PrepCon

A is for Africa

African Perspectives Preparatory Conference
25, 26 and 27 January 2018, EiABC, Addis Ababa

Joint event organised by the 
Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, (BK) TU Delft 
Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development

In line with the faculty strategy to strengthen ties with Africa, BK aims to make a positive impact on African’s rapid urbanisation over the next few years. In order to achieve this aim effectively, the priority is to engage with African academics with a view to learning about the challenges of African urbanisation and to defining a path to follow.

This is why BK is organising an international conference in 2019. The aim of this conference is to discuss issues and strategies identified during the Preparatory Conference and to set up a network with relevant African stakeholders. 
The main questions for this preparatory event are: 

• What are the challenges in contemporary African urbanisation?
• How can BK engage with African institutions in order to produce a positive impact on African urbanisation?
• What are on-going educational experiences and research projects from which we could learn together?

While the main responsibility for the destiny of African cities lies with African citizens, governments and institutions, universities throughout the world have a role to play in helping to educate the next generation of African architects, planners and urban designers and in helping to provide them with a global perspective. BK wishes to reach out to African higher education institutes, governments, businesses and citizens, and together to become partners in promoting sustainable, inclusive and fair urbanisation.

Participants in the Preparatory Conference will be given priority in regard to attending the 2019 African Perspectives conference in Delft. In addition, the Preparatory Conference offers the opportunity to strengthen networks and initiate international collaborations. To facilitate this, there will be an opportunity to apply for funding to develop ideas that combine the expertise of both African and Dutch researchers. More information will shortly be available on the website, tudelft.nl/africanperspectives2018.

This preparatory conference is open to all those interested (academics, students, public officials, entrepreneurs connected to urban development) and is free of charge.