The Women in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Alliance (WIRACA) has been officially launched in South Africa to advance the role of women in the cooling sector. Operating under South African Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association and supported by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, WIRACA aims to strengthen the role of women across the refrigeration and air conditioning sector nationwide.
The alliance marked its launch with a first official meeting during International Women’s Month, bringing together over 180 participants and reinforcing its commitment to the Kigali Implementation Plan.
WIRACA has outlined a strategic roadmap focused on:
- Promoting gender-inclusive training through the United Nations Environment Programme Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP)
- Ensuring certification and strengthening professional recognition of female technicians
- Expanding its network across regions in South Africa
- Supporting women’s entrepreneurship in the sector
- Partnering with TVET colleges to embed gender-focused training into the core technical curriculum
This initiative represents an important step toward a more inclusive and skilled cooling workforce in South Africa.