In the fight against climate change, food insecurity, and public health crises, one critical component is often overlooked: cold-chains. They are vital for preserving food, medicines, and vaccines, form the backbone of global health and food security. However, there is a transformative force within the cold-chain sector that has yet to be fully tapped — Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI).
GESI is not just a moral imperative; it is crucial for driving innovation, increasing efficiency, and building resilience in the cold-chain space. From farmers to consumers, men and women, young and old, urban and rural, all benefit from an inclusive system that caters to diverse needs and maximises the potential of every individual. But how can we move beyond the rhetoric and ideals of equality to ensure that no one is left behind in this vital sector? The answer lies in actively embedding GESI into cold-chain development — not as a side initiative, but as a central pillar.
Clean Cooling Network (CCN) has taken actionable steps to ensure that GESI becomes a core element of our cold-chain programmes. Our vision is to build an inclusive, equitable future where clean cold-chains empower everyone, create new opportunities, and strengthen economies. Innovation thrives in diverse environments, and the cold-chain sector can only reach its full potential by embracing this.
Taking Action: Integrating GESI in Cold-Chains
We’ve already made significant strides with pioneering initiatives, including:
- A GESI Scoping Report to be published later this year, identifying key gaps and opportunities for integrating GESI into cold-chains.
- A GESI Framework guiding evidence gathering and project design.
- Training Modules that help embed GESI into cooling and cold-chain interventions.
- An internal GESI Monitoring & Evaluation Framework to track progress and refine approaches.
These initiatives will do more than improve representation; they will harness cognitive diversity, which fuels innovation and enhances our capacity to adapt in a fast-evolving market and changing needs. Studies have consistently shown the link between diversity, equity, and inclusion and financial performance. However, in the cold-chain sector, achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion goals goes beyond demographic representation — it requires a workforce equipped to integrate new technologies to address both technical and strategic challenges.
The Bidirectional Impact of GESI
Gender equality and inclusion do not just benefit marginalised communities; they have a bidirectional impact on the entire cooling and cold-chain sector. A GESI-focused approach unlocks the potential for innovation, as diverse perspectives foster creative solutions. For instance, young farmers are often more receptive to change and act as key agents in driving the adoption of new technologies and business models in cold-chains. Their involvement helps spread knowledge and facilitate the diffusion of innovative solutions throughout their communities.
Moreover, investing in the training and development of women and marginalised groups within cold-chains—equipping them with both technical and non-technical skills—yields lasting benefits. Unlike their male counterparts who may migrate for better opportunities, women often remain rooted in their communities, helping to retain valuable local expertise. Examples such as women in rural Asia, Africa, and Latin America being trained to assemble and maintain solar PV systems demonstrate how breaking stereotypes can empower women in technical roles.
Women are also uniquely positioned to disseminate critical information about the importance of cold-chains in their communities. By leveraging their informal social networks, women can help bring sustainable solutions to hard-to-reach customers.
Challenges and the Path Forward
Despite the progress, integrating GESI into cold-chain projects is not without its challenges. There remains a significant gender gap in the refrigeration industry, with women making up only 6% of the global workforce. Additionally, societal and cultural barriers continue to limit women's participation in technical roles. However, the benefits of overcoming these barriers are clear. The sector needs investment not only in robust technical training to build a skilled and diverse workforce but also in initiatives that break down cultural and societal barriers, raising awareness of the importance of GESI.
Young and female farmers, despite the limitations of ownership of assets and financial decision-making power, should be recognised as potential leaders and entrepreneurs. They should be involved in crucial decision-making processes when designing cold-chain projects and programmes as they are the catalysts for change, inspiring others to embrace clean cold-chain technologies and practices. Women small-scale farmers, for instance, tend to yield more outputs with fewer inputs than their male counterparts, and diversity has been shown to positively impact governance, employee productivity, and financial performance.
In summary, GESI is not just an add-on to cold-chain development; it is a necessity. It’s time to recognise that inclusivity is the key to unlocking the full potential of cold-chains. To address this, we plan to utilise the evidence-gathering framework developed by the CCN to better understand the roles of marginalised social groups in the sector. Often, the contributions of these groups are overlooked, as priority is given to quantitative data with superficial analysis. Our goal is to use disaggregated data and a mix of both quantitative and qualitative evidence to propose policies and inclusive business models that ensure fair and meaningful participation, as well as access to resources for adopting clean cooling technologies.
CCN is committed to leading this change, but we cannot do it alone. It is time for governments, private sector, and civil society to join us in creating a truly inclusive cold-chain sector. At the heart of GESI is a balanced power relationship between privileged and disadvantaged groups—this goes beyond women's representation. Only through such inclusivity can we achieve the sustainable, resilient, and equitable future we all seek.