The core structure for delivery is a "hub and spoke" model, with a single centre servicing one or more SPOKEs in neighbouring locations.
Centres
Africa
The currently operating centre is the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) – housed on a five hectare campus with adjacent 200 hectare farm in Kigali, Rwanda to undertake collaborative research, test new equipment, develop knowledge, training programmes and robust business models.
India
Two further Centres of Excellence are in development in India in Haryana and Telangana.
SPOKEs
"SPecialised Outreach and Knowledge Establishment (SPOKE)"
SPOKEs across the continent will showcase how solutions can be deployed in practical, real-world applications and provide on the ground training, capacity building and support for farmers and their communities from designing sustainable community cooling and cold-chain solutions, developing financeable business models, through to the day-to-day operations and Post-harvest Management, as well as developing the network of skilled engineers to support equipment installation and maintenance.
SPOKEs can be sector specific (fish, dairy, etc.) according to the country’s need and to build up a network of expertise to cross-fertilise. A SPOKE will have the following elements:
The knowledge and training site
This will cascade out the training developed and tested at ACES and/or ACCI into market through on the ground training to farmers as well foundation courses, etc. There will be technology demonstrations to support training. The team will also be able to provide ongoing support and advice.Policy
The knowledge and training site will facilitate an environment for collaboration between the industry, governments, academia and development institutions. Additionally, the program will offer training sessions designed for policy-makers while emerging technologies can be showcased.Model CCH
Model CCH where an operational CCH is established based on the results of the needs assessment and first TBYB deployment. This will be in use by a community but is subsidised, so can be used for demonstration and training to other farmer communities and also to test new equipment. It can also act as an outreach base for training, mentoring and even technical support. (Knowledge and Training site and Model CCH can be co-located).“Try Before You Buy” (TBYB)
Free-of-charge basic cold-chain equipment (pre-cooling, aggregation and cold staging (storage) at community level and temperature-controlled vehicle) lent to farmer communities and co-operatives to enable them to test their business plan, validate their business model and allow their farmers to experience the value of cold-chain before.
Farmers – (for example) making a financial commitment to a co-operative (even of a few dollars)
Co-operative – (for example) pitching a bank for finance to acquire their own cold-chain solution.
Mobile training
We have developed a pilot bespoke training facility which is built into a 40ft container/fixed lorry so as to be able to travel out to communities, technical colleges, and other locations to provide training and certification. Benefits of this approach include:
- Wider reach – including to more remote or distant places where training provision and accessibility are likely limited.
- Better efficiencies – can take training to people and lower travel and DSA related costs; can access the informal market.
- Flexibility to help balance ongoing work commitments and training needs (e.g. for farmers and engineers) rather than force trainees to visit the Centre for an extended.
- Enables quick deployment of training resources and strengthened support and national capacity – supports effective handling and adoption of low-GWP energy efficient technologies.
Programme success stories
Our community cold-chain development programme is open for applications
29th Jul 2025
Smallholder farmer organizations operating within 200kms of Nairobi, Kenya are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to participate in our next community cold-chain engagement programme. As an example of the programme’s success, the Lari cooperative has been able to earn – on average – over 50% higher return for their produce than previously due to their participation in the programme.
ACES SPOKE programme delivers farmers 50% uplift in return
30th Jul 2025
In March 2025, the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), in collaboration with the Clean Cooling Network, the Lari Horticultural Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited (LHFCSL), and key stakeholders, launched Kenya’s and Africa’s first “Try Before You Buy” (TBYB) sustainable cooling and cold-chain unit in Kinale, Lari Sub-County, Kiambu County.
“Born in Rwanda but pan-Africa in Vision”
28th Jul 2025
The Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) was conceived to increase and accelerate the adoption and uptake of resilient, efficient, inclusive and climate-friendly cooling and cold-chain.
Clean Cooling Network launches work with Kenyan farmers to build their own Community Cooling Hub
26th Nov 2024
More than 130 Kenyan farmers attended a Clean Cooling Network open day - signing up for free training in Cold-chain and Postharvest Management, and testing the latest cold-chain technology.
Community cooling for community services
3rd Dec 2024
We intend to build a first of a kind test and demonstration Community Cooling Hub (CCH) unit at the ACES campus, Kigali.
