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Ozone and Cli­ma­te Fri­end­ly Coo­ling in West and Cen­tral Af­ri­ca (RO­CA)

The ROCA project promotes ozone- and climate-friendly cooling technologies in the four African countries Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali and Senegal. It started in April 2021 and will run until March 2024. 

Map with partner countries

Partner Countries

RAC appliances are spreading rapidly across Africa, particularly in the cities. In rural areas, on the other hand, there is still a lack of refrigeration equipment for agriculture and medical care. The rising number of RAC will contribute to increased energy needs as well as the use of refrigerant gases, many of which are highly damaging to the ozone layer and the global climate. To limit this dual impact, it is necessary to introduce a wide range of ozone- and climate-friendly cooling solutions.

Technicians at a training for Senegal's network of women in refrigeration, February 2023

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ROCA (Refroidissement respectueux de l'Ozone et du Climat en Afrique de l'Ouest et Centrale) contributes to an increasing use of Green Cooling technologies through improving the policy and regulatory framework on the one hand and building capacity for the use of such technologies on the other.

ROCA includes the following measures: 

  • Analysing current and future cooling demands in the partner countries (RAC inventories)
  • Advisory services for the governments, based on RAC inventories and assessment of existing policies
  • Trainings of RAC technicians on safe handling of natural refrigerants online and in Germany (Cool Trainings) as well as in the partner countries
  • regional workshops on climate finance and business models to promote the accelerated adoption of ozone- and climate-friendly as well as energy-efficient appliances using natural refrigerants
  • Pilot projects using Green Cooling technologies; e.g.
    • Air Conditioning: R290-ACs for public buildings
    • Food Security:
      • cold rooms for agricultural cooperatives in Mali and Senegal;
      • an ice machine for a fishermen's cooperative in Senegal
      • a cold chain between the slaughterhouse and the market in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
    • Good Health: cooling for vaccines in Burkina Faso and for a hospital in Cameroon

The project is co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Pro­kli­ma Im­pact Sto­ries

Let us give the word to people in our project countries.

Learn more about Alimata

"As refrigeration technicians, we contribute to environmental pollution and global warming", explains Alimata COULIBALY KINDO, trainer in refrigeration and air conditioning . Her sector is responsible for up to 13% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions are caused by the high electricity consumption of the appliances and the high global warming potential of the refrigerants in use. In October 2022, Ms Coulibaly took part in our Cool Training. "In the GIZ Cool Training, I learnt how to use natural refrigerants to reduce pollution and save energy."
One year later, she says that she uses the content of the training in her lessons. She says: "Other generations will come after us. So we are all called upon to protect this planet!"

Country: Burkina Faso

Project: ROCA (opens in a new window)

Donors: European Union, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

Listen to Alimata and other Cool Training participants who explain the advantages of natural refrigerants:

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Learn more about Simplice

Simplice Tirogo is a nurse and head of the centre for health care and social support in Tovor, Burkina Faso. The project 'Ozone and Climate Friendly Cooling in West and Central Africa (ROCA)' supported his health care centre with a vaccine refrigerator in 2023. "Our refrigerator was broken since 2020, so the vaccines had to be stored in a neighbouring village. Each time, we had to travel 15 km to bring back the vaccines in a transport box that lasted cold during only a day or two. That means, the cold chain was not sufficient and many vaccines spoiled", explains Simplice Tirogo. "Since we received the refrigerator, we can store the vaccines and keep them fresh on site. We can now instantly immunise the pregnant women and the children who come here and whose vaccinations had to be postponed before. This is very satisfying. I thank all partners who made this possible."

The new refrigerators in Tovor and other municipalities are even more climate-friendly than the previous ones: they are very energy-efficient and run on the natural refrigerant isobutane (R600a). The necessary electricity comes from solar panels, which were also procured by ROCA.

Country: Burkina Faso

Project: ROCA (opens in a new window)

Donors: European Union, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

More stories coming soon...

La­test News

A su­per­vi­si­on mis­si­on to ex­ch­an­ge with the pro­ject ac­tors in Bur­ki­na Fa­so

20.04.2023 , News :

The ROCA-GIZ Project Manager, Mr Nils Hansen, and the Junior Advisor, Ms Mairin Herm, visited Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from 13 to 15 March 2023 to supervise the project Refroidissement respectueux de l’Ozone et du Climat en Afrique de l’Ouest et Centrale (ROCA).

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The supervision mission accompanied by the Director of the refrigerated meat processing plant and representatives of the Ouagadougou butchers' association.

As part of the implementation of the ROCA (opens in a new window)project, a supervision mission led by the project manager, Nils Hansen, visits the ROCA project's partner countries. The project is active in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali and Senegal. Co-funded by the German Development Cooperation and the European Union, the ROCA project is implemented by GIZ. The project aims to reduce the climate impact of the refrigeration and air conditioning sector in Burkina Faso and in the countries where it is implemented.

In Burkina Faso, ROCA works to increase the use of Green Cooling technologies through the improvement of the policy and regulatory framework on the one hand and technology transfer and capacity building for the use of Green Cooling technologies on the other.
Burkina Faso is the first country where the mission visited from 13 to 15 March 2023. During three days and with the accompaniment of the ROCA Coordinator, Ms Pauline Zaba, the mission held a series of exchanges with the project stakeholders. Thus, after having been received by the Minister of Environment, Water and Sanitation, the mission met with members of the National Ozone Office, the Directorate General for Environmental Preservation (DGPE) and the European Union in Burkina Faso.

The group also visited the vocational training centre in Ouagadougou, a training school in "refrigeration and air conditioning" and the Ouagadougou Abattoir frigorifique, which already has a ROCA pilot project. This field visit by the project managers made it possible to take stock of the achievements of the various pilot projects, the progress made and to gather the expectations and suggestions of the stakeholders.

Most cooling and air conditioning technologies are currently harmful to the ozone layer. Yet their consumption is increasing in Burkina Faso. Quick action is needed for the climate and the ozone layer. This follow-up visit to the ROCA project strengthens the collaboration in the promotion of Green Cooling technologies in Burkina Faso. It is about protecting the ozone layer, the climate and the planet by changing our behaviour!

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Ms Mairin Herm, Ms Pauline Zaba and Mr Nils Hansen.
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