UNDP Zimbabwe Annual Report
2024 in Review

Cooling Down Climate Impact

Alfred Motsi
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Practitioner and Technical Director at SplashAir
Zimbabwe’s National Ozone Unit is spearheading an ambitious initiative to replace harmful ozone-depleting gases in cooling systems with eco-friendly alternatives. The solution to this complex challenge? Mobilising the network of skilled refrigeration and air conditioning technicians through their associations.
Together with the National Ozone Unit, we established six Recovery and Recycling Centres equipped with specialised tools. At one of these centres, Alfred Motsi manages an innovative lending system that gives technicians access to otherwise costly equipment.
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This resource-sharing model enables professionals across the country to efficiently replace harmful gases while minimising financial barriers.
600+ kg
of ozone-depleting gases, which could have been released into the environment, were recovered in the first nine months of operation
Beyond equipment, we took a comprehensive approach - modernising technical education with updated refrigeration curricula and strengthening border controls by training 46 officials to combat harmful imports.
3,000
Young people trained in the new curricula
Funding for the phase-out of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) was provided by the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol.