Co-operative arrangements in building and building materials research among African countries

(1)

UNITED NATIONS

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

EOJNOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA

Meeting of Directors of African Building

and Building Materials Research Insb.tutes Bujumbura, Burundi~ 30 April -, 3 May 1980

LIMTI'FD

E!CN.14!HUS!?J3 14 April 1980

Origina1~ ENGLISH

<Xh)PERATIVE ARRANGEMENl'S IN

BUILDING AND BUILDING MATERIALS RESEARCH AMJNG AFRICAN COUNTRIES

MOO-llI5

(2)

I. ._---'

Introduction^...^"''-^... E/CNo14/HUS/J8 '. d"'11.',,,." ]l;,,'basbeen'inct'ea?ihgly r,c;cotprl;ze_od^: in dE!veloped counta-Lea t-ha:tbecause

o:C,j;:he'ilimited resburces" avail,able ,to,,:i::~~earch, the sillli'larit'iicsinc--the pl"Clbl'llll~f::C6r'

study

>1hfeih'mt.k<i;Jth~ 'e#r~E!ncesp!vario!lswun:lir.ies ^relevant

{J;"'to'O-t'hers and : the benefi):'s't!o,

be

dcfr

V<:d, imm

'exchange ,of,illlCokjma,Holl"and d0GUm~thtion" the sc~c r~sourcesayailablcnatioQally $hQuldbej,~pl~,at

tbednf~rnational'leve'i"i;hf'ough the co~rdination",?f,~, co+,ope~,in,certain research aetivitieso Thus the United Nations Economic Commission for EUrope

(ECE) ,promoted the esta91i,phmentof the,;I:jlte!,'11ationillCounciLfor Building ,wResei1i>cb"Studiesandbo6\ifu~ritation(em)

in 1953

to enQourage, faciUtate

arid E1111"e'l:Op"'internattonai co-oper-atIori in,bu;Udi,r,g, housingr and pliuinirtg research.

riStlldll1i'1y~;)roEiniti at

di;!

,::sr~t ,!~a

1::'.",

co-operaUo;n"aJI)Ongit" :member countries , ':in",t>he fi:eTd<Yf"urBan.rti.'ar'cgi'9Aar resear,ch Nith the format:i-cm" of all EXPert

Group·-.d:n, '196811' '." ..

2", .',

1!M~,need::f=-;iJi.t.emationalep-Qpe~~1;::ion,in':J<i!l,i,;tding

research is even'

_ _~ " .':<" .•. ·.• . . f l • . . 1. . . . .

n".i:"I"';I~ea't~J)",;.t'hedeJ'eloplng eoun'ft'oiesof t'hc l'ibl'l<:,' ana' especially in Africa, vher-c the existing capac:.'.ty and resources for research are JlDJch . less than in the developed countries.

3. The,Economic Commission for Africa attaches great importance to the promotion of viable anc' relevant building r-esearch activitle':;, in "Crica tlwough regional co-oper-at Ion, It "as in this connexion that in 1971 EX::A, collaborate" Hith the former United Nations Centre for. ,J:jousing, Building' , and Planning in organizing a meeting of an Ad ho~ Expert :Group on C0- ordination of Building R~searchin Africa

if

^{q ':} The meeting.r.rhich"l1tl,S

att~n4ed by building research. directors from four African'countries, revieHed current and future bulldinc research programmes in Africa,.identified resel1rch topics in nhach co-oecdnaeaon ,ras needed, and r-ecommended.maohdnerd.es for the co-ordination of building research activities at the nat:'onal,.regional and

international levels" '. !'

4." •. This paper therefore examines the question of co-aperation among African countries in the field of building and building materials ",eseat'ch and ^r,

i;:'

suggests possible national, subregional and regional actionS' needed to foster

the desired co-operation" "

'.

II. Justifi£,etion for regional co-aperation ~n building and building, ..' _ _ _ _ _materiala..;;e~... , . ' '. • " w ' - . • . ,

'1'"'"

5. 'The[proli:j.emSi:tlla'~:existing reseal'ch·o.r:g~i~ationsface and HhiC'h'iimit the '!Cope, efficiency and impaot of their programmes incluc'''' the shortage of suita- bility qualified research 9cientists and technicians and lack of funds both for purchasing the neccscar-y laboratory and field cq'J.if.;me::.:.'.; and for expanding the scope of research activities. The information pr-eserrred in the table belou

17-C;;e the r'epcr-t of the Ad' Hoc Expert Group 0;'1 Co-ol'dim.do:l of Building.

Ilesearch in Africa, Addia Ababa , 22-26 Mar-ch 1971

(E/CNo14/5?4;

E/CNo14/HUS/87).

(3)

'.

shows the generally low capacity for scientific .and technological. research ill. Africa compared with other regioml ';':r'the l'Orld. Experienc~in many countries in Africa shous· 'that positions in research organizations.are .

~sually unattractive'to many prortdsing ~esearChersbecause of·the relatively poon. conditions of service compared with those in the industrial sector.

In.dustrythereforeabsorbs the majority of the if~;uiable scientific. and·

t'i'chnological m a n p o w e r . "

• • s ,

,-;1-

6.

The financial position of many African count~ies precludes any decisive action .in the sho.. t term that would alleviate the ,financial problems of existing bUilding 'research organizations. The lack of essential.equipment ,greatly hampers the progress of research programmes and sometimes necessitates

the indefinite suspension of viable and imPortant research projects.

