Vision & Goals
A whole system of systems approach
Across Africa and India a framework was designed taking a comprehensive, needs-driven, system of systems approach to deliver cold-chains.
Our Vision
Cold-chains are complex - multi-dimensional, temperature-controlled networks that must maintain perishable and temperature-sensitive products at their optimum temperature and environment from point of harvest to destination. They include both static and mobile elements that must work seamlessly together, and which are a primary source of different energy demands. And they include multiple stakeholders. The traditional private-sector-led business models necessarily focuses on and prioritizes the commercial financial returns not the impact that could be achieved on the economy, environment, and society as a whole. In fact, they often even exacerbate inequalities.
What does this look like in practice?
Our Goal
An integrated programme to accelerate the deployment of sustainable cold-chain solutions in developing markets at scale with fit-for-market business models and clean technologies.
- Develop, test, demonstrate, and deploy viable pathways considering the overall system, from farm to fork and manufacturer to patient
- Collaborative research on future-proof, localised solutions
- Build awareness on the benefits of the sustainable cold-chain
- Provide business assistance and training to small-holder farmers and rural communities- paying attention to gender and social inclusion/exclusion dynamics
- Build a skilled workforce for installation and maintenance within the community
- Exchange lessons learned from real-world applications throughout Africa and India
Professor Toby Peters, University of Birmingham
"Our objective is to promote cooling and cold-chain as critical national infrastructure and provide the tools, knowledge, training, and support to deliver inclusive, equitable, and future-proofed solutions with minimum environmental impact, ensuring sustainability and resilience in a fast-warming and changing world."
Cold-chain delivery
We aim to deliver cold-chains:
- Sustainably with minimum environmental impact;
- Equitably, providing access for all, including poor, disadvantaged, and marginalised farmers and their communities, as well as women and youth;
- Whilst ensuring that they are future-proofed and resilient against changes to the system as well as future risks, shocks, and disruptions.
Our delivery approach
We aim to deliver the cold-chains via 3 key methods:
- Centres of Excellence - The first of which is the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain in Rwanda. Two more are in development in India at Haryana and Telangana.
- SPOKEs – SPecialised Outreach and Knowledge Establishment. The first is a reference SPOKE in Kenya, with three more in development in Rwanda, Senegal and Lesotho.
- Clean Cooling Network (this web platform) - providing a central resource to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing throughout the cooling and cold-chain community - Register for free and start collaborating now.
