WFEO Launches Engineering Capacity Building Program for Africa
The World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), in partnership with the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK), and the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), has officially launched the Engineering Capacity Building for Africa Programme (ECBAP) at the United Nations Complex in Nairobi.
This landmark initiative aims to enhance engineering education, professional development, and infrastructure capacity across Africa.
Strengthening Engineering for Africa’s Growth
Under the theme “Belt and Road Initiatives in Engineering Capacity Building: Innovative Infrastructure Solutions to Achieve SDGs through Smart Partnerships with CAST and African Engineering Organizations,” the launch event brought together global engineering leaders, policymakers, academics, and industry experts to discuss solutions to Africa’s engineering challenges.
Key highlights included:
✅ Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): CAST, IEK, and EBK signed an MoU to foster collaboration in engineering capacity development, skills enhancement, and research.
✅ Engineering Training & AI Development: IEK committed to training over 100,000 engineers across Africa, focusing on cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and climate-resilient design.
✅ Strategic Partnerships: The event reinforced partnerships to boost engineering education, enhance professional mobility, and promote technology transfer and regional centers of excellence.
Kenya’s Engineering Vision
Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, Davis Chirchir, emphasized that this initiative aligns with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), AU Agenda 2063, EAC Vision 2050, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He highlighted the urgent need for Africa to prioritize infrastructure, industrialization, and technology to unlock its full potential.
“Engineering is the backbone of economic growth. For Kenya to fully industrialize, we must invest in skills development, innovation, and strategic partnerships,” stated Chirchir.
Kenya, a key regional transport hub, is modernizing infrastructure, including expanding road networks, ports, railways, and aviation facilities. Chirchir cited ongoing projects like:
- Tarmacked border crossings and new corridors like Lamu-Garissa-Isiolo and Mogadishu-Nairobi Highway to boost trade and security.
- Maritime sector growth, with the expansion of Mombasa Port, modernization of Lamu and Kisumu Ports, and increased regional connectivity.
- Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which has significantly reduced cargo transit time, improving logistics efficiency.
China’s Role in Kenya’s Infrastructure Development
Chirchir acknowledged China’s substantial investment in Kenya’s major engineering projects, including:
- SGR from Mombasa to Naivasha ($4.7 billion)
- Nairobi Expressway ($600 million)
- Lamu Port Project, a key component of the LAPSSET Corridor
While appreciating these investments, Chirchir stressed that Africa must build its own engineering capacity to drive future infrastructure projects and technological advancements.
Bridging Africa’s Engineering Skills Gap
Despite these advancements, Chirchir raised concerns over the shortage of engineers in Kenya, where only 4,000 registered engineers serve the industry, against a required 10,000 by 2027 to meet economic demands and align with UNESCO’s recommended 1:5000 engineer-to-population ratio.
“This gap is a major challenge to industrialization, infrastructure expansion, and technological innovation,” he stated.
To address this, the ECBAP initiative will focus on:
Enhancing engineering education and simplifying the registration process.
Strengthening continuous professional development programs.
Establishing Centers of Excellence like the Kenya School of Engineering (KSE) and the Kenya Academy of Engineering and Technology (KAET) to advance engineering training in Africa.
Industrialization & Innovation as Key Priorities
Chirchir also pointed out Kenya’s low level of industrialization, where over 60% of exports are raw materials, and manufacturing contributes only 7.5% to GDP—far from the 15% target by 2030.
“To shift from raw material exports to value-added production, we must embrace engineering-led industrialization,” he advised.
Additionally, Kenya’s investment in Research and Development (R&D) remains below 0.8% of GDP, compared to the global standard of 2.5%, limiting innovation and reliance on homegrown technology.
Global Recognition for Kenyan Engineers
A major milestone ahead is EBK’s expected provisional accreditation under the Washington Accord in June 2025, which will enable Kenyan engineers to gain global recognition and compete on the world stage.
“We are actively working towards securing Washington Accord recognition, which will open doors for Kenyan engineers globally,” said EBK Chairman Eng. Erastus Mwongera.
A Transformative Future for African Engineering
IEK President Eng. Shammah Kiteme reaffirmed IEK’s commitment to equipping engineers with world-class skills, stating:
“Through global partnerships, we will create a knowledge-driven workforce to lead Africa’s infrastructure development.”
With ECBAP set to run for a decade, Africa’s engineering sector is poised for transformation—ensuring that the continent’s infrastructure development is led by its own professionals while aligning with Agenda 2063, AfCFTA, and the UN SDGs.
WFEO Launches Engineering Capacity Building Program for Africa
