
‘Food Saved is as important as food produced’
Providing access to cold-chains in an efficient, affordable, equitable and sustainable manner that builds resilience and achieves the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) – Building the capacity in-market for sustainable cold-chains. ACES is a first-of-its-kind Centre dedicated to sustainable, smart cold-chain, cooling and post-harvest management (PHM). The 4.8 hectare main campus in Kigali, is hosted by the University of Rwanda in Kigali in collaboration with Rwanda Polytechnic (IPRC). SPOKEs are being rolled out throughout Africa to deploy ACES solutions in real-world settings; the first of these is in Kenya.
The programme is developed by the Governments of Rwanda and the United Kingdom (UK), the United Nations Environment Programme and the UK’s Centre for Sustainable Cooling leading a consortium of leading UK universities, and University of Rwanda with more than $20M of seed investment committed by the UK and Rwanda Governments and industry, alongside the campus and physical infrastructure.
What is ACES?
How cooling and cold-chain support Vision 2050
Keep up to date with ACES activities on X
Resilience to shocks and disturbances
Equitable livelihoods
Access to safe and effective vaccines and medicines
Access to safe and nutritious food
Clean energy transition and environmental sustainability


Africa’s Cold Rush and the Promise of Refrigeration
“For the developing world, refrigeration is growth. In Rwanda, it could spark an economic transformation.” Nicola Twilley | The New Yorker
Cooling and health experts join forces for African sustainable vaccine network
Major African symposium brings together industry, academia, medical professionals and health agencies to drive progress in sustainable vaccine logistics.

‘40% of food in Africa is lost between production & consumption‘ Sir Alok Sharma

‘Ahead of #COP27 governments, civil society and the private sector must work together to deliver on the commitments in the #GlasgowClimatePact‘ Sir Alok Sharma
government and Academic Partners








