Keeping it Cool: Innovative Cold Chain Research for Sustainable Off-Grid Livelihoods (KCOOL)

Cooling technologies are vital in northern contexts but scarce in much of sub-Saharan Africa due to affordability and electricity access issues, impacting economic development, health, and the environment. The KCOOL project emphasises addressing cooling challenges, focusing on Uganda's West Nile region, which is largely unconnected to the electricity grid and where accessible cooling is key to driving economic growth, improving health, and promoting gender equality. The energy-food nexus is crucial for understanding these challenges, especially regarding food security and waste reduction. However, the lack of electricity infrastructure hampers effective cooling solutions. KCOOL aims to address these issues by enabling innovation, building knowledge, and influencing policy. By engaging with local communities and policymakers, KCOOL seeks context-specific solutions for sustainable development and climate resilience. In conclusion, solving cooling challenges in sub-Saharan Africa is critical for socio-economic development, environmental sustainability, and social equity, with KCOOL's interventions poised to spark transformative change.

Research Team: Professor Federico Caprotti, University of Exeter; Professor Rober Kajobe, Muni University; Dr Innocent Miria Opio, Muni University