The Institution of Engineers Rwanda (IER), in collaboration with the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) and the Federation of African Engineering Organizations (FAEO), organised the Global Engineering Conference (GECO2024) taking place in Kigali from October 15 to 18. This conference aims to tackle urgent global challenges.
With the theme ‘Engineering for a Sustainable Future’, this three-day event highlights the vital role of engineering in fostering sustainable development.
Industry leaders, policymakers, experts, and over 700 delegates from around the globe are convening to share insights and innovative solutions, addressing critical issues like climate change, infrastructure resilience, and social equity.
This conference will focus on key sustainable development goals (SDGs) such as SDG 4 (Quality Education), exploring ways to enhance educational infrastructure and workforce skills, SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation through innovative solutions for water security), and SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) by identifying pathways to sustainable energy access.
Minister of Infrastructure, Jimmy Gasore, while inaugurating the Global Engineering Conference, commended the advancement that Rwanda has made in the engineering field and the crucial role it plays in sustainable development goals (SDG), adding that in the next three days, they will explore how engineering can improve education, infrastructure, and access.
"Rwanda has made significant progress in these areas, particularly through our National Strategy for Transformation. Currently, we have achieved 80 per cent access to clean water, intending to reach 100 per cent by 2029. The discussions at this conference will be crucial for helping Rwanda and Africa reach these objectives,” he stated.
He also highlighted the need for resilient infrastructure to promote industrial growth and sustainability within the communities.
"As we strategise to develop smart cities that prioritise inclusivity, our major focus is community sustainability, and I believe we can create a future where engineering plays a transformative role in sustainable development, not just in Rwanda but across the globe,” he added.
In his address, Papias Kazawadi Dedeki, the president of the Federation of Africa Engineering Organization, emphasised their reach and structure to give a distinctive advantage in leveraging local expertise while aligning with continental and global engineering standards.
"We stand ready to channel our capabilities to accelerate the achievement of ‘The Africa We Want’. We, as engineers, are ready to walk the talk. But we need partnerships that bridge technical expertise with policy frameworks and that leverage local knowledge while embracing global best practices,” he said.
Kazawadi urged unique and collaborative partnerships between governments, industries, and the engineering community to enhance and accelerate the implementation of Africa’s Agenda 2063.
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"Additionally, we will emphasise SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) with a focus on resilient infrastructure and smart cities, while SDG 13 (Climate Action) will address engineering&039;s role in climate resilience and sustainability.”
As the Minister of Environment, Dr Valentine Uwamariya highlighted, the journey to achieve SDG13 cannot be undertaken in isolation; rather, they must leverage the collective expertise and resources of the global community to forge partnerships that transcend borders and sectors.
"Rwanda stands ready to collaborate with fellow nations and organizations in the engineering field. By sharing knowledge and best practices, we can develop scalable solutions that address climate challenges not only in Rwanda but globally. Together, we can enhance our infrastructure, improve water management systems, and innovate in sustainable agriculture practices,” she said
Gentil Kangaho, chairman of the Institute of Engineers in Rwanda, extended his appreciation to the government of Rwanda for creating such an enabling environment that can host this conference, noting that collaborating is key to achieving their goals.
"We cannot achieve this alone. We have expertise in different fields like researchers, policymakers, and so forth. I want us to be collaborating to make sure that we achieve our goals that are aligned with SDGs,” he added.
One of the participants, Redempta Dusangwe, a female engineer in Rwanda, said that Rwanda has made big progress in engineering, which is outstanding, adding that even the number of ladies interested in engineering has grown.
"I want to encourage women to join engineering because it's not only about infrastructure; there is more to it, and as women, we are capable and we can do it, and the country is always supporting us; imagine being able to host such a conference; it's already big," she said.
She also added that she is learning a lot from the discussions at the conference, and she believes she will contribute to positive change in the future and learn from other engineers.