Written by Dr Tariq Umar
A researcher at UWE Bristol has secured new international funding to explore how informal engineering skills can help accelerate the green transition across Africa.
The project, “Unlocking informal green engineering skills in Africa: A comparative pilot for scalable recognition pathways,” is led by Dr Tariq Umar, Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at UWE Bristol. The initiative will work with partners in Kenya, Uganda and Ghana to better understand and recognise the skills of informal technicians, artisans and innovators who are already delivering climate and energy solutions within their communities.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, more than 80% of employment takes place in the informal economy, where technicians install solar systems, repair equipment, fabricate energy-efficient technologies and adapt climate solutions to local contexts. However, these practitioners often remain outside formal training and certification systems, limiting opportunities for professional recognition, finance, training and enterprise development.
The project will develop and pilot a scalable recognition model for informal green engineering skills, helping to bridge the gap between grassroots innovation and formal skills systems.
Working closely with training authorities, innovation hubs and community practitioners, the project will:
- map informal green engineering practices and competencies
- develop practical recognition pathways aligned with national skills systems
- pilot a community-based recognition model in Uganda
- generate policy guidance to support inclusive green skills development
The initiative forms part of wider efforts to strengthen green workforce development, climate resilience and inclusive innovation across African economies.
Dr Tariq Umar, Project Lead at UWE Bristol, said: “Across Africa, millions of technicians, artisans and grassroots innovators are already driving the green transition by installing solar systems, repairing infrastructure and adapting climate technologies to local needs. Yet their skills often remain invisible within formal training systems. This project aims to recognise and strengthen these capabilities, creating pathways that connect informal innovation with formal skills ecosystems. By doing so, we can support decent work, strengthen local green economies, and accelerate inclusive climate solutions.”
The research consortium includes partners from Kenya’s National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), GIZ Kenya, Leaf Life Solutions, 3N ENGTECH Innovations in Uganda, and the Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Solutions (ISEES) in Ghana. Together, they will examine how recognition approaches can support workforce mobility, innovation and sustainable livelihoods.
Professor Washington Yotto Ochieng, CBE, EBS, CEng, FREng, FCGI, Chair of the Africa Engineers Steering Committee at the Royal Academy of Engineering, emphasised the importance of recognising grassroots innovation in the green transition: “Engineering innovation across Africa often emerges from informal systems where skilled technicians and practitioners are solving real problems in energy, infrastructure and climate adaptation. Recognising and strengthening these capabilities is essential if we are to build inclusive and resilient green economies across the continent.”
The project also aligns with UWE Bristol’s commitment to international collaboration and research addressing global sustainability challenges.
Alice Radley, Senior Manager Sustainable Development at the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “This project reflects the Royal Academy of Engineering’s commitment to supporting inclusive and sustainable engineering solutions that are grounded in local realities. Across Africa, informal engineers and technicians are already playing a vital role in advancing green innovation and climate resilience. By recognising and strengthening these skills, we can help unlock new pathways for sustainable development, economic opportunity and a more inclusive global engineering ecosystem.”
Over the next twelve months, the research will combine stakeholder engagement, participatory mapping, competency identification and pilot testing of recognition approaches. Findings will inform policy guidance and scalable models that could be adopted across multiple African countries.
Ultimately, the project aims to help governments and partners unlock grassroots engineering capacity, strengthen pathways to decent green jobs, and support locally driven climate solutions.
If you would like to learn more about this project, please contact Dr Tariq Umar, Project Lead, at tariq.umar@uwe.ac.uk.