Youssouf Ali Mbodou

2025-2026 Obama Foundation Africa Leader

Headshot of Youssouf Ali Mbodou, 2025-2026 Obama Foundation Africa Leader

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Kouran Jabo

Chad

Youssouf Ali Mbodou is the founder and chief executive officer of Kouran Jabo, a solar energy distributor pioneering a pay-as-you-go model to provide access to affordable, clean energy across Chad. Growing up studying by kerosene lamp, Youssouf is now driven to provide affordable and dependable electricity for his fellow Chadians. Youssouf’s company offers off-grid solar alternatives, including lamps, refrigerators, televisions, and fans, to small-scale retailers, students, and households in rural, peri-urban, and underserved urban areas. He has provided electricity to over 6,000 households, impacting over 30,000 lives across seven provinces. Driven by a commitment to mitigating climate change, Youssouf works to reduce the financial barriers tied to climate-friendly solutions while providing education to his community on the benefits of sustainable energy.

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