. DeV'eloping countries

, Uri!?! Asia' Latin Amedca Developed

Mar~t;£e.2rtomy..£ount;;r

^..

i;,j&"S;:""~~~::;:'

^{_ _}

-,I.l::~'-''';:;;~;;;;:~;;;'=';:=

112

5.8

22

(iii) Scientists and . engineers· enga-

ged in'R ^& ^D per 10,000 population

'(i~)

Technicians

engaged in

n

&D per 10,000

population 8.2

',.

0.35

23.4

.'":.

72.2

.,;.~,

"'.

---_ ^...

^~-_

^... ^__

^.~

^- 1.4

Sourcez Frances Stet'Jar'\; - "Technology and Underdevelopment," p.120

" .

,r .::::.;

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·i/rn"J.A/h1JB138

Page 3

""

,·)t~.·~· -< '-,.;' . . -' . : i ) ' j,'" . l " 4

,"" '7.' Th<:p~bleliiso.f unavailability of research personnel ~'shortal!eof

'-01lL,Ic.. f~,1~~;'ge~her ~i'1Jl,t ^the act~on capabi,lit~es^of tho~e~un1;l'..i«s^which'

'- "Qf'J.,.)>;::~c;>pu"e.t\:1e ne~,~or and,~shto e.s~abhshneN ,buJ.14~na,researchcentres

or to' ,upgrade·exJ.s1;:mg. D1aterJ..als test.:mg .laboratories' =to fuH-fledged._,-, _\- _,,, _._~ _.._- _._~

" ....

.

^' ... ^.. .^'. .

_n.tr?:;~earch,.centres... ',;-,;r,",'; ,-. . ';.

",~j:~::":~,;."k;\~"t'the

^above

backgroUnd1~~y

courrtj-Lea in the

vari0lis~~b;.egions

, , ' O:£::Afri9ll-.ar-e similar in _:t~I1lDof the . available raH materialsvcharac1terist!cs

~ ,p':QblelllS, ,of, _th~ building materia,ls

.,and

construction industries and:

sP9;i<Fe90n9mic1 cultu~al and _sometime~.climatic condiJtiOliia. These, common featUres 'lend Neight t6 the adoption. of concerted action in the ,deve;J.oprnent and promotion of common "appropriate teclul010gies" for the building industry.

It shoQl~therefore be a matter of. concern that the exchange 9f _infQrDliltion

",',on~es'';arc'hpr:ojectSand the dissemination of the results,of"Completed research actiii:ti,es ;iJDon,.grtase'archorg<lIiizations in Africa are liUlited~;thu&,preventing researchers :Cro,m tUlly utili'l:ingthe.experierces of othe~s :ht'!:he,·reg:ion

'f.h

t-h~ formUlation and execution of.thei~ projects~ , '.""

c- ;..:: . . • . T ..~ ...r.

90 Hence there is an urgent need for African countries to pool together their scarce resources and. undertake such joint ,actiol14'· ...s ,11QUla ~)l.p to maximize returns on the re'souroes' ai'ai'lable for' buHdrng'

and

building , f -.-jmatetial~"r.~s,earcl;t,

P:'

"e~ch, cou,:,try. . Such acti()n would be in conformity

,:', :,:",{th;., and iJ()u;L(1 contr~Pute to the at,\:ainement of.. the object!ve of StIbi'egional

, .. , \ and regional collective se.lf-reliance.. . , ...

i1:;" '~,' ,

'..'

" f

,y

¹⁰⁰ ^' ^Regdona'l, and'.s",p~,~~onal^oo-oper-atLon inbuildingand,.,obuildingl nia1rerials

~, '" .research cab be ef;f",ct'tacl in the broad arellsof,!:lxchange'Qf,,,information and

"doc~~:t:a:t:ion; co-:-6r::d~tionin selectedres~iU'ch.topi,csilmd prorhotiom"of , )~~~;;f,,,.sea,rchaqthrit.~esl.;organizati~~ ;,~f stljdy ~isitGandraxchange'

0:£

.c; reslia:rch per-sonnel j establ:J,shment of"J<?J.n1;/subregJ.Onal research'cent,res,

1~', .^{> .}^- ^{. . .} ^{' ,} ^, ^-' ^{. ;} ^'. ^. ^{' .} ~ •

.. 1;railrlng ot: rese,arch personnel,J.~"I'" , . . .,(." . ' d . , .•. . - . .and organization of meetings and.'•ii~ars.'

: "'(1) 'F;,[t,n2nge of information

~ doeu~ent~ti;2n "lrr,~:;',

11. In p1aI111?-ng,J:l<:'''. rese'!-'i'Rh .pro jects it is <jlssent:i;al ,for. the .researCher ,,:, 1:6 be informed'abolrfpr~v,j.()usresearch:th,at. has been undertaken in tlui

propose~ field of, ~tud.J?' s<;t,:!th,at he can,);;dse ad"'antage,pf,pl'O'VCIlD re,1!R11t>s and avo1.d,unnecessary duplicat~On;,:.whiQb,,.is,expenll:1W.ell1ln neW.·of-thli".,\,h limited financial and 'IminpdilEhresources a'1ailable to "eseaJXihc-organizations in Africa~ Knowlec!-gtac,lf,"'-:r;~a~aroh p~je'1'!1' be":~"~ ~en

