Africa-Wide Sustainable Architecture and Engineering Design Training Using the World Bank EDGE IFC Tool.
(Registration-Free Program for Architects and Engineers Across African Universities)
Program Overview
The Africa-Wide Sustainable Architecture and Engineering Design Training is a continental capacity-building initiative proposed by Cadright Architecture & IT, in partnership with the IFC (World Bank Group).
The program seeks to empower students and professionals in architecture and engineering disciplines across African universities with practical knowledge and hands-on experience in green building design using the IFC’s EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) tool.
By making registration completely free, the program eliminates financial barriers to participation, ensuring broad accessibility and fostering a generation of sustainability-minded designers and engineers across the continent.
Core Objectives
- Capacity Building: Equip architecture and engineering students with the practical ability to use the EDGE software for optimizing energy, water, and material efficiency.
- Sustainability Mainstreaming: Integrate green design principles into university-level design education and early professional practice.
- Networking: Create a pan-African network of sustainable design advocates and institutions.
- Visibility and Collaboration: Strengthen partnerships between academia, professional bodies, and international organizations promoting green buildings.
- Long-Term Impact: Establish an annual, repeatable training platform that advances Africa’s contribution to global sustainable development goals.
Program Components
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Virtual Training Series | Six to eight weeks of structured online sessions delivered by certified trainers and industry experts. |
| 2. Regional In-Person Workshops | Selected university hubs host regional hands-on sessions supported by partner institutions. |
| 3. Case Studies & Design Exercises | Real-world projects analyzed using the EDGE tool, emphasizing local African contexts. |
| 4. Certification & Recognition | Co-branded certificates issued to all successful participants. |
| 5. Africa Sustainable Design Network (SAT-NET Africa) | Launch of an enduring student and professional community for continued research and innovation. |
