U-3ARC U-3ARC Union of Associations of African Actors in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
U-3ARC Union of Associations of African Actors in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Excellence and Commitment: Senegal and Rwanda Win the 2026 Dr. Charity Kpabep Award

Mudenge Honest Hope of Rwanda and Aissatou Ly of Senegal take first place with an outstanding score of 87/100. A duo that embodies technical rigor, female excellence, and a commitment to sustainable refrigeration in Africa. July 2026 – The 2026 Dr. Charity Kpabep competition, organized by U-3ARC in partnership with the World Refrigeration Day NGO, lived up to expectations. Over several weeks, fourteen teams from Africa, twenty-eight women technicians in total, worked on a highly demanding technical challenge: diagnosing and repairing two common faults in a refrigeration system, through video submissions.

Excellence and Commitment: Senegal and Rwanda Win the 2026 Dr. Charity Kpabep Award

Following deliberations by the jury, composed of members of the U-3ARC Executive Bureau and Training Committee, the Senegalese-Rwandan duo made up of Aissatou Ly (Senegal) and Mudenge Honest Hope (Rwanda) emerged victorious with a score of 87/100, ahead of thirteen other teams from all corners of the continent.

Rigorous assessment based on four key criteria

The jury evaluated each video using a demanding scoring grid reflecting international professional standards:

  • Accuracy of diagnosis and measurements, including high and low pressure, temperatures, superheat/subcooling, and electrical values.
  • Technical repair methodology, including intervention logic, relevance of choices, and effectiveness of the solution.
  • Safety and environmental standards, including use of personal protective equipment, refrigerant recovery, and compliance with procedures.
  • Quality of video documentation, including clarity of the manipulations and readability of measurement displays.

What made the difference: scientific precision at a distance

What impressed the jury most about Aissatou and Mudenge was their exceptional command of measurement data. Their video did more than show a repair: it provided complete traceability of the readings before and after intervention, with remarkably clear close-ups of the gauges and diagnostic tools. This level of precision allowed the experts to validate the scientific soundness of their approach despite the remote format.

“This duo turned a video into a genuine technical report. The jury had no doubt about the validity of their intervention.”, excerpt from the jury report.

Zero discharge: environmental responsibility at the heart of the competition

Beyond technical performance, the competition served as a showcase for the technicians’ expertise in environmental protection. The jury nevertheless issued one recommendation: make refrigerant recovery steps even more visible to ensure a strict zero discharge policy into the atmosphere. It is a strong signal for a sector that must balance efficiency with climate responsibility.

Three recommendations for an even stronger 2027 edition

The jury also proposed several improvements for future editions:

  • Interactive defense: Introduce a live Q&A session by videoconference so candidates can explain and defend their technical choices in real time.
  • Technical media training: Offer a practical guide or short training session on filming technical work, including gauge framing and screen lighting, to ensure fairer evaluation.
  • Focus on the green transition: Center future topics on eco-responsible technologies using natural refrigerants such as R290, R600a, and R32, placing African women technicians at the heart of the climate response.

Congratulations to all participants

U-3ARC extends its warmest congratulations to Aissatou Ly and Mudenge Honest Hope for their well-deserved victory, as well as to all the teams from Senegal, Rwanda, Cameroon, Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and beyond. Your commitment is helping to spotlight women’s expertise in a sector that remains too male-dominated.

The award ceremony will take place during U-3ARC’s next General Assembly, scheduled in Rwanda. The EUR 1,000 prize and full travel support reward this year’s excellence in a duo that embodies the future of African refrigeration.