The Clean Cooling Network

Born in Rwanda - Global in vision

The Clean Cooling Network (CCN) is a globally integrated programme to make cooling and cold-chain critical national infrastructure.

Our mission is to accelerate the delivery of sustainable, resilient and equitable cooling and cold-chains in the developing countries of the world, harnessing them to improve food security and resilience - as well as social, One Health, environmental and economic goals - locally and globally.

"How do we unlock Africa’s agricultural potential to feed itself and the world whilst also economically empowering smallholder farmers and making them climate-resilient … all without using diesel?"

Clean Cooling Network Programme in Action
Clean Cooling Network Programme in Action
Clean Cooling Network Programme in Action
Clean Cooling Network Programme in Action
Clean Cooling Network Programme in Action
Clean Cooling Network Programme in Action
Clean Cooling Network Programme in Action
Clean Cooling Network Programme in Action
Clean Cooling Network Programme in Action

The Programme in Action

We aim to provide the tools, knowledge, training, and support throughout The Programme to deliver inclusive, equitable, and future-proofed cooling and cold-chain solutions with minimum environmental impact.

It's time to start reframing cooling as critical infrastructure because many communities lack access to reliable, sustainable cooling, and the consequences of this are far-reaching. Including:

  • Inequality continues across working environments
  • Food spoils before it reaches markets
  • Vaccines and medicines degrade in transit
  • Extreme heat threatens lives and livelihoods
  • Farmers lose income, and supply chains break down

Clean Cooling Academy

Educational and professional development courses covering topics such as the cold-chain, refrigeration, and GESI, aimed at enhancing the skills of an individual or workforce.

Training at the CCN Academy

Training at CCN

Educational and professional development courses for you and your workforce.

Upcoming Academy courses

Essentials course on Phase Change Materials
17th to 28th November 2025, ACES, Kigali, Rwanda
1st to 12th December 2025 ACES, Kigali, Rwanda

Essentials in Brazing Techniques for Refrigeration Systems
24th to 28th November 2025 ACES, Kigali, Rwanda
1st to 5th December 2025 ACES, Kigali, Rwanda
8th to 12th December 2025 ACES, Kigali, Rwanda

Cold-chain for Global Health
24th November to 19th December 2025, ACES, Kigali, Rwanda

Foundation in Cold-chain - India
15th to 19th December 2025 HACE, Haryana

By Degrees Magazine

Expert comment and analysis from the Clean Cooling Network, opening up the discussion around clean cooling, cold-chain, energy transition, policy-making, community engagement, climate change, and much more.

By Degrees discussions

By Degrees Magazine aims to promote, explore and stimulate debate around the role of cooling as critical infrastructure, ensuring societal well-being, economic stability, and public health; adapting and mitigating the impacts of extreme heat to climate change.

In a By Degrees article, A Cool World: Accelerating the journey to Sustainable Cold-Chain for the Global South, Dr Tim Fox explores the importance of clean cooling solutions, the barriers to progress and the roadmap to a cool world - also to be explored at our upcoming conference: Sustainable Cold-Chain for the Global South.

In another By Degrees article, Building Africa’s Resilience through Cold-Chain Training for Global Health, ACES’s One Health team, Jean Pierre Musabyimana, Hugor Shema and Ariane Mutabaruka discuss how the cold-chain is the silent backbone to global health, and how its failure can mean the difference between life and death. This is one of the plenary topics to be discussed at the Sustainable Cold-Chain for the Global South conference too.

Recently published
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A day in the life of Nepo

Benjamin Mugabo shows us through pictures, a day in the life of Nepo - a District Agriculture Sector Inspector in Rwanda.

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Our communities

Discussion groups, available for all CCN members, that provide access to relevant cooling and cold-chain content and support.

CCN communities

Join The Clean Cooling Community of Practice for Mapping the food system - Towards efficient post-harvest management.

It explores the fresh produce supply chain, identifying the most critical loss points, and aims to develop strategic interventions to mitigate these inefficiencies.

The CoP is led by Dr. Carol Verheecke-Vaessen and Dr. Tobi Fadiji at Cranfield University.

 

Our other communities include:

A thermometer in front of a city overheating under the hot sun

+50°C Community of Practice

Join the Living in a +50°C World Community of Practice to discuss these important issues, attend events and contribute!

The future of cooling

The programme is already being rolled out in multiple markets in Africa (Senegal and Lesotho alongside Rwanda and Kenya) and India (Telangana and a Centre of Excellence in Haryana). Over the next three years, our global reach is planned to continue to grow, driven by our team of more than 80 researchers and experts and our industry leaders, international development agencies, and government partners.

 

Get involved

Whether you're shaping policy, building systems, or supporting communities, we invite you to explore our resources, connect with our partners, and help make clean cooling accessible to all.

The Clean Cooling Network logo

Become a member

Join the network for free:

  • Cooling and cold-chain resources
  • Expert chats and debates
  • Cooling news, events & webinars
  • Support and much more
Training in progress!

Annual Review 2024/25

A pivotal year for the Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain Solutions Programme. Our annual review is now available for members to download.

conference-sustainable-cold-chain-for-the-global-south

Join us at our next conference

Sustainable Cold-Chain for the Global South, Birmingham, UK

  • Participate in discussions and workshops
  • Network with industry experts, academics, NGOs and more
  • Discuss steps to accelerate meaningful change
Clean Cooling In Action

Clean Cooling Network in Action

Download our Sustainable Cold-Chain For The Global South 2025 - Brochure

Picture of the Week

Check out our "Cool" Picture of the Week

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Picture of the week: A solar-powered refrigerator

ACES staff explains to primary pupils the operation of a solar-powered refrigerator that uses an internal water-jacket cooling system, alongside a guide for optimally arranging fruits and vegetables inside.

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Network News

The latest from the global Clean Cooling community

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Visual storytelling for a Cool World – CCN to collaborate with Panos Pictures

Through the partnership with Panos Pictures, the Clean Cooling Image Database will serves as a dedicated professional asset for sharing images with external clients, stakeholders, and the media.

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The #FestivalOfCooling Round Up

For 4 days, we had demonstrations, panel discussions, professional development, mentorship, photography exhibits, market insights, networking and collaboration and more.

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Start-Ups Meet Experts in Innovation Clinic

The 3rd day of the Festival of Cooling brought together start-ups, innovators, cooling experts, university students, and staff, among others, to celebrate the intersection of innovation, design, and entrepreneurship in the cooling sector, where ideas...

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