Teji, Liilnna

Liilnna Kifle Teji is a Senior Policy Associate at Duke University, where she works with the James E. Rogers Energy Access Project. She focuses on advancing energy transitions in emerging markets, with an emphasis on expanding access, improving electricity reliability, and supporting sustainable economic growth across Africa.

Her research explores how policy, regulation, and investment can strengthen power systems and improve performance for households, businesses, and communities, including the strategic integration of electric mobility solutions to enhance system efficiency and productive use of electricity. She works closely with governments, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to translate applied research into practical strategies that enhance reliability and unlock sustainable investment opportunities.

Before joining Duke, Liilnna worked in project development and investment advisory roles across the African electricity sector, including utility-scale solar, mini-grids, and distributed energy systems. She also practiced energy law, supporting multinational developers with regulatory compliance, licensing, and project structuring in Ethiopia. She holds an LL.M. in Energy Law from the University of Aberdeen and an LL.B. from Addis Ababa University.