,by'

otnezt r.esearch organizat:J,ons would atsn~elp·'to'desJ.gnnet! projects J.n such a Hay as to complement on-go;;,ng on~S~,1Ihl"r!" ,this is feasi\>ler,·,:(lesult,'l of r~&earch

llctivities and i'nTormatiQI1'

9n

:9f.~,gpil1g pro j~'i*G¹,<;''11)'t her-efore bet iliIar.ed

tb tire

mUtual adv'l1)tage:and ,~e#t?f ^research ~~t:N~ :i;n';\~ubregion!^Or

·"".'the region' as a :rhoj,e.Elli?ti~: r"D~arch cwg¢z.ati~$GhoUld,:thei:"ef:<JMl t ake^rareps to circulate among themseIves , trher-e this is not already being done, information on their research activities as Hell as documentation arising from such activ,it+e,I;'~,'~, ~bstracts,.o1J.,.rlo=ment~tion :rece.!ve~rfrom international organizations phich,may be of interest to oti;w.r,'research ,

~ "~n'~'--~or~anizations ⁱⁿ t'h~ ~eg':t~~~~:' ,.' . . _;~ _f~l'

(5)

:.1'

I ' .

"l,?,. ,T.h~ Ad"Roc ~p~t Group on Co-ordination ~f,,~u;j.~dingResearch in Africa, after~c6nsidering th~ need for a system of, repOrtJ,.nG 'and exchange of .

"inforlna:t;ion, reccmmendeC: as a first

stepa'geil(~tal

survey of existing lmilding ,) 'reseai-Qh facilities and pwgramrnes~ 1his survey resulted in the. publigation

of'

a

r"Port'y cover-Lng l4uuilding and building materials resear<;>h'. "

organizations in

19730

Although some of the information reoeivedrras in- .c0'1'P~ete,i:he.surveY.f'l'Ovidedi'- ~airlyrepresentative revie-, of the situation 'preva::tling at :the time';"

'):n

order to npdat e the data to. cover more countries

"in, the' region;

ocA,

hasp't"riJ.~d ^{' a,}questi~)lu";'i~e~or ci';riulat,io~^to

an.

,,m'''nbeJC, c()uri'trie,s. of ,the'COJ!ll11issiori~,~"reg",rtis e:x.p,~?ted to b<;,pU1:>U~h~d

, by N<,>vember 1980based'011 th", 'responses to t'he ijuestionnair'e and "ou!ltry-

reports prasented at this ~~:~f:ingo "

,.~".'13.. ).~a

fur;th\OJ;'. step in

-i:~e

exchange of information,;>n

resear"hpro.j~cts

ql:.r.d;'~'~~~~~':u6p12'~e..~?,~tss·arr ~?r,.resear,~,~ :~:rgaJ[d~tirms .~<? ^prepare and ci~ul~te

, a.,se1; o:f data on" theJ,.r pr',;>grammes, and lluc'8rtclrp to keep it \jjl-to-date"

, by preparing amendment,,:,,a~"l:egular inteJe"als (say . annually). A sugge1ji-ed pattern for reporting on research prOgrammes based on the system used by CIB ,,:I,s given in .tohE> ,4nn"x~_., ,','

.' :(fi) '.

'c.;-o~i4£~.E-.JE~~~c~!C;;C: researc~

^....

il!e~~

r.. 1 .

i4t:"''iJ:"i..clp.~~:i9n

tbJthe. exchange of.

genX'inrmat:i,ot).

onresearchactivi-ties, ,.no... there

:to

need 'for efforts to co-ord:i,nate',,~hy;i.t:iS'sinseJ,ecte(:"i!reas.nhich

are of priority and in.erest to groups' of researchorganizati.ons~ This can be e~fecteC:on arf'~~n,!l\?rsubr-egfonaf ,b~~d~:g~~h.,t:be,f,?,~tiQno!,:r.'l'clmical

;rorkJ.ng groups/=+feeS',;-' "fhey 'lOuld-haT.,-' desLgI1a'ted·cQ·"O'I'tlin<:i't"ors 1100

__ , f

',r-:

l!o,"ld·.fnt.he preli"1~y stages prepaI"~,s;ompar'1<~:iye$tl\i\iesin .thei.r r'rspective

r ~~ject~;;(o;~::;~ pointing out gaps in eJ<:istinBProgJ:.'lll!llllesy suggesting measur-es . to. remedyth., gapsan-:l prOposi.ne apprOp'r~ai;estrat"gies for, fUrther lJork.

'lfiJi~cial' co'~~+'cl~r'!ti,?nGmay pr-ecLude ..:~~8u;Lar .~~e.~~.ngs

.9£

:~ch ,1Iorking grotil?s/commit,~ef'sanclsothe initial activiti,es fQ:rlo1,iilg .the prognammee of action proposed bythe co-ordinators could concentrate on the, execution of

"'spei:Jific tasks ^by the" participating research ';;;ganiza:~io~s fo~ eve."ltual dissemination :Oy the c"70,rdinator,s, through ,tl)e ,llpJ!r<'priate.r.,g;tonal and subregional mechanisms {'See' sec-H.-on-- 'I.Y).· ' ..'..",-" ,.:'.:_.. ,. ... ..:, .., ...; ....^c

i5~

^In's

~re:sJ?ec5,fic

"ayt"q

.')~,mOre'r,a~i';"nal

r-esear-ch.

org~ati';~

ⁱⁿ

~qeregi9.~

.may. find":t "aq:vp>ti<geouA.to,l'9?i"heir

r,':$o,!~ces (e.qu~,1J:nent"

staf~., fl\~s^),,0 ,q~':.rt.~\r,e"'7ar%~,.on~pl,"!Il~pf~~c,'I.,lll.~ "d:L.li~ct.J

~,-; ':'J~_+-~:~~~~~~~~^..

t?

