Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Climate and
Wildlife, Ministry of Power and Energy Development, and the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre
(SIRDC), has launched a comprehensive climate adaptation programme in Harare.
The initiative falls under the Low Temperature Evaporative Cooling System (LTEIHT-AC) — a zero-emission cooling technology
designed to provide sustainable and affordable temperature control in the country’s increasingly warming climate.
The model was developed by Phokeng Global Health and Environmental Solutions, and the Evaporative Cooling System.
It leverages atmospheric enthalpy and water evaporation to produce cooling effects without relying on electricity or ozone-
depleting refrigerants.
According to the UNDP Zimbabwe, the system was built using locally available materials. The system is both environmentally
friendly and economically accessible, offering a scalable solution to Zimbabwe’s energy and climate resilience challenges.
“The Evaporative Cooling System Inception Meeting, held at UNDP’s Harare offices, marked a significant milestone in
Zimbabwe’s transition toward climate-resilient and energy-efficient technologies,” said the organisation.
“The event brought together key stakeholders from Government, academia, the private sector, and development partners to
discuss the system’s design, applications, and roadmap for national deployment.”
The UNDP said the event was also used to formally introduce the prototype from Phokeng Global Health and Environmental
Solutions to the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC), symbolising the transition from design to
institutional adoption and field testing.
It said the technology will undergo pilot testing and performance monitoring in selected communities, with results informing
wider national rollout.
UNDP Resident Representative, Dr Ayodele Odusola, said this initiative represents a practical example of climate innovation in
Zimbabwe.
“This is a solution that not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also empowers communities through local
manufacturing and skills development,” he said.
“By investing in sustainable technologies like this, we are helping to ensure that no one is left behind in the transition to a
greener, more resilient future.”
It is understood that among other things, the latest system directly supports the National Climate Change Policy (2017), the
Energy Efficiency Policy (2024), and Zimbabwe’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0).
In addition, it also contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7, 9, and 13, advancing access to
clean energy, innovation, and climate action.
Bongani Ndlovu