U-3ARC, in partnership with World Refrigeration Day, has announced the opening of the Dr. Charity Kpabep Award 2026, a competition for women in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector across Africa. The award focuses on technical skills and cross-regional collaboration through a team-based video submission format.
The 2026 edition invites teams of two women from different regions to submit a five- to 10-minute video. Each entry must demonstrate the participants’ ability to identify and diagnose common refrigeration failures, explain the tools used for repair, and apply safety practices.
The submission deadline is 31 May 2026. The winning team will receive a €1,000 prize and participation in the U-3ARC 2026 General Assembly in Rwanda.
The award follows previous editions and continues a format built around technical demonstration and regional cooperation. It is positioned to increase the visibility of African women working in cooling while linking participants from different parts of the continent.
More information on the competition is available here: Dr. Charity Kpabep Award 2026