~J1~.\~r~;:~1\lf,l·~~f.S~.r~,-,,:., ; ".: ,,:--.,...;- ;'", ",'i" ;",.~.,::.'"~:[

!Y~J',

^r. ^{- ) i}

~if~) S~~-i-':-W:isit~·'a~ir~:exc~g~ of ^re;earcti T'Orker&.·· ~~:::.: ,,_)~r~ :.:-;:~ ~rj ;:~~:::

16n_':,>~~~ '~:~,t ~£_,·t~e:; ~~'and~.~e~, "'to, :ii~i~~'lzEi'.-r.~se~chers

^,.,Hi^'t

n _tri~'

^.

_{:_'.~:}

. activi't~",~ ofres,ea:rSh or;Ii'Wizat;tons;i,ri the regiori,~studyv.LsHs for: >lhich . firiancia1'lf!:,i,s::"nc'e _m~ylJe:f,l0ught f,rOJIl,lJIli",e~;Natio,?s, and. ot~"'r: i1J.tel;'qational .' organ.izat:i;?:nS:$ ',shOuld be .pL a n n e d fJX>I'(l.,.time to. timtq-G, ll:f~j_can G o v e r - n m e n ts

'''. '; -.. . ", - "'. .' , . ' : . ' 1 ' : " ' . . . -.' .',' ." '-'.

"'-.1. ")~

r'"' ~,'1J-

$ce'huirding Re?<;ar,ch

~riAf~~c~

^•.

l3ackg~~~,Pap~rJ2~;pared.by'';.

Urutec Nations Secretariat for the eight session of. the ,GommJ-ttee on Housing, Building and Planning, Geneva, 15-26 Occober-,

'19730 ,." '., .

(6)

,, 'G.:/CN :..'kt-:r"8,'-:;8

Page 5

;~ ,~; '/

..

^/~)~,'

should be encouraged to provide the necessary financial support t" their ".

reltEiucb wbrkeciaIj:)a:II;t~u1~ly.^1:01" travel Hithin the .subregdons , , .. -rc'r ("'·!.«i', .: __' :.'ir '·;~,."')d ^{: ....} ";"0 ' •. ~,~" ^:

,':,,"',>.

"'.~:~~.:~:'~.,

.. ", .-.:..

,,~:,,; ·;'t.,~:i(;'~,1~~;,·''>t;}f, ,.r~~

17.'l!i\','the,exeeut:b'JJ;Qt jcrint,resElaJ'Ch pro:j~p,ts.bY agrocip'of:tnsH'tUt:l'6ns1:, or in oQ..operat'i_iaJ"r~'!!6l\ts¥.tvplving,the)alpt useoi' ilvailabl:e~~=t.·

equi~, the needwWld SC>lIIet:i.~'arise"£!,r ,t~e:x:c~e'cit researcil'Istaf:f>H eit!r(l1'3s1nnltaneousl;yo"~;l.td~~;f;erent Hme,s.,T!iEi.'f.in~c:ifng'of

,such

e!Xc!\Migee:

may'b6'Jsilll.red',bY':.tbe·eo.,o~rat:l,ng "CO\mtries liitli,tl!e'h6:i>t Count roy.:paYing'the^{r: .".}

. per diem and local expenses of

10m;

expert wliile"t'he

'parent

(SflOIlSonrtg)c6\in",'Y pays for his travel.

In

situations "here the co-operating cdiiritfies

expeMertcG

difficulties in SPOJlSQ.riIJ,g.;the,li','W~e,£inanci~l"".'-'"''''''',,.,-_ . . • ,',,: . , ' , . ".jsllpport may be.. I " . : .. ".'~'sought'" - ' ' ' J from international organizations.' ' . . . . - " ... - . . ""'- .,..,:...: .. ,

::.:~, ,.1;, ': '.,' ;,.-~',". - ':I " .

, --'" ',i~'. _ ', !'.J'!"'I" }',;.! -;) . i" : ' . ' " , ' . , : ' ..

181., SU~hstudJ·vi&it ..,~'staffe:Xch'J.l)ge, Pr<lgt'll!llllies. can bevery useful in' providing villuable OOntact$ ~ research~rs a:~ wellas ,.t...ngtheninp'..";hl> ,r".

:l'iillvs be'tweel'f'research orgarutzations•.. ,Ther (lan\llsO' se!'1^re:

:h"

:h:elp' resec.:rd.&\·, retlliilk :their researchapproa<;hes and. methodOl<>giel3 in fbeHll;htdfe'qiet'ier.c'?

in other organiza'tions, and should therefore' be,

encouraged

asa:'!lleanS of' promoting co-operation among research institutions.' '. :.

'.--, ..',-^~, ,~^{" ' ,}^{. "}'.

'1,_,..r,",'(iv')r ,lfraidli:ng of research sj;aff ' : , , : : ' " ^{n .}

.';""""';f'~ ,.;~_. ^{. -} ^, ^:" "," ,., . . ' ''-~ ^,JL.; ·",ri;,'.';.r. t : ••"';",';_'.

