Stories

At the UN Habitat Assembly on 5 June 2023, IFC Edge and the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) agreed to collaborate to promote the IFC’s ‘Designing for Greater Efficiency’ (DfGE) course among the CAA’s extensive network of teaching faculty, students and built environment professionals.

With Commonwealth countries accounting for nearly 50% of the projected increase in the world’s urban population to 2050 and over 95% of that growth taking place in Asia and Africa, built environment professionals across the Commonwealth need to have the necessary skills to engage with the twin challenges of climate change and rapid urbanisation.

A recent survey, published by the CAA, showed that there is a critical lack of capacity among built environment professionals in the Commonwealth countries which are urbanising most rapidly and are among the most vulnerable to Climate Change, a situation which is aggravated by a corresponding lack of educational capacity and weakness in built environment policy, ie planning policy and building code.

The DfGE course has been developed, curated, and offered by IFC to advance the cause of sustainability in the built environment. The course is offered in both online and in-person modes and encourages the development of skills, knowledge, and attitudes to support the built environment’s transition to a low-carbon path. The DfGE Course is aimed at teaching faculty and students together with senior architecture, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and building design students as well as professionals and building design practitioners who wish to improve their climate literacy while learning how to design resource-efficient buildings.

In addition to the environmental benefits, resource-efficient buildings offer operational savings, higher commercial returns, and quicker sales cycles. By building green, developers in many countries access benefits from both commercial banking, in the form of green financial products, and the public sector through policy incentives.

“Our new partnership with IFC Edge will enable us to deliver one of our key objectives, to develop practical action which is both scalable and replicable.”

Speaking at the signing of the collaboration at the UN Habitat Assembly in Nairobi, CAA President Peter Oborn said: ‘For the past few years the CAA has been working with Commonwealth partners on a Call to Action on Sustainable Urbanisation across the Commonwealth and were delighted when Heads adopted a Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation at CHOGM 2022. Our new partnership with IFC Edge will enable us to deliver one of our key objectives, to develop practical action which is both scalable and replicable.”

About the CAA

The Commonwealth Association of Architects represents national membership bodies from across the Commonwealth. Its unique role resides in its ability to access, engage with and convene a wide range of influential Commonwealth partners and international agencies in pursuit of a better built environment for the benefit of all. The CAA’s core activities include advocacy, improving educational standards, increasing professional competency, capacity building and collaborating for greater impact, activities which are crucial to help drive sustainable development.

For more information, visit www.commonwealtharchitects.org.