Hiwote Teshome holds a BSc in Chemistry from AAU and an MSc in Renewable Energy from the University of Oldenburg, Germany. Starting her career in 1989 at Ethiopia’s Energy Studies and Research Centre, she has worked with GTZ (GIZ), Practical Action Consulting, and as a freelance consultant, leading and implementing cook stove projects in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Mozambique. Since 2018, she has been with SNV Ethiopia, leading clean cooking projects and a multi-country project in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, focusing on Productive Use Renewable Energy (PURE) solutions to improve smallholder farmers’ livelihoods.

Hiwote has made significant contributions to household energy efforts in the countries she has been engaged in since the early stages of these initiatives.

Her work includes technology design, numerous energy studies and research, strategy formulation, and fostering an enabling environment and market creation, particularly beneficial for women. Her efforts have earned her recognition from donors and development partners. She is currently the Energy Sector Lead for SNV Ethiopia.

Hiwote Teshome  was awarded Influential Women in Energy Award at the Annual Women In energy Event hosted by EWiEn. The award is presented to women who work in the energy sector that are to have impactful leadership roles in the sector and therefore can pave the way for the young generation to aspire a profession and leadership role  in the energy sector , a leading figure in East Africa’s energy sector, with over 30 years of experience in renewable energy and clean cooking solutions.