobs, fostering entrepreneurship and strengthening local energy markets.
This award underscores SNV’s commitment to driving sustainable and market-based energy solutions that foster system transformations. BRILHO has demonstrated that an enabling regulatory environment, de-risked private sector investment, and community engagement are key to achieving inclusive energy transitions.
Javier Ayala, BRILHO’s Team Leader, reflected on the significance of the award, stating: “Winning the Changemaker for Africa - Energy Heroes Award is an incredible honour, not only for me but for the entire BRILHO team and our partners. This recognition reaffirms the importance of our mission to make clean energy solutions accessible to millions. It highlights the transformative power of market-driven approaches in achieving energy inclusion and climate resilience. Above all, it serves as motivation for us to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation, ensuring that no one is left behind in Mozambique’s energy transition.”
The SEforALL Global Forum is a key milestone in the global sustainable energy movement, bringing together leaders from government, business, and finance to forge partnerships and drive investment into clean energy solutions. The 2025 edition focuses on creating the conditions for a just and equitable energy transition, eliminating energy poverty while advancing climate goals. As the world moves towards COP30, BRILHO’s success serves as a blueprint for transformative energy solutions, demonstrating that market-based interventions can accelerate clean energy access while fostering economic development.