World Federation of Engineering Organisations
Promoting Engineering in Africa Webinar.
Eng. Martin Manuhwa, FZwIE.
FAEO PAST PRESIDENT
World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO) :- Engineering Capacity Building Committee (Chair).
Vice President: World Council of Civil Engineering (WCCE): Education and Capacity Building Committee (Chair).
Past President :- Southern African Federation of Engineering Organisations (SAFEO).
Past Chairman :- Engineering Council of Zimbabwe (ECZ).
Past President Fellow:- Zimbabwe Institution of Engineering (ZIE)
• Introduction
• Africa Regional Trends and Global Challenges
• Overview of WFEO Activities in Africa & Africa Engineering
Week
• Alignment of WFEO & FAEO Strategic Plans, Goals And
Objectives
• Harmonization of Engineering Standards in Africa
• Recommendations
• Way forward
Introduction
• Engineering a better Africa requires a new paradigm that focuses on building
capacity and rallying stakeholders to create strategies to achieve the SDGs.
• FAEO through its Agreement with the AU Commission Department of Human Resources,
Science and Technology envisions the implementation of engineering solutions in the AU STISA-
2024 using engineering as a springboard for the right infrastructure, technological innovations
and solutions to deliver the Africa we want as enshrined in the AU Agenda 2063.
• Alignment with global trends (big data, etc.) as well as the urgent need to develop
basic infrastructures, places a significant strain on African capacity and creative
solutions.
• This approach requires constant re-skilling and upskilling of people, in addition, Digital
Transformation and skils have the potential to grow African economies and are
essential for capacity-building.
AFRICA REGIONAL TRENDS – In the 2nd UNESCO ENGINEERING REPORT
• The report posits that approximately 60 million Africans could be
pushed into poverty and that food insecurity is expected to nearly
double.
• An estimated 110 million African children and youth are already out of
school, fragile health care systems are being tested, and women are at
risk of being left out even more than before.
• It is also predicted that slow economic activity and lockdowns will
increase unemployment and debt, while at the same time diminishing
remittances, development assistance and domestic revenue create
further risks in terms of financing development and the SDGs.
Global Challenges in Engineering
Lack of or limited Engineering data to inform policy
Low uptake of engineering education by young people with
even fewer being women and girls
Obsolete Engineering curricula abounds in many countries
especially in developing countries
Fewer opportunities for young engineering graduates
resulting in low retention of young engineers in the
profession
Minimum recognition of women engineers’ reproductive roles
Key Questions We need to ask to model the WFEO – FAEO – UN Africa Nexus ? – (1)
1. What policy mechanisms need to be in place to foster
environmentally sound technology, research and development,
and innovation, in line with sustainable development and poverty
eradication?
2. What policies and strategies need to be in place for African
countries to undertake appropriate mitigation and adaptation
measures in order to reverse the impact of climate change?
3. What technologies and innovative measures can be taken to
enhance energy access and its efficient
Key Questions We need to ask to model the WFEO – FAEO – UN Africa Nexus ? – (2)
4. How can African countries develop national capacities including
access to technologies and innovation to promote
entrepreneurship and employment among the youth?
5. How can ICTs be harnessed to address the diverse challenges of
urbanization?
6. What sources and mechanisms of innovative financing be used to
achieve sustainable development goals?
Challenges of leaving no one behind with specific reference to Africa
Environment for Engineering in Africa (2)
GDP per capita 2016 vs engineering practitioners per 100,000 population
GDP per capita US$
Engineering practitioners per 100,000 population
An Overview of WFEO Activities in Africa
All WFEO’s Standing Technical Committees, Policy Implementation
Committees and Working Groups have Membership from Africa.
Since 2011, Key STCs and PICs were Head-Quartered in Africa, and now
even more impetus is put on increasing this influence and participation.
E.g.
Engineering Capacity Building (Chaired by Zimbabwe)
Women in Engineering (Chaired by Nigeria
Anti-Corruption – (Chaired by Rwanda)
Infrastructure Report Card WG – (Chaired by FAEO)
Africa has a significant voice in the Governance of WFEO at
Present.
• The Current President Elect (See - FAEO Congratulatory Message
• 3 Committee Chairs and 1 WG Chair
• Other members of the WFEO Exco Executive Committees (7!)
• Members of WFEO Board Committees
• The 2024 WFEO EXCO Meeting will be held in Kigali, Rwanda!
AFRICA ENGINEERING WEEK
• WFEO has a MoU with UNESCO, that establishes the Africa Engineering Week and in
turn WFEO has an Agreement with FAEO to operationalise the run the event
through a Committee Chaired by the WFEO CECB and comprises of all WFEO STC
Chairs based in Africa, the FAEO President, UNESCO and other relevant
stakeholders.
• The aim of the AEW is to create a strong engineering community in Africa with
robust links between Government, Industry and Academia.
• Engineering is pivotal to economic development and social wellbeing of all nations.
• UNESCO, FAEO and WFEO introduced the AEW help contribute to the achievement
of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
AFRICA ENGINEERING WEEK
1 UNESCO AFRICA AFRICA
st
ENGINEERING WEEK – SOUTH AFRICA
2 nd
AFRICA ENGINEERING WEEK -
2014 ZIMBABWE 2015
3rd AEW and 1st Africa Engineering Conference – NSE Nigeria
AFRICA ENGINEERING WEEK - ZAMBIA 2019
AFRICA ENGINEERING WEEK
2018 hosts of the 6th AEW, IEK, 2023 hosts of the 9th AEW are ECSA,
Kenya South Africa
GHANA, ACCRA, GHIE were
Hosts of the 7th October
2021
2017 hosts of the 5th AEW, IER,
Rwanda
• ROBOTICS COMPETITION
To serve Africa Well, WFEO strategic Focus should align with FAEO’s Strategic Plan in Four Key Goals.
