Ouagadougou - 1st International Conference for the Popularization of Refrigeration in Africa
U-3ARC, in collaboration with its partners, is organizing 1st International Conference for the Popularization of Refrigeration in Africa on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. This meeting, which will feature several panels, will focus on the theme: "The refrigeration sector: a new factor with economic and environmental challenges, as well as the freedom of peoples."
Mastering Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) sector in Africa is synonymous with holding a significant asset for rapid and significant development. This cross-cutting sector is promising, inclusive, generates hundreds of thousands of jobs, and contributes greatly to food sovereignty and security. With these certainties in mind, U-3ARC is organizing the 1st International Conference for the Popularization of Refrigeration in Africa. Scheduled for Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the Ouagadougou International Conference Hall in the capital of Burkina Faso, the event, which will be enhanced by the presence of senior government officials, will focus on "The refrigeration sector: a new factor with economic and environmental challenges and the freedom of peoples."
The Pan-African Union of Refrigeration Technicians has announced a rich program (draft) throughout the day. Following the screening of a film the day before on refrigeration and post-harvest losses in Africa, entitled "Damaged Goods," from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ciné Burkina, an official opening ceremony will take place the following day from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Welcome remarks from the President of the Special Delegation of the Municipality of Ouagadougou will be followed by a message from the President of the CIVUFA Organizing Committee, followed by an address by the President of U-3ARC, Madi Sakandé. This session will conclude with a speech by the Burkinabe Minister of Secondary Education and Vocational and Technical Training, Guest of Honor, and the official opening address by the Minister of State, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Resources, and Fisheries.
Several panels followed by debates
After an initial break, the conference will feature several panels, followed by debates, throughout the day. Thus, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a first exchange of discussions is planned on “High-level dialogue on institutional and regulatory frameworks for refrigeration in Africa”, led by the Representative of the National Agency for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ANEREE) of Burkina Faso, Ms. Yosr Allouche, Director of the International Institute of Refrigeration, Mr. Steve Gill, Founder of World Refrigeration Day, and Mr. Rajendra Shende, Former UNEP Ozone Director, and moderated by Mr. Lassane Ouedraogo, Journalist in Burkina Faso.
In the afternoon, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., a second session, on “Challenges and Issues of the Cold Chain in Africa”, will be led by the Representative of the Burkinabe Ministry of Agriculture, Animal and Fisheries Resources, Ms. Halima Thraya, Expert from the International Institute of Refrigeration, and Mr. Said El Harch, Vice-President U-3ARC, and moderated by Mr. Daouda Mbaye, Journalist from Senegal.
From 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., a third and final session on "Prospects for the Development of Air Conditioning in Africa" will be led by Prof. Marcello Collantin, Centro Studi Galilo of Italy, Mr. Amidou Kaboré, Representative of Refrigeration Engineers of Burkina Faso, Mr. Roland Sanou, Coordinator of the Ozone Bureau of Burkina Faso, and Mr. Adlain Eyarwen Nkie Akan, Secretary General of U-3ARC, and moderated by Mr. Francis Sempore, Sustainable Energy & Cooling Expert, Burkina Faso.
At the end of these sessions, enriched by discussions with the audience, the final decisions and recommendations will be presented, as well as the acknowledgments, between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
General Assembly, in parallel
In the wake of its actions in favor of the RAC sector in Africa, U-3ARC will work to hold its General Assembly on Thursday, November 13, 2025, starting at 9:00 a.m. in a hotel in the Burkinabe capital, to which representatives of member associations and authorized special guests are invited. In addition to the reading of the Financial and Moral Report, other key points will be discussed during this General Assembly.
Note that on Thursday, November 14, successive Meetings are planned between members of the Executive Board, U-3ARC Trainers, and U-3ARC’s Women. This day will conclude with a gala dinner to mark the closing of the U-3ARC General Assembly from 7:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The program will conclude on Saturday, November 15, with visits to His Majesty the Mogho Naaba Baongo, Thomas Sankara Mausoleum and National Museum of Burkina Faso.