The Women in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Alliance (WIRACA) has officially launched in South Africa to advance the role of women in the cooling sector.
The alliance operates under the South African Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association and is supported by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. WIRACA aims to strengthen the role of women across refrigeration and air conditioning nationwide.
WIRACA held its first official meeting during International Women’s Month, bringing together more than 180 participants. The launch also reinforced the alliance’s commitment to the Kigali Implementation Plan.
The group’s roadmap focuses on gender-inclusive training through the United Nations Environment Programme Compliance Assistance Programme, certification and professional recognition for female technicians, regional network expansion in South Africa, support for women’s entrepreneurship, and partnerships with TVET colleges to include gender-focused training in the core technical curriculum.
The initiative is intended to support a more inclusive and skilled cooling workforce in South Africa.