Science and Engineering for the People, Planet & Prosperity
Engineering is at the heart of achieving all the SDGs.
In the context of pressing planetary and
socio-economic challenges, sustainable
and innovative solutions require an
efficient, transparent and vibrant
engineering community not only
stemming from engineers, but from the
whole of society.
Need for Engineering Solutions
WFEO & FAEO to Enhance Quality Assurance and Innovation
There is now an urgent need to create a FAEO, WFEO,
IEA, UNESCO, ADEA, AfCFTA & others for:
Establishing an inclusive global engineering education
standard that drives sustainability, while
Facilitating engineering mobility – creating networks,
sharing ideas and
Building engineering capacity for sustainable
development
Working together to create a shared and better
future, that leaves no place and no one behind!
Urgent Need for Harmonization of Engineering Standards in Africa
Most of the
Harmonization
conferences in Africa Scale up of the
of engineering
have identified one Infrastructure
standards
research need or the Report Card in
across Africa
other that needs more African
inline with
attention for the Countries
global best
development of the
practices
continent
Engineering for Sustainable development
Bridge
knowledge
divide
Connects
social
innovation
creates new
products and
services Engineers’
profession is vital in
addressing basic
human needs, in
alleviating poverty,
and all the SDGs
Engineering the Sustainable Development: Global Imperatives
Importance of timely access to
scientific and engineering data and
information
• Climate change
• Biodiversity loss International collaborations and
• Water Security
• Natural Disasters sharing of information at all levels
• Bridging the ICT
Interconnected nature of societies and
how scientific innovations, through the
Global health crisis and other threats effective implementation of engineering
can increase resilience
Engineering for Transformational Change
Bridge the Technology knowledge
and Gender Gaps
Imperatives for Engineering –Need to catch up
• The 2030 Agenda for SD is a blueprint for action, and engineers are now at the
forefront to deliver on the SDGs using their scientific knowledge and experience
to turn innovative ideas into sustainability projects for the benefit of all.
• Technologies are fast evolving, offering promising perspectives, but they should
also be assessed in view of the new risks presented from an ethical standpoint.
• Engineering profession must be reshaped to address today’s pressing issues and
raise a sense of global responsibility towards achieving the necessary
innovations.
• Engineering needs cutting edge innovations and dynamic solutions
• Raise awareness among governments and civil society on the important role of
engineering for economic development and for advancing the 2030 Agenda.
Engineering to accelerate delivery of the SDGs
More engineers with the right skills are needed
Engineering itself needs to transform to become
Innovation
more innovative, inclusive, cooperative and Inclusiveness
cooperative
responsible responsible
Engineering to combat future pandemics and Big data AI
Improve
healthcare
improve healthcare
Water engineering for sustainable development Engineering
transforming our
world
Engineering for climate emergency and for DRR Smart cities Education
Affordable clean Capacity Building
Big data, artificial intelligence and smart cities energy
Water security
Diversity and
Inclusion
Engineering education and capacity-building as the Climate Change
key to enable engineering for the SDGs DRR
Fostering engineering development in the regions
Recommendations – Diversity Inclusion and leaving no place and no
one behind
Policy-makers:
Engage young engineers directly in the design of courses, learning spaces and employment.
Fund programmes engaging vulnerable young engineers and incentives for participating
organizations
Encourage youth to engage communities by solving local problems.
Industry leaders:
Engage with student organizations to communicate current work practices directly, addressing a
gap noted in research.
Partner with programmes serving vulnerable young engineers. Apply technological and
programmatic solutions to increase access.
Educators:
Work with collaborators to introduce young people to engineering earlier (secondary or before).
Design curricula using real-world applications in formal and informal spaces, including multiple
pathways for students to experience realistic engineering work.
Conclusion
Taken together, Engineering for the SDGs envisions a
world where engineers contribute to ensuring that all
people have access to the services and resources
necessary to live healthy, fulfilling lives in dignity and at
peace, while working to preserve the global
environment.
Simply put, meeting the SDGs by 2030 and any development
goals beyond that date is impossible without the
mobilization and full input of the engineering profession at
all levels.
Conclusion
Engineering a better Africa requires a new paradigm that focuses on building capacity, inspiring the
youth through diversity and inclusion and rallying stakeholders to create strategies to ACHIEVE THE
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF AFRICA.
Our Aim is to improve the Quality of Education in Africa.
We need to create good jobs, entrepreneurial and economic growth for Africa.
Our Nexus of WFEO, UNESCO, IEA, AAP & FAEO should commit to a Capacity Building Programme for
the assessment of each African country’s current systems of engineering education and requirements to
a critical mass of African Countries in the IEA.
There is now a greater need for such a Harmonisation Engineering Education to be substantially
equivalent for Africa. This should be spearheaded by African Economies to create a mobility framework
African Proverb
Our Motto as Africans should be “Coming Together, working Together for the
Good of All of Africa” to create the Africa we Want and We can only do this
through Collaboration with the UN System, WFEO and other Partners.
If you want to go FAST
Go Alone,
If you want to go FAR,
Go Together
MINDSET TRANSFORMATION