19. X'he utUiza'tiQll of fam.lities·

.~.tlJe.reiion'fol"traini.nir"slia~h;"

~'JjrP'Osorine1should.be <'UlOOW'aged..l:t,:~s.th<i~f9feess~'?-tial that'i~stHutiof~, ';wliinh-....re' capa.ble of PFO<I',i.ding tri4':).i.Dg,ins~e~cl:>~'i-¥shthe ECASe6re~ard.a-;

with infoI'lllatio.n 011 'the tyPe. of facili1:ie,'}'I....t~la»,le;; '~he tridn~gwh:l...~h,-.

can be provided and the subject matter, the'nUmber of students that can"be accommoda'tedj( the du,ration

Of

training progr""""es and the approximate cost per trniinee' " ECA woulq"the~ '1?Wile and <!~sSemiJlatethe ,inform<ttiori ' recei'ted·,'t\ll'.,A!rican Gove1'Illllents and assist in mobil:(zing the resourCes'·, needed to effect train:i.ngreq;;.ested. hy African GOverl)iDentso ' . '. ",

.- , . ' , • j "'- ,.', , '. ,

(v) Establishment. of.jo!ntb!U~regionalreseaJ'Ch centres

. - , - ' . '0 _ • •~". ., _ . . ".~'. . •. ., '. . . . ' , •.-~. . . .~:,"'l^~. '"...^~...

20. Problems of finance and qualified personne} make

it

rather difficult for all Governments to set up full-fledged research--ce'n'tl>e~",.!tbe:::'techiucal similari't¥ ()fi:research problems arising 'fraJll ;m,alo~?~sphysfcal, economic s . L&lle3,al' am:cultur.alc()nd;l:l;io~,hO're-ver, 'augur" well' for the' e$tablishinent"

Jb£ .joiht· ....search'cen):~~" by countries ;lnth~.s!,mesubreglcindCgra\:ipi'rigi:J":iThp current:"roA. prograJDllle· on th~ C\'!l"elopmel\t, of.t,h';"b.ihciingmat'eriais aJid· ,;. ""

~ion industr;i,es inAfr.~c:...ha:S'';comPonent.on ' f ';ai;i1:lili'tYSn,l:C\iE,s1 i i i the,firsi:instance"fof', t/1e, e,.tabl;ishment

of a

jo:intbui1d1n'g*,t.se~bh ^centre for the CEFGL

:J./'

countries (Burundi, Rwanda ~ Zaire}

ana

foi-"'i'he e:iqiarii;;.b~

of the Housing and Building Research Centre (Centre de la ConstructiOn' \"10 ".t'

"du"logement) ,at Cacav,el<).i, Togo, to serve. t'q",-JmJ;ENrJ;;,countries (-th2 IV"k/

Cloasti-"tne Upper Volta, Benin,.th'; Niger: and Togo) • liiscussio'ns on"He . ' , ,jeStablis~en1i;Qf s\lphj£lint,.q>ntres Mould; s~ek"to,.feS()lv:e matte'rsr0.ating'i' to:tliesoope or£, aJ:lth::i.ti;,.... oithe cen.t~e vi~~iB~;xiS.tl;,griiti9pli'l.;:ili.ft{""'"

tuions, staf£ing

policY';

mode of 'financing development 'and' current D'tid'~1:'S'i~"

etc.' ~:.~·:··J·~":)r~; ,

.:r;i:J . '"t: ,~:·,-r.(\ .:

(7)

:-$

E/CN.14!HiJs/38 Page ~"

21. Participating countries must commit themselves to translate the results

of _res~archfindings into practiceoPr9vi.aion··should therefore be made, for • ex~pi~;for 'tl!ePremotion of semi~:!~~'·$r(i.als(pilot plants) wlj$re '<

necessary,~(; giving the required directirin amlc.financial inpu1;,fQI' ,the", "

establishment of comm';rcial-scale p.Larrt e should these preve ,viable.,

,JQ!i.1t'LL

involvement in the mqbilization of funds from national, regional aI!4oirrliw."'!"

national financia). orgariizations for- the implementation of' research. findings

shOuld~e ensured. , ' " , '. .

'

...

^'.,

" d.

22., . Cpllferences, meetings and seminars provide opportunities for researchers to exchange latest, sci~ntific and technological achievements in}thef~eld p~

building' and bUilt1ing"materials research, promote the establish!nm>t and , . streng.,then;i.ng of linkS betueen researchers' and help them to, considernel1~

of research ·"ork in 'bile!!' programmes"in the light of the experience of 9i;he;r--, research :1nstitutionsk~;-'r, -, . :.")'"

23. The organization of periodic meetings of the

directors/m~~~s'~f

research institutes and also, as necessar-y, of',researchers .on, ,specific research topics, ,should feature pr-ominently in the measures aimed-aF':fc;stering closer links arncing bl.d.'le'.i.tig

:';Jnd'

buifeii':lg materiab 'researchl~nstitutions^intlhe ^".

African 'regiono Th':'dFganizat'fon of _m~tirigs..,f,,<l.:icre,c,tors ofresearch,:i.A&t:l.tutes could be the respon4.'Ii:i.1:ity oiECA. ' ,Me<i:ti!ngs of :researchers cou.l.d be-.Ql'g<lJ1ll.;z;ed on a subregional bi,sis_t_~if necessary, _'~ith the collaboI'ation of ECA.

