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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

Cool Trai­ning Em­powers 15 Ref­ri­ge­ra­ti­on Tech­ni­ci­ans from Fran­co­pho­ne Af­ri­ca

26.05.2023 , News :

In a significant step towards promoting sustainable refrigeration practices in francophone Africa, GIZ Proklima in cooperation with the vocational training institute Bundesfachschule Kälte-Klima-Technik (BFS) recently conducted a two-week Cool Training. The training, held at the BFS in Maintal, aimed to equip refrigeration technicians from francophone African countries with knowledge and practical skills related to natural refrigerants.

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The participants of the Cool Training in front of the training center Bundesfachschule Kälte-Klima-Technik (BFS)

A total of 14 participants from Mali, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Mauritius enthusiastically engaged in the comprehensive training program. The participants explored the use of various natural refrigerants, including carbon dioxide, ammonia and propane, which are environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional synthetic refrigerants. With 13 of the participants participating through the project ROCA (opens in a new window) funded by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Development and Cooperation (BMZ), and one participant from Mauritius through the respective HPMP (opens in a new window), also funded by BMZ.

The Cool Training program placed great emphasis on practical application, allowing the participants to gain hands-on experience and enhance their technical proficiency. Under the guidance of the experienced trainer Reiner Mayers, the technicians had the opportunity to practice working with natural refrigerants, familiarizing themselves with the equipment and techniques required for their safe and efficient operation. As team leaders, trainers and entrepreneurs, they will spread their newly acquired skills in their countries.

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In addition to the training sessions, participants were invited to an insightful field trip to Nordfrost (opens in a new window), a company specialized in the use of ammonia refrigeration systems. This visit provided participants with valuable insight into the practical operation of an ammonia refrigeration system in use. They had the opportunity to observe and learn from industry experts and gained insights into the maintenance, operation and safety aspects of ammonia-based refrigeration systems.

The importance of this Cool Training program lies not only in the knowledge and skills the participants have gained, but also in the potential impact they can make in their home countries. By taking advantage of the training opportunities offered in Germany, these refrigeration technicians are now able to transfer their enhanced knowledge of natural refrigerants to their respective home countries.

This knowledge transfer will play an important role in introducing sustainable refrigeration practices, promoting energy efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of refrigeration systems in Francophone Africa.

For more information about the Cool Training program see here (opens in a new window).