New programme aims to strengthen sustainable cold chain markets for agriculture

Up to 40% of Kenya's fresh produce is lost between harvest and market because farmers lack access to reliable, affordable cooling. While the country's agriculture sector employs 38% of the population and contributes nearly 32% to GDP, most cold storage solutions remain concentrated in major cities, far from the rural fields and lake shores where they are needed most.

The Kenya Cold Chain Accelerator (KCCA) has been launched to help change this by strengthening the commercial, operational and policy foundations needed to scale cold chain solutions across the country. Managed by Energy Saving Trust, co-Secretariat of Efficiency for Access, and delivered in partnership with Energy 4 Impact and GOGLA, the programme is supported by the UK government through the Transforming Energy Access platform and the IKEA Foundation. Running until the end of 2026, KCCA aims to support a more reliable, inclusive and financially viable cold chain sector in Kenya.

"KCCA will give Kenya's later-stage cold chain innovators the critical support they need to scale," says Pancras Odhiambo, Programme Manager at Energy 4 Impact. "When cold chain solutions are affordable and readily accessible, everyone benefits: farmers earn more, families eat higher quality food, cold chain businesses grow, and food systems become more resilient in the face of climate shocks."

Bridging the commercial viability gap

Cold chain is widely recognised as one of the highest-potential productive use applications in off- and weak-grid settings, yet one of the hardest to scale commercially. Many innovators are developing promising solutions for horticulture, dairy, fisheries and other value-chains, but face high capital costs, uncertain utilisation rates and difficulties accessing affordable finance. These barriers limit their ability to demonstrate commercial viability and attract investment.

KCCA addresses these challenges by providing targeted support to later-stage innovators. Selected companies will receive tailored technical assistance, including commercial baselining, operational diagnostics, market and value-chain analysis, financial modelling and investment readiness support. Energy 4 Impact will lead this work: the support package will vary by company, but likely to include refining business strategies, improving operational efficiency, establishing systems for monitoring and financial management, and building the credibility required to engage investors and partners.

This support is particularly critical in rural areas where unreliable power and high operating costs have long limited access to cold chain services. Climate change is intensifying the urgency: hotter temperatures and more erratic rainfall are shortening the safe handling window for perishables while increasing cooling demand.

Building ecosystem foundations

Beyond company support, KCCA aims to strengthen the wider cold chain ecosystem through research, evidence generation and workforce and skills development. This includes gathering data on the technical, economic and environmental performance of cold chain solutions, developing practical operational guidelines and identifying what models work best in rural and off-grid settings.

Alongside this, building the capacity of local technicians and operators is central to ensuring that systems remain reliable and affordable for farmers and enterprises over time. A strong focus on inclusivity recognises that women, youth and marginalised groups play important roles across horticulture, dairy and fisheries value chains and often stand to gain the most from better access to cooling.

KCCA will also work to improve the broader enabling environment by establishing a cold chain working group, supporting policy dialogue and facilitating sector coordination with GOGLA. These efforts will help raise awareness of sustainable cooling, improve alignment among ministries and agencies, whilst addressing persistent barriers such as financing, fiscal incentives, standards and information gaps. The programme will contribute to ongoing efforts to integrate sustainable cooling more clearly within Kenya’s broader Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE) framework, helping ensure that cold chain is recognised as a key component of rural and agricultural energy planning.

With fragmented logistics, unreliable electricity in agricultural communities and intensifying climate pressures all posing risks to food security, the need for coordinated action is paramount. By supporting innovators and strengthening collaboration across public and private sectors, KCCA aims to create the conditions for long-term investment in cold chain solutions, reducing the food losses that undermine farmer incomes and household nutrition.