How do structural engineers navigate the complexities of delivering earthquake-resistant structures in rural Rwanda?
What does it take to transform a construction project into a catalyst for lasting community development?
The Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture campus offers powerful insights into the realities of international development work. This session explores the context-specific challenges MASS Design Group encountered - from developing local material testing protocols, to training 2,500 workers from the district in advanced construction techniques.
Recognised by IStructE Structural Awards as the 2024 winner for holistic regenerative design. The project was awarded for advancing the use of low‑carbon, locally sourced materials in a seismic context, while delivering meaningful local training, employment, and long‑term community benefit through exemplary engineering leadership.
Discover how structural decisions were shaped by:
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Working with unfamiliar local materials in a seismic zone
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Balancing international safety standards with local construction capabilities
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Building local skills and supply chains, not just structures (58% female site leadership)
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Creating economic impact: 90% of the budget spent within 500 miles
This project demonstrates that international development engineering demands more than technical expertise - it requires ethical practice, cultural sensitivity, and commitment to genuine capacity building.
Join us to understand the unique opportunities and responsibilities structural engineers face when working across borders.
Building for impact: lessons from the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture Aimable Mukire, Noella Nibakuze, Olivier Ngiruwonsanga
Speakers
Associate Structural Engineer, Buro Happold
Maxime is a Chartered Structural Engineer with over 17 years of experience. At Buro Happold, he specialises in digital and computational design for UK and international projects. He is completing an MSc in Disaster Risk Science at UCL, serves on the IStructE Humanitarian and International Development panel, and volunteers with SARAID as a USAR engineer, supporting post‑earthquake deployments to Haiti and Turkey since 2021.
Senior Structural Engineer, MASS Design Group
Aimable leads the structural engineering design on a number of our projects across the continent and is also a highly competent site engineer. He led most of the soil sourciung, classification and testing for both CSEBs and rammed earth used at RICA for load bearing walls.
Design Director, MASS Design Group
Noella was involved with the RICA project from the earliest concept stage through 4 years of construction. She is now leading the African Design Centre fellowship, a program designed to foster and incubate future African architects and designers by imparting essential tools, mentorship, and resources.
Managing Director, CLEZOL
Olivier was the QA/QC Engineer for Remote Group, who were the contractor for Phase 1 of the project, leading on timber selection, visual grading and testing from the contractor side. He has since gone on to start his own construction company, CLEZOL, who specialize in earth and timber construction in Rwanda.