Rwanda to Host First-Ever Festival of Cooling: Reimagining Food, Health, and Climate Resilience

This October, Kigali will become the center of a global conversation on one of the world’s most overlooked yet essential needs: cooling. From 6–10 October 2025, Rwanda will host the inaugural Festival of Cooling, a first-of-its-kind event that puts food security, public health, and climate resilience at the heart of innovation.

The Festival, organized by the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES), will bring together farmers, health professionals, students, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors from across Africa and beyond. Their shared goal? To reimagine cooling not as a luxury, but as a lifeline for communities facing the realities of a warming world.

Why Cooling Matters

In many parts of Africa, as much as 40% of fruits and vegetables are lost after harvest because they can’t be kept fresh long enough to reach markets. Hospitals and clinics, meanwhile, depend on reliable cold chains to keep vaccines, medicines, and even blood supplies safe. And with the continent’s population growing rapidly, demand for cooling is projected to triple by 2050, raising urgent questions about how to meet that need sustainably—without fueling climate change in the process.

“By hosting the Festival of Cooling, we are creating a platform to reimagine cooling as a driver of resilience, opportunity, and sustainable development,” said Hon. Dr. Bernadette Arakwiye, Rwanda’s Minister of Environment.

What to Expect

The five-day program is designed to highlight cooling’s impact across different sectors:
• Day 1 (Farmers & Value Chains): Demonstrations of cold storage and transport solutions that help farmers reduce waste and increase incomes.
• Day 2 (Health Sector): Showcasing technologies that keep vaccines and medicines safe and effective.
• Day 3 (Schools & Education): Engaging the next generation through interactive activities and career pathways in green cooling.

• Day 4 (Innovation & Entrepreneurship): Startup pitch competitions and new business models for climate-smart cooling.
• Day 5 (Policy & Investment): High-level dialogues linking cooling to climate action, resilience, and economic growth.

Alongside exhibitions, competitions, and case studies, participants will see firsthand how renewable-powered refrigeration, digital monitoring systems, and community-driven business models are already transforming lives across Africa.

A Platform for Change

More than just a showcase of technology, the Festival of Cooling is positioned as a catalyst for partnerships and investment. For smallholder farmers, it could mean better access to markets. For health systems, it could mean stronger vaccine delivery. For young people, it could mean new career opportunities in the green economy.

ACES, based in Rubirizi, Rwanda, has already earned recognition as a regional hub for sustainable cooling research and training. Hosting the Festival here underlines Rwanda’s ambition to be a leader in climate-smart innovation for the continent.

Looking Ahead

As temperatures rise, the importance of clean, sustainable cooling will only grow. This Festival represents not just an event, but a movement—one that connects technology, policy, and community action to build resilience for the future.