Magrete Francisco: The strength of a woman empowered by clean energy

In the locality of Gueguegue, in Maputo, a new reality is taking shape through small but meaningful acts of transformation. Magrete Francisco, originally from Massinga and a Maputo resident since 2008, is the face of a quiet change that is inspiring her community. A mother of two with an entrepreneurial spirit, Magrete’s life took a new direction after attending one of the cooking fairs organised under the “Smoke-Free Village” campaign — an initiative of the BRILHO programme, funded by the governments of the United Kingdom and Sweden, and implemented by SNV in Boane district.

It was at this event that Magrete first came into contact with an improved cookstove. What initially seemed like just a simple tool quickly became an essential ally in her daily life. “With one 1,500 meticais bag of charcoal, I can cook for three months and two weeks. Before, it would only last one month,” she proudly shares.

The savings generated by the reduced charcoal consumption went far beyond the kitchen. With the extra money, Magrete was finally able to plaster her house — a dream she had postponed since 2010. Motivated by this achievement, she also launched a small business selling dobrada in her community, further diversifying her sources of income.

In her spare time, she tends to her small vegetable garden, where she grows lettuce and cabbage, contributing to her family's food security and promoting sustainable practices.

Today, Magrete dreams of expanding her home — a goal she believes is increasingly within reach thanks to the savings enabled by the improved cookstove.

Magrete Francisco is an inspiring example of how access to clean and affordable energy solutions can improve quality of life, empower women, strengthen economic resilience, and foster hope in every corner of Mozambican communities.