By Eamonn Ryan, based on the webinar
The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) and the Global Cold Chain Foundation (GCCF) hosted a webinar focused on their international cold chain development projects on January 15, reflecting on achievements from 2024 and outlining plans for 2025 – several of which relate to Africa. This is Part 1 of a three-part series.
Amanda Brondy, GCCF’s vice president of international projects, opened the webinar by introducing the foundation’s global cold chain development efforts. She highlighted the foundation’s external funding model, emphasising that the organisation does not use member dues for these initiatives but relies on donations from private foundations, donors and even the private sector. These projects often target emerging economies where cold chain systems are just beginning to take shape.
The GCCF has been running international projects since 2001, and as of 2024 it has supported 134 projects across 74 countries. In 2024 alone, the foundation worked on nine projects across 14 countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Mauritania and several countries in Central America and West Africa. These projects led to over 50 activities, including consultations, study tours and training events, benefitting more than 180 individuals and offering 42 distinct cold chain courses.
A key focus for 2024 included a cold chain assessment in Mauritania and the West Africa Emerging Markets Programme. These efforts are designed to improve storage, transportation and distribution within the cold chain, ultimately leading to feasibility studies, educational resources, and the development of national cold chain associations.
Another significant achievement of 2024 was the progression of the Food Waste Reduction Initiative which was launched in 2022. This initiative is geared toward supporting food rescue organisations with essential resources, training and connections to refrigerated logistics members. A cornerstone of the initiative is a free membership for food rescue organisations, helping them access tools and expertise from the cold chain sector.
In 2024, the GCCF collaborated with Feeding America to develop virtual training programmes specifically designed for food banks and food rescue organisations. Additionally, the foundation began work on the development of an internet-based app, the Store App (Storage Through Organised Refrigeration), aimed at connecting cold storage owners with food rescue organisations in need of storage space. The app is currently in the pilot stage, with GCCA members being invited to participate.