,-"i

rf

·r ' t . , ,

24.

Nat.~ol'i"-:L rElsearchorganizations' shouId alsc endeavour to orgWlZe seminars-.~n ~mporyant res~ar~h'~,?pics, t~;:,hioh national institutions in other countr1es could be 1nv1tectto part1c1pate. SUch seminars, could also be organized 'dth'th~ collabora:tJ'on ofECA.

IV. Machinery' for- fostel'ing .oo-.opEi1!ati<Ui...arri\I\gemljIlts,

i"

(a)'

At the naHonal level"

" " ' ; 5,. "_'.~'_'. , -

' , : I , ' .

25. A su"ce';"';'f~l liIec,ftalIism f'or- regional co-operation'in building and

buildi~c m'~te'f.ials r't,'aeal'ch wouLd thrive 011 ",ell'-'Ci-ganized and active national machirieri'';'s' in' 'the' m';mber countries of the Economic Commission for Africa. It is thei-eforc' hecessa!'Y' ~c6 designate in every country National Focal Points uhicch \<ill contr-abut e to the' syst"matic exchange of' illformation ancJ document- at~on and provide valuable 'contacts between r-esearcher-s and betueen research institutions. '. . "

26. focal points sb!Juld preferably be existing; Lpstitutions' ,nHloh.,are, act.Lve in the r-eaeat-ch fi/'ld'''t',;d'

",.fish

to make '" mearu.ngfui contribution, to; regiollll,l and interttational c.QI..:6pe"rition, in the field' of builQing' and building materials research. 'Focal 'llb'lrtt'S"idll be resp6hsible, inter _a'l:ti'a~ Tor 1the f9110!<ing

functions!' , , . '" ., " ;

(a) to maintain close contact ulth the departments and agencies

concer-ned 'd.tll the, planning and e~ev"'lC)pmS!'tofthe, var-toua-aspects of the building materials ane' eonstrU~ti6nindust'ries'

and

be "ell acquainted rnt h the programmes and needs of the subsector;

(8)

.'

i i " ) ,r',:i.f.ri\ .ccc.r .. ".If::::; ':;0,( U)::;,,:J>: .rl. ',,:'·:i.

J"'.'.r.~');

^.".,.'

·r.B/CN.14/msl3B .. ',

j , .r~::";~.t:'; :,: J:.:"~.;-/.?, ,:"1 .no.i:::-:":;Aj' ._,r;:)· !:1:. d'YL:;:..<. ^:r:l "-'~'d:;)" ,. P~e\l~,;·:/;^•.{",^,,-,,1.

',' :.. -"~,~. '~~'~ ^." ^:-·;,(..·tr~c': -oo' \ ~'.. - ;,:"'~!~' ^-'. ^{' . .} ^',' ~;:. ~ :'.{-~' ^.

(brJ;;~'l''!it~r\,';;h.:o,;g l~,

w.ith other l'\"t:loi:>al focal points and

"" Ie.;r1':e.,ftil':»'l'<l'Tbriat.;" , . . . , . . . .' ,

,.' .

(0) to collect research information and documentation from other

; ,.f~lfa!,. points, and EX;A,...anddis$e~te.,to.intwoested hat·iOnal ,,:F •

r:',,'fDinatitUtion..; . ' " 'r

(d),toprod\lCe '!h~tracts/synop~eson important and topi¢al r;'esear6h~

, raisJ'

current researoh problems and communicate essential 'problems

to other focal points for the attention of national research

institutions_," _{'.' .... ,} _l".\ and_f _. rese,'1-rche".s.;._' '--.. ", .. - . '; ' ; ; , " " "

·:r7::J~i':t'~'rt!',~eF:~~~f;;;~ t:~(laJ,.

points ?r other;'

~eSe~l'Chers':OO/or

.. .J?",?&

On ..

~er1,,:s,itc! ;1n~rmedthinlpartJ.e&J. ' . ,,' , , "

, '. - ' , : .. ,.: _ _ . : ,:'.", _,: . ,,;".r:..;'-J.f.· ,_

"fr" (f)

td

'prqmQt~.~l>dinati.~

ofreseaJ;"ch natiQ.nally, makiDg'.,.e'{)f experience from international co-operation aIld to organize seminars , "to which oth<lJ::, fq<:;u ppints/resear~,institutions nia'ydie invited;

." " ' , ."j:-,:;.r'~.L;'~H.i: ^':,;''- ^{T '}

(g) to 1iaise "ith OCA and other focal points in organizing study ,

vi~it!ij.,;~hange, o.f r,,\searchers and 'co-ordinatetheparticipa1iidn '. of. n,l!.~;l,9ilal expert.. , Pl1 Forking group",!<:ommitteesthat. may; be set 'up to"prolnote co-operation in build~r'esearch in Africa."")

i'

(b); At the subregional level . , ' ; " ' ! '

. ' , " " . ; ' , ','~' .. -t-r- "

2:7. The

meeting of' African experts on building materials and construotion indu,st,ry.e~,~eld in Afldis, Ababa in, Ju}.y,

1-979

WJ'l>commended theformation^Lhf a buiIdti

g _ma~,erials 'i''19

c.onstruption

insIDst~ies:lievelopmeht

^aml'consultative oouncil in each subregion of 'Africa to proJ1lOte the development oil •.the' subsector talting into account; the possibilities :for joint action including project·

idenUfiq~:~ion-,ey~uation,fin,apcing and implllmf?JitatiOnll Theseci>ni1cilLs

t

when :r~~, !il?0'ldbe,~p'e'focal point ,for theC9"::ordi~tiim6~buili:liilg roseai'oh acti-hties at the subregional ;lev~!. Ip...t.I:le,:~nterim,.. OOweTer, this role sOOule be fulfilled by the secretariat of EGA. .

