Bringing together practitioners, trainers, and women builders from across Africa to advance practical solutions for greener and more inclusive construction
Mhaga Village, Tanzania August 2026
For several days, TAWAH Tanzania Vocational Training Centre (TAWAH VTC) in Mhaga Village became a regional learning space where knowledge, skills, and experiences from across Africa came together around one important question: How can we build differently for a more sustainable future?
The answer was explored through the Regional Training on Low-Carbon Materials and Eco-Construction, which brought together trainees from Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, alongside expert trainers from Cameroon and Nigeria.
The training was organised through the ACP Development Minerals Programme, with the support and collaboration of UNDP, the European Union, and TAWAH Tanzania, creating an opportunity for participants to explore practical approaches to low-carbon construction and the responsible use of locally available materials.
From Soil to Sustainable Building Solutions
At the heart of the training was the exploration of low-carbon building materials and their potential to contribute to more sustainable construction across Africa.
Participants went beyond classroom discussions and engaged in hands-on learning throughout the programme. The journey began with understanding and testing the very foundation of construction soil.
Participants took part in practical soil testing and laboratory sessions at the Institute of Building Research (IBR), gaining exposure to techniques including sieve analysis, granulometry, Atterberg limits, plastic limit, liquid limit, plasticity index, bottle and shrinkage tests, and sedimentometry.These sessions helped participants understand how the properties of soil influence the performance and suitability of materials used in construction.
From the laboratory, the learning continued at the construction site.
Participants applied their knowledge to the production of stabilised earth bricks, exploring how locally available materials can be transformed into practical building solutions while considering the environmental impact of construction.The training also included hands-on construction activities, including foundation work, allowing participants to move from theory to practice.The practical nature of the training demonstrated that low-carbon construction is not simply a concept it is a field where knowledge, innovation, locally available resources, and practical skills can come together to create real solutions.
Women at the Centre of the Learning
One of the most inspiring aspects of the training was the active participation of TAWAH Women Builders.
For the women builders, the training provided an opportunity to strengthen their existing construction skills while learning new approaches to low-carbon materials and eco-construction.
They worked alongside regional trainees, exchanged knowledge, participated in practical sessions, and demonstrated their own construction skills.
Their participation also created an important space for regional participants to witness the growing role of women in the construction sector.
The experience reinforced an important message: sustainable construction must also be inclusive construction one where women have the opportunity to learn, participate, lead, and build.
Learning Across Borders
The training was more than a technical programme. It became a platform for regional knowledge exchange.
Participants from Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia brought different experiences and perspectives, while trainers from Cameroon and Nigeria contributed their expertise.
Throughout the training, participants worked together, shared ideas, solved practical challenges, and learned from one another.
The result was not only new technical knowledge, but also new connections and relationships that can continue beyond the training.
As one participant experience reflected, sometimes you come to learn and leave inspired.
Celebrating Innovation and Practical Results
Towards the end of the training, participants had the opportunity to showcase the stabilised earth bricks they had produced and demonstrate their strength and durability through practical testing.
The showcase was witnessed by local government leaders, providing an opportunity to demonstrate the potential of low-carbon building materials and the practical skills gained throughout the programme.
The moment became a celebration of what participants had achieved from understanding the soil to producing a building material and putting it to the test.
Leaving a Living Mark
As the training drew to a close, participants were also given an opportunity to leave something behind at TAWAH VTC.
Participants from Uganda and Zambia, together with trainers from Cameroon and Nigeria, planted trees within the TAWAH VTC environment.
The activity provided a meaningful connection between the training's focus on sustainability and action for the environment.
Long after the participants return to their respective countries, the trees will continue to growserving as a living reminder of the knowledge shared, friendships created, and the regional journey that brought everyone together.
They came to learn. They came to build. They planted. And they left a mark that will keep growing.
Celebrating Achievement
After days of learning, practical work, collaboration, and knowledge exchange, the training concluded with a celebration of the participants' achievements.
Trainees proudly received certificates marking the completion of the programme, celebrating not only what they had learned but also the journey they had shared.
For the TAWAH Women Builders, the certificates represented another step forward in their journey of professional development and participation in sustainable construction.
For the regional trainees, the certificates marked the beginning of the next stage: taking their knowledge and skills back to their communities and sharing what they had learned with others.
A Shared Commitment to a Greener Future
TAWAH Tanzania extends its sincere appreciation to UNDP, the ACP Development Minerals Programme, and the European Union for supporting this important regional learning opportunity.
We also recognise and appreciate the contributions of the trainers from Cameroon and Nigeria, the regional trainees from Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, the TAWAHTanzania Women Builders, the Institute of Building Research, local government leaders, and all partners and individuals who contributed to the success of the programme.
Their commitment, knowledge, energy, and collaboration made the training possible.
At TAWAH, we believe that building a greener future requires more than new materials it requires people with the knowledge, skills, confidence, and opportunity to use them.
The regional training has come to an end.
But the knowledge continues.
The skills continue.
The trees continue to grow.
And the work of building a greener, more inclusive future for Africa continues.