The Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO) plans to create a single market of engineers in support of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), by digitalising the engineering practitioners’ database to build a reliable and trusted source of engineering services data through professional engineering institutions across Africa. The initiative aims to harmonise standards and regulations for the engineering profession on the continent.
A single market of engineers under AfCFTA
The initiative is one of four critical areas of FAEO for 2023 and 2024 under the leadership of current President Engineer Azawadi Papias Dedeki, and the Executive Board on which ECSA President Engineer Refilwe Buthelezi serves as President Elect. It aligns with the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement, which targets a single continental market with a population of about 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of approximately US$3.4 trillion.
The digitisation of the engineering practitioners’ database is intended to facilitate business transactions within Africa by promoting market access for products and services and enabling the mobility of engineering personnel. Through the contribution of its member countries, FAEO will create a database of professionals across different domains and levels of expertise and share it with the AfCFTA to draw from when required.
Building African engineering capacity
The programme is expected to enable an educational, skills, policy and knowledge trade-off between African countries, and to help address the challenge of foreign experts trying to solve African problems through its national members. This echoed remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address on the energy crisis: We have deep skills and expertise right here in South Africa – we just need to use them
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Described as a strategic imperative of Agenda 2063: the Africa We Want, the initiative calls for partnership models and robust frameworks for engineering education and practice, informed by accurate data on engineering capabilities and human capital needs. For South Africa, this entails ECSA strengthening partnerships with voluntary associations, industry bodies, academia and government. The programme is to be cemented on the following key areas:
- Harmonisation of standards
- Grooming and growing indigenous African engineering firms
- Supporting e-commerce
- Creating markets
- Knowledge transfer and investment support
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Support to innovation, research, and development
The programme envisions an African continent where engineers help ensure 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.
Original Press Release
About ECSA
The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) is the statutory body established under the Engineering Profession Act, 46 of 2000, mandated to regulate the engineering profession in South Africa. ECSA is responsible for the accreditation of engineering programmes, the registration of engineering practitioners, and upholding professional and ethical standards across the profession.
Issued by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).
ECSA Media Contact
Sybil Dlamini, Manager: Marketing and Communication
Email: sybil@ecsa.co.za | Tel: 073 623 8275
Website: www.ecsa.co.za
This article is based on an official ECSA press release. Read the original statement.
