The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), in collaboration with the Commonwealth Engineers’ Council (CEC), has launched a Pan-African Structural Engineering Knowledge Partnership to help scale up engineering capacity and resilience across the continent
Through this initiative, 10 African Professional Engineering Institutions (PEIs) will gain access to IStructE’s suite of technical resources, training materials, and membership opportunities. The move is part of a wider strategy to promote safer, more sustainable, and climate-resilient construction practices throughout the region.
Key benefits for African PEIs include:
- Free access to IStructE’s technical manuals and guides, including materials on seismic design and safe concrete and steel structures.
- 100+ live and on-demand webinars and CPD events.
Tools and courses related to low-carbon design, such as:
- The Structural Carbon Tool Embodied carbon calculation guides
- On-demand training in carbon-conscious design.
Discounted IStructE Affiliate and Graduate membership, with free Student membership also promoted locally.
Yasmin Becker, CEO of IStructE, said:
“The IStructE’s mission is rooted in a simple but powerful goal: to ensure that the structures built around the world are safe, resilient, and sustainable. In an era defined by climate change, rapid urbanisation, and global inequality, this mission has never been more important – or more urgent. As a learned society, we have a responsibility to be at the forefront of exchanging information and ideas relating to structural engineering globally, and we are excited to be working in collaboration with our international partners on this project.
“Structural engineering is a global and connected profession in which achieving excellence depends on shared knowledge and expertise. The IStructE is therefore delighted to work with the CEC and their African PEI members on this partnership that advances the field of structural engineering.”
Participating PEIs include:
- Institution of Engineers, Kenya (IEK)
- Institution of Engineers, Rwanda (EIR)
- Engineers for Change Sierra Leone (CEC Associate member)
- Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers (SLIE)
- South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE)
- South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE)
- Institution of Engineers Tanzania (IET)
- Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE)
- Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers (ZIE)
- Engineering Council of Zimbabwe (ECZ)
All resources will be accessible free online via IStructE’s website and partner PEI platforms.
Dawn Bonfield, president of CEC, commented: “We are thrilled to connect IStructE with our African PEIs for this innovative project. We all agree that sharing global best practice and guidance is essential to build and sustain a safe built environment that can withstand climate change, now and in the future.”
Addressing rapid urban growth
The OECD projects that Africa’s population will double by 2050, reaching 2.2 billion, with two-thirds living in urban centres (Source: OECD, “Africa’s urbanisation dynamics”, March 2025.) This exponential growth is already driving significant construction demand—from residential and commercial buildings to vital infrastructure. The Knowledge Partnership aims to equip local engineers with the expertise needed to meet these challenges while aligning with global safety and sustainability standards.
Sanzan Diarra, CEO of the Zimbabwean Institution of Engineers, adds:
“I am delighted to see the IStructE’s Pan-African Structural Engineering Knowledge Partnership being delivered. There are myriad opportunities for Sub-Saharan African countries to make our cities safer, more resilient, greener, and inclusive for future generations. IStructE’s Partnership is a welcome initiative, not just for the benefit of structural engineers, but also the societies in which the profession works.”
Free launch event – 16 September 2025
The initiative will be officially launched during a free online event, Pan-African knowledge partnership: strengthening engineering capacity through global collaboration, on 16 September 2025, from 15:00–16:00 BST. Speakers include Yasmin Becker and IStructE vice president Tendayi Munyebvu.
