The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) played a key role in the Final Consortium Meeting of the SophiA Project, held on 17–18 September 2025 in Karlsruhe, Germany. Co-organised with Hochschule Karlsruhe (HKA), the event brought together project partners, policymakers, and stakeholders to review achievements and explore future directions for sustainable refrigeration in Africa.
The week began with a two-day “Training the Trainers” programme, which included over 30 participants from SophiA pilot countries and partner organisations such as RAACH Solar, U-3ARC, and 2iE in Burkina Faso. Delegates from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Malawi, and Uganda shared updates on national efforts to phase out R22 and emphasized the importance of natural refrigerants in sustainable cooling transitions.
IIR Scientific Writer Monique Baha presented a policy brief for African decision-makers, outlining both the advantages and challenges of adopting natural refrigerants. She noted issues such as limited equipment availability and high import tariffs. In a second session, Baha addressed gender representation in the sector and introduced the IIR’s Women in Cooling Database, which collects global data and career stories of women in refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump industries.
Francisca Rodrigues, IIR Project Assistant, discussed post-EU funding options for SophiA through carbon credit mechanisms. Based on a Life Cycle Assessment of the project’s emissions reduction potential, she described how carbon markets could provide long-term financial support.
A dedicated session also reviewed experiences from hospital container sites. Halima Thraya, Chair of the IIR Working Group on the Cold Chain in Warm Countries, moderated the session and shared insights from SophiA demonstration locations.
The IIR team conducted interviews with participants to collect feedback on project impact and distributed technical publications to support knowledge-sharing. On the final day, attendees visited BITZER Headquarters and the SCHAUFLER Academy for a practical overview of refrigeration technologies, energy efficiency, and safety practices.
The SophiA Final Consortium Event concluded with a strong commitment from the IIR to continue supporting sustainable refrigeration development across Africa.
