Affordable Cooling for Africa: Solar Refrigeration & Pay‑As‑You‑Go Models (Nigeria Spotlight)

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Published Jun 23, 2026

Cooling is a development, climate, and resilience challenge and in Nigeria, it's not a luxury - it’s a necessity. Nigeria's population is lacking electricity access for food refrigeration, while less than 40% of healthcare providers have refrigeration for vaccines. Entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises supported through the World Bank Group Sustainable Cooling Initiative are addressing these challenges through sustainable innovations. New technologies are replacing standard compressors with ice batteries powered by solar, solving also for affordability. Financial innovation through models like pay-as-you-go is bringing cooling to underserved populations, and creating jobs for small and even micro-enterprises. Sustainable cooling innovations are transforming healthcare, agriculture, and cold chains, including solar-powered refrigeration, ice battery technology, and pay‑as‑you‑go models expanding access for off-grid communities. This video explains

- Why cooling is central to climate adaptation and economic productivity
- How solar + ice batteries can replace standard compressors
- Why better cold chains can reduce food loss and strengthen livelihoods
- The role of affordability and pay‑as‑you‑go in scaling impact
- Why reliable refrigeration matters for vaccines and public health

Learn more on the WBG Sustainable Cooling and Heat Resilience Initiative: http://wrld.bg/rq4a50YZ6Iu

0:00 Cooling is a development and resilience challenge
0:44 Innovative solutions for technology and financial models
01:14 Cold chain gaps: food loss and the opportunity
02:19 “Cooling is the new gold”: value creation across supply chains
2:58 Why Nigeria is central to the problem, and the solution

ABOUT US ???? The World Bank Group (WBG) is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development on a livable planet. http://www.worldbank.org