STAR Academy Cohort 6 | Participant Spotlight - Yuniss Cumbane

For the first time, the STAR Academy has welcomed participants from outside Nigeria, extending its work in developing clean energy finance professionals across Africa. One of them is Yuniss Cumbane from Mozambique, a member of Cohort 6. In this participant highlight, she reflects on Nigeria’s experience in mobilising long-term local currency financing for infrastructure, and what it could mean for markets like hers, where such financing structures are still developing. She also shares how the programme deepened her understanding of project finance, especially how commercial viability, financial modelling, risk assessment, and environmental and social considerations come together to turn infrastructure needs into projects that can attract financing. Africa’s clean energy markets often face similar financing challenges, even where their commercial, regulatory and institutional conditions differ. Professionals who understand these differences, and can adapt financing approaches from one market to another, are essential to building a stronger infrastructure finance ecosystem. This is what the Academy’s regional expansion is about. By giving emerging professionals practical skills and exposure to different financing approaches, the programme is helping to build a wider pool of African talent who can move clean energy investment forward and expand access to sustainable energy across the continent.