Ms. Jihane Bakounoure is an energy efficiency expert and technical lead within the Energy Efficiency for Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa (EELA) Program at the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), based in Praia, Cabo Verde. She is a trained renewable energy and energy efficiency engineer.

In her current role at ECREEE, she coordinates regional energy efficiency activities across ECOWAS Member States and advances market transformation through stronger energy efficiency policies, Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), energy labelling, harmonised testing procedures, market surveillance and compliance systems for efficient appliances and equipment.

Before joining the EELA Program, Jihane worked on several regional sustainable energy initiatives at ECREEE, including the programme Promotion of a Climate-friendly Electricity Market (ProCEM-II), the ECOWAS Draft Directive on Battery Energy Storage Systems, the ECOWAS Special Intervention Fund and the ECOWAS Green Hydrogen Policy.

She holds a Master’s degree in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency and is RENAC-certified in energy efficiency. Her work combines technical coordination, policy implementation, capacity building and cooperation with international energy institutions to strengthen energy efficiency markets in Africa.