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

World Refrigeration Day: Cameroon Rallies for a Professional and Sustainable Sector

On July 24th and 25th, 2025, the city of Douala (Cameroon) pulsed to the rhythm of refrigeration. But not just any kind—this was the kind that preserves vaccines, protects food supplies, fuels value chains... and yet remains invisible. Thanks to the Association of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Professionals of Cameroon (APFCC), this vital sector stepped out of the shadows to take center stage during the fifth edition of World Refrigeration Day.

Lassane OUÉDRAOGO

World Refrigeration Day: Cameroon Rallies for a Professional and Sustainable Sector

Two Days to Reconnect Technology, Climate, and Professional Dignity

With exhibitions, panel discussions, networking events, and educational fairs, the gathering brought together technicians seeking recognition, curious students, committed policymakers, and concerned citizens. All were united by a shared realization: refrigeration is strategic for Cameroon, yet it remains under-structured and under-valued.

Revealing Realities That Demand Action

The event spotlighted very real and deeply human challenges:

  • Know-how is still passed on through informal learning, in the absence of an official national framework.
  • Training centers lack modern equipment, and curricula fail to reflect emerging climate and technological issues.
  • Technicians often lack access to natural refrigerants and the tools needed for environmentally responsible practices.
  • Manufacturers rarely provide on-site support when new equipment is commissioned.

What Professionals Are Asking For: Skills That Meet Climate Challenges

The recommendations emerging from these exchanges were clear, ambitious, and forward-looking:

  • Upgrade and properly equip training centers nationwide.
  • Train instructors in advance on emerging technologies and updated safety standards.
  • Reframe educational content through the lens of energy and climate transitions.
  • Support professional associations with financial mechanisms such as the Multilateral Fund for the Ozone Layer.
  • Implement continuing education for technicians already in the field.
  • Raise awareness of the environmental impact of refrigeration equipment.
  • Revisit customs policies to facilitate access to eco-friendly refrigeration tools and equipment.


A Pan-African Vision Led by U-3ARC

Present throughout the event, Madi Sakandé, president of U-3ARC, highlighted the urgency of a continental dialogue on the professionalization of refrigeration and air conditioning. Alongside this momentum, strategic meetings took place—most notably with a representative from the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises—reflecting a growing appetite for collaboration between institutions and grassroots actors.

“This is not a secondary sector. It’s vital. It deserves recognition, structure, and innovation.” — Madi Sakandé