From 18 to 20 September 2025, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), through its OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) for Francophone Africa, conducted a Regional Training Workshop for Female RAC Technicians in Dakar, Senegal. The initiative, supported by the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol and organized in partnership with the Government of Senegal, aimed to strengthen technical capacities and promote gender inclusion in the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) sector.
The workshop gathered 26 female technicians from 21 Francophone African countries. It was facilitated by five expert instructors from Senegal, Benin, and Burkina Faso, including one female trainer. The training focused on sustainable practices in RAC maintenance, such as the recovery and recycling of HCFCs and the safe handling of hydrocarbon-based refrigerants.
Topics covered included developments in RAC technologies, energy efficiency management, sustainable technology selection, safety regulations, and the environmental impact of RAC systems. The Kigali Amendment and the properties of low-GWP refrigerants were discussed in depth on the first day.
Participants took part in hands-on sessions on refrigerant recovery and inverter AC maintenance on the second day. A module on regulatory frameworks was included, alongside discussions about the specific challenges faced by women in the sector. An equipment performance analysis using R-290 and R-22 refrigerants concluded the day.
On the final day, technicians practiced copper pipe cutting, flaring, swaging, bending, and capillary brazing methods. These exercises were designed to strengthen both technical skills and practical confidence.
The workshop concluded with participants gaining enhanced knowledge and technical capacity in safe refrigerant handling and sustainable RAC practices, reinforcing their role in ozone protection and professional advancement within the sector.
