The Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES) and the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), through the Rwanda Dairy Development Project – Phase 2 (RDDP 2), are collaborating to improve energy efficiency in Rwanda’s cold-chain systems, particularly in Milk Collection Centres (MCCs) including those that are solar-powered.

The partnership combines research, field data collection and technical training to generate evidence on energy use and identify practical improvements to strengthen agricultural value chains.

Key activities include field assessments and baseline data collection in selected MCCs, training technicians and operators in energy-efficient cold-chain management, and developing technical recommendations.

A technical training programme for cold-chain technicians was launched on April 20, 2026, while pilot field activities began on April 27.

The initiative aims to improve milk preservation, reduce energy costs and promote sustainable cooling solutions.

MCC operators and technicians who attended the training said it would help address long-standing challenges in the dairy sector.

Obed Nsengiyumva, a technician at an MCC owned by a dairy cooperative in Mwiri Sector, Kayonza District, which collects more than 2,500 litres of milk daily, said maintenance of cooling systems and milk rejection had been major concerns.

"One of the challenges has been the costly maintenance of the cooling system. Another issue is milk rejection, which causes losses for the cooperative,” he said.

According to him, the training covered proper handling of milk containers and maintenance of refrigeration systems.

"Previously, we handled milk containers unprofessionally, which compromised hygiene and affected quality standards. Thanks to the skills acquired during the training, the milk will no longer be rejected,” he said.

He added that technicians often struggled to identify faults in cooling systems, forcing cooperatives to call technicians from Kigali, which delayed repairs and disrupted milk collection.

"Farmers were sometimes asked to stop supplying milk because of technical problems with the cooler. This training has helped bridge the skills gap. I can now identify and repair faults that I could not handle before,” he said.

Cyuzuzo Teta Jasmine, a technician at Inka Irarera MCC in Rubengera Sector, Karongi District, said the lack of trained technicians had been affecting operations.

"Our MCC did not have a technician. Whenever the milk coolers developed faults, repairs took a long time because we had to call technicians from Kigali. By the time they arrived, the milk had already lost the required cooling,” she said.

She said the delays caused losses for the MCC and reduced trust among buyers.

"After the training, I will be able to carry out regular maintenance and better manage the cooling systems. This will reduce losses and repair costs,” she said.

Bienvenu Ndayisaba, a technician at an MCC in Rambura Sector, Nyabihu District, said the training came at the right time.

"For an MCC to operate effectively, it requires a functional cooling system that maintains milk at 4 degrees Celsius, as well as proper hygiene practices to prevent bacterial contamination,” he said.

He added that the training introduced safe handling of refrigerants and risk assessment procedures.

"Some refrigerants are hazardous and can pollute the environment. Previously, maintenance was carried out without proper risk assessments,” he noted.

Why training MCC operators matters

Dr Edward C. Hammond, Course Lead – Maintenance Technician at the Clean Cooling Network, said the shortage of practical maintenance skills remains a major challenge in Rwanda’s cooling sector.

"There have been many efforts to deliver cooling equipment and expand cooling systems. However, maintenance of that equipment, the ability to fix faults, and ensuring a reliable energy supply have consistently been weak points,” he said.

According to him, the course was designed to equip technicians with practical skills to diagnose faults, repair equipment and ensure efficient operation of cooling systems.

He said the programme also trains technicians to understand different energy supply systems, including grid electricity, diesel generators and solar photovoltaic systems.

"Otherwise, the systems may simply be switched off, rendering them useless. So, the course takes a comprehensive approach,” he said.

He added that systems would be developed to monitor temperatures across the cold chain to ensure food remains at the required temperature from production to consumption.

"We define a cold chain as the entire journey from the farm to the consumer, ensuring that the product receives the best possible care throughout,” he explained.

The training also focuses on hygiene, safe working practices, documentation and preventative maintenance.

"We do not want to wait for cooling systems to fail. Instead, we want technicians to identify faults early and carry out preventative maintenance to avoid unplanned breakdowns,” he said.

Trainees can progress from Bronze to Silver, Gold and Diamond levels, with advanced levels focusing on business management, system design and project supervision.

Dr Hammond also stressed the importance of sustainable cooling solutions, including environmentally friendly refrigerants and faster cooling methods.

"For example, we explore ways to cool milk more quickly, such as pre-cooling at farm level using ice,” he said.

RDDP 2 project to improve the dairy sector

The Rwanda Dairy Development Project – Phase2 (RDDP 2) is a six-year initiative co-financed by IFAD and the Government of Rwanda and implemented through the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) across 27 districts.

According to Dr Gasana Ngabo Methode, RDDP2 Project Manager, the project will support the development of improved milk collection and storage facilities, as well as collective marketing through productive alliances.

The project is expected to benefit around 175,000 rural households, representing approximately 700,000 people.

It is projected that 90 per cent of dairy households will increase their incomes by 30 per cent, while 28,800 new jobs will be created.

In addition, 60 per cent of dairy households are expected to adopt environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient technologies and practices.

At least 299 milk storage facilities will be constructed or rehabilitated, while 94 milk collection centres will be equipped with digitalised milk transaction management systems.

RDDP 2 expectations from ACES

Dr Ngabo said RDDP 2 and ACES signed a service agreement to collaborate on capacity building for up to 100 technicians in sustainable cooling and cold-chain solutions for solar-powered dairy MCCs.

The agreement also covers technical assessments to identify suitable locations for deploying 100 solar-powered MCCs and determining their capacities, as well as assessing existing solar-powered MCCs and optimising their performance.

In addition, the partnership includes research on the energy efficiency of selected MCCs to ensure they meet required standards and reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to post-harvest dairy losses.

The two institutions will also collaborate in the design, procurement, installation, commissioning, and provision of spare parts for solar-powered MCCs.

"RDDP 2 expects ACES to develop and provide training materials and training at the ACES campus for up to 100 trainees who will operate the MCCs, provide technical assistance in reviewing study findings on site selection for the installation of 100 solar-powered MCCs and their capacities, and lead research on the energy efficiency of Milk Collection Centres to ensure they meet international performance standards,” he said.

ACES will also provide technical support to IFAD in selecting and supervising vendors responsible for the design, procurement, installation, commissioning, and provision of spare parts for the 100 solar-powered MCCs to be acquired through RDDP 2.