U-3ARC U-3ARC Union of Associations of African Actors in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
U-3ARC Union of Associations of African Actors in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

U-3ARC : An Organization Dedicated to the Development of Refrigeration in Africa

In October 2014, following a training session he conducted for national experts from 26 Francophone and Lusophone countries in Cotonou on behalf of UNEP, Madi Sakandé, a refrigeration industry specialist, conceived the idea of uniting African HVAC&R (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration) technicians under a single platform. This idea grew persistent, and in November 2019, alongside fellow African technicians, he initiated the creation of an umbrella organization to unite all African associations and professionals in the HVAC&R sector.


U-3ARC : An Organization Dedicated to the Development of Refrigeration in Africa

This Burkinabé embraced the African proverb: "A shared dream becomes reality." On September 24, 2020, in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), this dream materialized. During a constitutive General Assembly, the Union of African Associations of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Stakeholders (U-3ARC) was officially launched by 30 associations from 29 countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Cape Verde, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Niger, Chad, Nigeria, Djibouti, Congo, DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Madagascar, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Comoros, and Tanzania). At its inception, U-3ARC represented over 20,000 formal and informal enterprises employing nearly 150,000 people.

Key Actions of U-3ARC

Under Madi Sakandé's leadership, the organization has pursued ambitious goals since its creation. Its mission is to unite African expertise from North to South and East to West across the continent. Despite challenges in persuading skeptics, membership grew from 38 associations on April 21, 2021, to full continental coverage by December 20 of the same year. By 2025, the Union comprises 45 associations from all African countries.

  • Ø Technician Census: A Priority

U-3ARC's foundational project is building a robust database of refrigeration technicians in Africa. Over 5,000 technicians have been registered continent-wide, yet significant gaps remain. At the latest General Assembly, the Executive Board urged national associations to intensify efforts in data collection and technician registration.

  • Ø Skills Enhancement

U-3ARC prioritizes upskilling African refrigeration technicians through in-person and remote training programs. Certified workshops on flammable refrigerant handling and best practices have been held multiple times in Italy. From February 24–28, 2025, in Tunis, U-3ARC partnered with Centro Studi Galileo and El Andaloussi to host the continent’s first certified training program. The organization plans to establish new training centers in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and Kinshasa (DR Congo).

Additionally, U-3ARC has organized 36 webinars by November 2024, covering critical topics such as "The Kigali Amendment and HVAC&R in Africa" and "Flammable Refrigerants." Two webinars have already been conducted in 2025.

  • Ø Partnerships and Collaborations

Over four years, the Executive Board has forged strategic partnerships through agreements with: Air Conditioning and Refrigeration European Association (AREA-June 2021) Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency (AMEE-September 2022), International Institute of Refrigeration (IIF-June 2023), World Refrigeration Day (WRD-November 2023), CSG (March 2024), Ongoing negotiations with ASHRAE. The Executive Board has represented U-3ARC at over 20 international meetings, including: AREA General Assembly (Belfast, May 23–24, 2024), 46th OEWG Meeting (Montreal, July 8–12, 2024), ASHRAE Conference (Chicago, January 20–24, 2024), European Conference (Milan, June 2023), Chillventa Expo (Nuremberg, October 8–10, 2024), Annual IOR Gala Dinner (London, February 22, 2024) Global Advocacy, U-3ARC actively contributes to global climate agendas, including: Inputs to Agenda 2063 (Africa’s development blueprint). Participation in UNEP Ozone Coordinator meetings (Nairobi, September 3–7, 2022), OEWG 45 (Bangkok, July 3–7, 2023), Milestones (2024–2025), February 2025: First pan-African certified training program in Tunis. March 2025: Partnership finalized with CSG. July 2024: Advocacy at OEWG 46 in Montreal for HCFC phase-out strategies. Expansion: New training centers planned in Burkina Faso and DR Congo.

U-3ARC continues to drive Africa’s refrigeration sector toward sustainability and global compliance, aligning with the Kigali Amendment to reduce high-GWP refrigerants by 80% by 2045.