The two-day forum, convened on this March 24, 2026 by the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES) under the theme “Catalysing Green Investment in Africa: The UK–Rwanda Climate Partnership”, is not only addressing continental challenges but also highlighting the direct benefits Rwanda stands to gain.
By hosting the conference and anchoring the ACES platform, Rwanda is positioning itself as a preferred destination for climate finance and sustainable industrial development. The country’s efforts to align policy, technical standards, and workforce development are expected to significantly reduce investment risks making it more attractive to international investors.
Minister of Environment Bernadette Arakwiye said Rwanda has already laid the groundwork to translate climate ambition into economic gains.
“We have policy clarity, institutional leadership, and now ACES as a platform to anchor capability, innovation, and investment,” she noted, emphasizing that the next step is building a system that attracts capital and delivers impact at scale.
One of the key gains for Rwanda lies in workforce development. Through ACES, local technicians, engineers and inspectors are being trained in modern cooling and cold-chain technologies-skills that are increasingly in demand in climate resilient industries.
This investment in human capital is expected to create new employment opportunities while equipping Rwandans with expertise that can serve both domestic and regional markets.
The expansion of sustainable cooling and cold-chain systems is also set to transform critical sectors such as agriculture and healthcare. Improved storage and transportation of perishable goods will help reduce post-harvest losses, increase farmers’ incomes, and ensure better food availability. In the health sector, reliable cold-chain systems are essential for preserving vaccines and medicines, strengthening Rwanda’s healthcare delivery.
The presence of ACES in Kigali is expected to catalyse local manufacturing and innovation. By supporting equipment testing, certification, and business incubation, the platform creates opportunities for Rwandan enterprises to participate in the green economy.
Toby Peters, Executive Director of ACES, underscored the importance of building systems that inspire investor confidence.
“Investment flows where there is confidence in regulation, standards, skills, and delivery. ACES exists to develop those systems,” he said.
Through the UK–Rwanda Climate Partnership, Rwanda is also positioning itself as a model for other African countries seeking to unlock green investment. The knowledge-sharing “Hub and SPOKE” model allows Rwanda to export expertise and solutions across the continent, further enhancing its leadership role.
Billy Stewart noted that Rwanda’s progress demonstrates how locally driven innovation can scale regionally and deliver meaningful impact.
As discussions continue, the conference is reinforcing a clear message: Rwanda is not only participating in the global climate agenda but is actively turning it into an engine for economic transformation.
With increased investment, job creation, improved food systems, and growing industrial capacity, Rwanda stands to gain significantly cementing its place as a leader in Africa’s green transition.
