Sophie Johnson

Sophie Johnson has over 30 years of experience in business, public relations, human resource management, public finance, quality assurance, performance management, and advocacy. She has over 10 years’ experience in the renewable energy sector in Sierra Leone. Sophie is the Country Director for Serengeti Energy Baoma Lt who is operating the first IPP solar plant in the country, providing 5MW of solar to the Government of Sierra Leone’s Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA). She is also the Director of Solar Era Holdings SL Ltd. and Africa Growth and Energy Solutions UK PLC, a company engaged in developing renewable energy projects across West and Central Africa. Sophie is a Founder and former President of the Sierra Leone Renewable Energy Association (REASL), an association of private sector stakeholders working with governments and donors to advocate for energy access using distributed renewable energy solutions. Under her leadership, REASL has played a key role in supporting off-grid market development in the country following the launch of the Energy Revolution in 2016.

As a specialized energy access professional, she has demonstrated her ability to communicate effectively and work strategically alongside government institutions, donors, civil society, and private sector, to deliver on high impact interventions that have yielded tangible results in the energy sector in the Country. Sophie has organized several high-level workshops to promote access to clean energy solutions. She has also represented REASL at international conferences on Sierra Leone’s growing renewables sector.

As a consultant she leads the update of the World Bank Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE) index for Sierra Leone and has worked on the on the World Bank assignment, “Unlock the Potential for Grid-Connected Solar Power through Private Sector Investment in Sierra Leone.” and on the “Promotion of climate adaptation technology and business model innovations and entrepreneurship in Sierra. She has also supported a study of the country’s rural mini-grid sector for SEforALL. She has extensive experience in working with UN agencies and other cooperation agencies. Sophie currently consults on the MCC Sierra Leone Compact.