(c) At the regional level

28'~ ~he,

,role of f8-orc:\.nat:\-ng

buiidi~ ~d!(~~~l~g::~~~~rials

^research' ^{, • '}

activft'i~s at, the rl'.(':io,n,al ,\~vel .should;~',r\\f!pI;\IlSibilityof the secretlar:l:at of B::~, 'The,s~c..;:"t;l.riat is,oqrrentlY .pl;uU:iing a survey o£bailc1:l.ngresear¢h-' . orgarli:tationS

,aAd

also a,.s\U'vey of bl.\ilding .\res"larcbs.c:l:entists'and tech-" " . nologi';'~sint,he 4fric;m ;r~gion.T,~repo,rlj""o'the$OsurveyS 'willpliovide infO~~~9:~.~patshO)-lld ;t;<t~i~itate CO'!i1;<\C~s ~gresE1arohorganizations

'iks.,

well

"is

r~e,archers ~ t);lEi1.r'effort,s,tp a<1nu1.reinformat'ion and dooomentatiOn' and tn'the

..

:1:=.·t'~,,:t;ioll,9,(~peratiye,reseal'lCh programmes. ' '

y

See "Report of the meeting of African experts on building materials and construction industries" (E/CN.14/HUS/36).

(9)

E/CN.14/lIDS/38

Page 8

;} r·

30. ECA

'actlbn\'!iri't'he'prbili:rfi~n bf'~e1§e~hco-roperatio~ a¥~i()pfO.f¥nation

should also embrace the follo'n,nga "

,(a:.)l'P~t<l.bri of·a.

claSSU.':teE1

;ca.ta19g.:ieC¢i'1fuhd~ re~e:;;j;(,!l i~

:" ';>"'A~r~:r;~,~,:",,;:

^>

r,",,,:,::,,it,; ,.",., <;:'.t"~:;:.i:~,,:" .' . ',> .''' ..

(b) assistance in arranging for travel';rei'loi;shi't>~,('ilien'ilece~~~ry

and feasible, to,enablef~~ear()h<a~s';l!,dertal<:."^I,~amili~i~t,~on,':1-sits

,,,'-,,to.'otherorganizations '1ii,th" reg1bn. "11'1 this' _~onneX1onECA shbuld seek to interest Afri6anGo:V~~eht's"ib:

bi1at'EiYa1

',u:...angements to ,. _facilit~te suc!" visits andt~ pro~te tllll!\l~il~:1il\tiop:p~th~~sting

Jocapacity, for,tra1.i\i.~:'research'(>et'Ejohriel~!t.t:hexeg~()ni" '

,._:.;;;_;,::-.~ ',,:.. r:; .".:_. ,-,J -nr: .~•..-.t"j~'~'_^{. .} '-,':,> .oI~: f ' ; ' 1 :r .:vrt... ' ; " . .:..~

: (o}l",rganizat'i-OI1i!of' •thl.'ine~tings

of'

di;ebtor~'o~^tbU11cii.~ arid _~ilding materials researc~ institution~ ev~ry Fwo

Or

tbJ;'ee year~; ( ; 'riJ.':;:' ": :.; •.1."', ,:' ..^rl ^,I:" ^',^i;";rc-r- ),,:':·.'l.~, '1.:), (' , ' " ". " " .1: ' . .

,'(<I};'encouragement ."

ana/oi"

~,ssiiJtl1n(\e '

tire

naH6nal focal ,pOint

s .' iri'

r

,." organizing saJlliliaj.j!Vo{ ,int'eres'i: 'fich~esearoh'organizationS

in

^other

coun1Jries

ot

the'reg!otif" "', t ' ,,- ,".' . '-" • ' , " , ;

.

^. ^" ^, ^{' \}

(e) promoting the functioning of focal ~t~.t:~~~se+-\'lp'in the countries of -,he region through .corresponqence, Visit,S, eta.;

i' )T"':~;""["!"::>') ^'" ^'. ",:"'~":);'i::~; ^, y, :f.~. :I(~' ..,:--;'.-i....,' • ;~:.·:.;·.i.~.,

,,:.,.,.r.,:,:, ...:

^{. . «} ^':.

" (f,)encou~ementf01"iriationalreseai:cJ:!I ~igan1ztio'risinJ:!re.par.inidl'ta_,'

r.'

,'4I:lee-ts olli,;tl1e'ir;'~searchprojects (01;:' ¢f"'~eJlffiiatioh,'to other.; . " ,

", )'",;" origarii-Zat:/.lDn$"'(ifee. paragrlaph'13)j' ,....

