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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 around 10% 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!"

The project "Climate and Ozone Friendly Cooling in West and Central Africa (ROCA)" has trained more than 150 instructors in its project countries Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali and Senegal. In Burkina Faso alone, those trainers have teached over 2 700 students in 2023.

 

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."

During the first year after the acquisition, 11 000 persons profited from vaccinations in Tovor and in nine other newly equipped health care centres. The new refrigerators 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. 

 

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

Se­ne­gal: Trai­nings in Green Coo­ling

30.04.2024 , News :

Assane Thiam and Fatikha Ba, along with 98 other refrigeration and air conditioning professionals, have successfully completed a training course focusing on the use of natural refrigerants, which are less harmful to the environment and more energy-efficient.

Several technicians stand in front of a training bench that uses natural refrigerants. (opens enlarged image)GIZ Proklima / Kayfi Business
Practical training session on the use of natural refrigerants.

Originally from the Diourbel and Thiès regions respectively, Assane and Fatikha have a conscious vision of their profession. They understand that in an ever-changing world, technology must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility. The refrigeration and air-conditioning sector consumes around 10% of the world's electricity (opens in a new window) and is responsible for around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions (opens in a new window).

The training took place from 29 January to 01 March 2024 at the Lycée Technique et Professionnel François Xavier Ndione in Thiès, bringing together 100 dedicated technicians. They were introduced to the use of natural refrigerants such as propane, as part of the ROCA project implemented by GIZ in collaboration with the National Ozone Unit of the Ministry for the Environment (Bureau National Ozone, Direction de l'Environnement et des Établissements Classés).

The participants were varied, and included managers from public administration technical departments, experienced trainers and apprentices nearing the end of their professional education.

A young man with gloves and protective glasses stands in front of a training bench for natural refrigerants.Image: GIZ Proklima / Kayfi Business
Assane Thiam, training participant

Fatikha and Assane, members of this latest training cohort, have committed themselves to sharing the knowledge they have acquired and to becoming mutlipliers for the dissemination of best practices in their field.

For Assane, a student teacher in his final year at the 'Ecole Normale Supérieure d'Enseignement Technique et Professionnelle (ENSETP)' at Dakar's Cheikh Anta Diop University, this training has not only enabled him to familiarize himself with natural refrigerants, but also to learn best practices for using them safely. As for Fatikha, she hopes that this experience will strengthen her profile and facilitate her professional integration into the refrigeration and air conditioning sector.

Fatikha and Assane will now be counted among the pioneers of positive change in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector. Together with the hundreds of practitioners already trained by the ROCA project in Senegal, they are building a future where technology and the environment go hand in hand.

A young women with protective clothing stands in front of a training bench for natural refrigerants. She smiles.Image: GIZ Proklima / Kayfi Business
Fatikha Ba - training participant

The ROCA project aims to intervene in Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso and Cameroon, providing support in the fields of policy advice, technology transfer and capacity building. It is implemented by GIZ Proklima and co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).