Brazil’s Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has opened an Expression of Interest to select vocational technical education institutions to act as Centers for Support to Recycling and Regeneration (CARRs) of refrigerant fluids in Brazil. The initiative aims to expand national capacity for refrigerant recovery, recycling and regeneration, reducing logistical barriers faced by refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) professionals and companies.
The call is part of Project BRA/24/G76 – Project for the Services Sector: Recovery, Recycling and Regeneration (R&R&R) and Technical Assistance for the Commercial and Industrial Air Conditioning Sector (AC/CI). The project is linked to Phase III of Brazil’s HCFC Phase-out Programme (PBH) and is financed by the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol (MLF).
According to the announcement, the selected technical schools will serve as strategic support points, strengthening the Integrated Management System for Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS). The expected outcomes include increasing the amount of recovered refrigerants reintroduced to the market, providing direct support to professionals trained under the PBH, strengthening the educational and multiplier role of these institutions, and generating local income opportunities associated with recovery services. The CARRs are also positioned as a reference for the future implementation of Brazil’s Programme to Reduce HFC Consumption (HFC Programme), aligned with the Kigali Amendment.
The project will support the creation of up to three (3) CARRs in technical schools that already train RAC professionals and are located in strategic regions. Planned actions include providing storage and identification equipment and accessories, a technical assessment conducted by UNDP, and structural counterpart contributions (electrical and civil works) provided by the selected institutions.
Eligible institutions must submit the completed Expression of Interest Form (Annex II), current legal and tax documentation (CNPJ, operating permit, fire safety certificate/AVCB, licenses, certificates), a statement agreeing to the counterpart contributions set out in Annex I, proof of legal representation, and applicable environmental documentation. Submissions, including Annexes 1 and 2 and other documents available on the official website, must be sent to aquisicoes.cbo.br@undp.org by March 16, 2026, 06:00 PM Brasília time (GMT-3) and 04:00 PM New York time; questions should be sent to the same email address.