,;-"u,

ⁱⁿ , , ' j , ' , -... ' . ,

)i r.: ~)G.i:c,l,Io[j;' ^{r ,} ^;. ^-: ~::·,'i ~"" ~'3.:i~.tL.t" ,;::::':',... r~L;n~',' ^'.' '~fU:·~

~(g:)~~g'

^'a'!(IX

~$ble"

ass'istahce' to,regi6HaJ,

'or,S\.ibte;~iorfal',,~r\l;'itg::)

^':

^s

.'.iJ;gnoups/Co~ees' ^t-Ml'i' may bec:lOiIS't~tutelf.d.thin the-#~·w)rk~:Q;r".~"

,,',d:i 'regi.onalo'r'eseiar'ehbb-dpera'tibti. ~".H"'" " ' . • . ' ' , ', ' c . ' . . . -,. ' , ' ' , ' " ' '

, .. J,: ),:) , , ....'. ".' , '''.",'.,~ ^', ^{.. ' . , '} ^" ^, '-';'; ", 'LC.;-

29. ECA

;lii¥iti!l11

lIe "il'\'C'entral point for the collection and dissemination of informatiCm·ofi' building research in the region. It should maintain contacts

"ith international research, information and d!,qumentation ,orga,ro..zl!.tiOJl,9, as Hell asotheticiohbc'l'iQ!~l

c>t-glOO:i\itibfu.'·

iIi.

J:ffi."

'Ui11t!ed,~8;~ii:lJili':Sfs,tein_{'. ,I-}

';,nd. "

~"'1 "" '.~''--" ,", J ' . ' . _' ,

disseminate information arising therefrom to nationa'lresearcn"-organizations in Africa.

v.

^Conclusion _(,^,_')}^,

31. This paper has cliacussed various oPpo~!"iti",s,tha:t exist for co.,-opwat~qn

among buildi:ngandCbi'ltltli\llg:'matbi-iald 'redea:rch in-st:lt,:1tions-

in,

^the Afp.~" ~.o ^{: '} regiQh;

~'£u~?te<l

',po:&i3ibl-k'Jilechaniams

for'i~ar-t"ing

'?:Yh.:andsA to such ,;'),

:::~

c<'Jo-oGpe~ionarran'g'emetl.ts"at"the naHona~," suoreJt.i.onal ailCl,r~g;i9m..l ll<'velli~^{W '}

~~et:Q=:v~':::::i~t~i::t;~:re:::e~<ig;i!~~'i;~f:~~;~,

^-'.

activi

~ie..,as,j,~l1

^{.as .}

~l\O't'he

^.

st:t6n~ ,~1itidaI~0Ji,

:L'2},:votio['

~p '~~~~~t,;

^.oc ofr<Afri!.canGovernments.rtO'O''transla'te'xnto'ooncrete'' achons thEi.,pr~~lpleljl

Qf ,"

regional integration, 'l'lOUeoti:ore self-reliance 'lirld('self-sustlJrifng"/iro,rth~ .

lI.-;');"~:I!, ':'r, ''. rj',.;- , -.':

• '::';;"~\2";I'1\ ,'~.:'•.~-'::-~\:: ^;!

\i

r-; ,': "."~"1:-;

•

(10)

, E/CN.14/lIDS/38

Page 9 32. ECA, on ita part, should continue to playa central and active role, and follo'J-Up on the implementation of the measures that Hill be agreed upon at this meeting to further co-ordination and co-operation arrangements in building and builC:ing materials research. To this end, ECA should lIDbilize the aasdstance available from United NatLono bodies (UNCHS: Habitat, UNEP, UNESCD, UNIDO, etc,) and international organizations for the benefit of

research organizations in the African regiono

(11)

•

\

A. PATTERN FOR RJ!nULAR RFl'ORTING FOR INFORMATION

",. ' ,~CHAliGE ON m~S~GIf)?~Al;E.lliS

Y

'..,,,.i.,.; i'.(,.·~: ', . ' " .",.' -

Propooed Information card to be filled out for each project (format

AS: 14.8

x 21 em)

--

-'--'....

- .-

^.--^...

:.'- ..

,\.'-

,....,

;\

-r , ;.

.:','-",

NAME,OF OOOANIZATION Project ,titlel "

U~'~

c:l:a§!!flcat"ion

''''.'

Object of the project ate of

• :'*nWrmation'

Name of person in,char~e:

. :, "

, i P

I,

, ".Ir ,

1 -,

-.'j-,y.

of information

-.-J:', .

Fieh' tests Pilot projects, Full scale projects Hritten C:issemination Expected date or

actual date if already completed

.

,

I

i

t ',l'J:_

~,atus"i Pending start

ClIrrent (describe b~iefly;.;lo~I,~, achi~ve4,

,llP4

in progress) ,

···.'1·i

imPletion:

~blications

iosued contuining results of this project

r'O

^of

~ou1'.,

;:,

Note I See sample completed care' in annex B.

1/ Gourcel JJl}i1;.I.'.Q.,lW;io=IBuilding 'research' in ' Africa. Backgi.(,\iJ;ci paper

• ,-"--,,...:':!!.'-.~- " ..$ ,,-'"

prepared for the eighth sessianot,~l\!,,Committee on'H2!!'!;!,ng, Buil.clingartd Plamung, Geneva , 15-26 October, 1973.

, ,,,'

(12)

~. s, sAMh;1;;'

6Jr:'JPLEI'ED INFORMATION CARD

•

Wk. ti

~,..."."':'joo.-.,

I

.^;" ^{r .. :.}

.:' \.

BUILDDlG Pr-ojec-tt

'~ J •

.;...0.---

-

.

-'-

',.".

=

-Source:

llQttedNat~onG:BUil~i~g_Res~aroh

^in-

Africa~

Background paper

• prepared for the eighth seGsion of the Committee on Rousing, Building and Planning, Geneva, 15-26 October, 1973"