During the final Consortium Meeting of the SophiA Project in Karlsruhe, Germany, on 17–18 September 2025, the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) presented key resources for women in the RACHP workforce.
The IIR has actively supported the participation of women in the refrigeration sector for several years, particularly through its Working Group on ‘Careers in Refrigeration’ (CARE, here https://iifiir.org/en/careers-in-refrigeration-care). The IIR estimates that over 12 million people are employed worldwide in manufacturing, installation, maintenance and servicing of refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) equipment. Women are under-represented in the sector, accounting for an average of 6% of the members of national RACHP associations.
During the final Consortium Meeting of the SophiA Project in Karlsruhe, Germany, on 17–18 September 2025, Monique Baha from IIR presented resources for women in the RACHP workforce. She also invited participants to join INWIC as a a global network of organisations and individuals committed to promoting the role of women the RACHP sector.
Though a partnership with UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction in 2022 and subsequent regional surveys in 2024, the IIR surveyed women working in refrigeration worldwide, collecting a database showcasing the profile of over 1,300 women.
The open-access IIR Women in Cooling Database gathers comprehensive information on the demographics, career paths, remuneration, and mentorship of women working in the refrigeration and cooling industry worldwide. Access the IIR Women in Cooling Database here : https://iifiir.org/en/women-in-cooling-database
During her presentation, Monique Baha highlighted the global need for a young generation of skilled technicians to replace an aging workforce. Addressing the global shortage of refrigeration technicians requires initiatives to increase the attractivity of the sector, such as mentorship programmes for women or networking events such as those organised by the IIR CARE Working group.
The presentation used is available at this link: IIR resources