By Chloe Adloff | Communication Officer
AVN voted a winner of the Grand Prix de l’innovation urbaine Le Monde Cities
The jury of the prize for urban innovation awarded by the prestigious French newspaper Le Monde is made up of experts from round the world (politicians, researchers, corporate and foundation directors, architects, and urbanists). In this the fifth year of operation of the Prize, the jury has awarded the Grand Prix to AVN for its programme of adapted housing and construction in West Africa.
61 projects were in competition for the Prize, in 5 categories : Habitat, Mobility, Energy, Urbanism, and Citizen Participation. AVN’s project was specifically noted for its innovatory approach, its international coverage, and its potential for scaling up.
Through this latest sign of international recognition, AVN hopes that the essential importance of adapted housing and construction will receive more emphasis and attention. This key issue and its associated impacts on professional training, employment, attenuation of and adaptation to climate change, environmental protection, and strengthening of local economies should no longer be neglected.
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A bioclimatic construction sector for the youth of northern Benin
Ceremonies to launch the project for a bioclimatic construction sector to provide jobs for the youth of northern Benin were launched on June 18-23 this year.
The first ceremony was held at the Mairie of Ouaké, in the presence of the Mayor, M. Dramane Ouolou, representatives of the Coopératives Villageoises de Producteurs d’Anacarde (CVPA), operational partners of the project from Ouaké and Sèmèrè I, members of the Union Communale des Coopératives de Producteurs d’Anacarde (UCCPA) of Ouaké, of AVN’s national office in Benin and of civil society organisations from Ouaké.
The second ceremony was held in Tanguiéta in the presence of the Mayor, M. Zakari Boukary, and various partners.
Co-financed by the European Union for a period of 3 years, this project supports the implementation of a programme of bioclimatic housing organised by AVN and its parters in Benin, involving professional training, job creation, climate mitigation and adaptation, environmental protection and the strengthening of local economies.
This project will train young apprentices during the dry season to become Nubian Vault masons, thanks to a dual programme open to all without any academic prerequisites, combining on-site experience with support to become entrepreneurs and join the local and regional construction sector. The NV technique relies heavily on local labour and low-carbon construction materials, and is implemented in collaboration with local partners, thus guaranteeing long-term growth in the number of active masons able to earn additional revenue between the two active agricultural seasons.
This event was also an opportunity to present the scope of the project and the results of its first year of operation.
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