The Nubian Vault Association ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 Contents 1 - The Programme p. 7 • Key Figures • Highlights • Programme History • Intervention Strategy • Training at the Heart of AVN's Programme 2 - Our Countries p. 17 • Burkina Faso • Mali • Senegal • Ghana • Benin • France & International 3 - Our Means for Action p. 77 • Community Life • Human Resources • Communications 4 - Financial Report p. 82 5 - Partners and Awards p. 86 Prospects p. 93 2 Writing and graphic design: AVN - English translation: Adrienne Brayman, Anthony Kaye - Print by Impact Imprimerie - Photo credits: AVN, Régis Binard (p. 2), Association ECHO (p. 8), GERES (p. 38), Département des Yvelines (p. 46), Mathieu Hardy (p. 95) - Published in May 2018. 3 Urban Nubian Vault in Senegal. 4 Editorial For several years now, AVN has raised the fundamental question of effective training in the construction sector.In Africa, the current and future challenges of demographic explosion, climate change, desertification and economic fragility mean that well- adapted construction needs—and therefore vocational training needs—are a priority. The construction sector will only be able to correctly respond to these challenges if it immediately begins a substantial, progressive and sustainable transition that benefits as many people as possible. First and foremost, this means the widespread appropriation and dissemination of an archi-cultural alternative. This must be placed at the heart of development issues because the This support has naturally been extended to State and renewal of the housing stock, the need for which is expected to local institutional actors through the use of strong advocacy double by 2050, is central to the ability of Sahelian populations aimed at policy-based management of housing issues and the to adapt; it is up to Africans—all stakeholders together—to necessary developments that they lead to. However, despite initiate and amplify this change. this issue being part of various national and local development plans, it is still difficult to implement appropriate actions. Actors in the construction sector in general, and more specifically the artisan-masons who have come from the Finally, France, guarantor of the Paris Agreement and leader informal sector and rural world (farmer masons), must be at of several initiatives (the Global Alliance for Buildings and the forefront of this change. Construction [GABC], the Sustainable Building Plan, the Climate Plan, the Alliance for the Sahel, etc.), holds a strong In order to boost and coordinate their professionalization and legitimate position to promote international and multi- and to diversify their abilities, this season AVN has built upon sectoral action in favour of adapted housing in Africa and of the and strengthened its technical expertise and training units. stronger employability and economies that it would bring. The Technical, worksite management and entrepreneurial trainings Adapted Building Plan for Sahelian Africa (PBAAS), proposed allow for the implementation and strengthening of professional by AVN to the new government in June 2017, raised the need career paths, both in the informal and formal sectors. for national and international commitment to this topic, with Cooperation with civil society organizations and local the aim of resonating with actors and achieving a level of development actors, demonstrated on the ground through mobilization that meets needs. training and construction projects, is also one of the important "When the construction sector is doing well, levers for the sector's development. Through their networks, everybody does well! " the mobilization of their members, their need for community buildings and the good examples that flow from all this, these Thomas Granier, Founder and Director General of AVN partners help disseminate the NV concept and, more broadly, Séri Youlou, Founder and Director of AVN Burkina Faso boost the development of the construction sector. Benoît Lambert, President of AVN 5 Nubian Vault under construction in Voaga (Burkina Faso). 6 Since 2000, the goal of the Nubian Vault Association (AVN) has been to develop a market for adapted housing in West Africa, providing vulnerable populations access to affordable housing that is comfortable and well-adapted to climate change. AVN has also aimed to create green jobs, strengthen economies at all levels and develop an “adapted housing” sector. At the centre of this programme lies an architectural concept that is both ancestral and innovative, based on local materials, economies and knowledge: the Nubian Vault technique. 1 - The Programme 1 - The Key Figures p. 8 Highlights p. 9 Programme History p. 10 Intervention Strategy p. 10 Training at the Heart of AVN's Programme p. 14 7 Key Figures 5 countries of AVN is currently the most advanced actor in terms of developing deployment construction practices in West Africa; this is because it has nearly twenty years of experience and has strong local representatives and 15 regions high-level expertise, thus leading to measurable and growing results. 970 towns 30,000 beneficiaries O tree cut down living or working in a NV building for building purposes 460 private and 3 million euros community buildings generated in the local markets built in 2016–2017 75,000 tons CO2 eq. 2,500 construction sites potentially saved completed since the start of the programme 26% average annual market growth 92,000 m2 built (compared to the last 10 years) 720 apprentices, masons, artisans and entrepreneurs active in the market, including: 330 apprentices who began their training this season Nubian Vault maternity site in Koung Koung (Senegal). 8 Highlights October November December Habitat III Conference in Quito COP22 in Marrakech Inauguration of the Maison des This remarkable event, organized every AVN participated in the 22nd Conference Yvelines in Senegal 20 years by UN-Habitat, gave AVN of the Parties (COP22) of the United This building, located in the Department the opportunity to introduce various Nations Framework Convention on of Yvelines and constructed by a local institutional advances, including the Climate Change (UNFCCC) to promote company in Ourossogui with support signature of a convention with the the inclusion of the Nubian Vault concept from AVN and NGO Le Partenariat, Ghanaian Ministry for Local Governance in the public policy of the countries AVN has become a model for community and Rural Development. works in. buildings in Senegal. March May July Visit of a Sudanese delegation AVN receives Farmers' groups commit to to Burkina Faso the World Habitat Award adapted housing in Burkina Faso A delegation from Sudan's Ministry of AVN won the most prestigious AVN, the National Federation of Naam Agriculture and Forests came to meet international distinction in the field of Groups (FNGN) and 13 Naam Unions with AVN as part of an exploratory housing, awarded by the Building and signed a model partnership convention mission for a project to replicate the Social Housing Foundation (BSHF/World aimed at having the Naam Unions manage Nubian Vault programme (p. 73). Habitat) in conjunction with UN-Habitat the AVN programme in Burkina Faso (p. 31). (p. 91). 9 Intervention Strategy AVN's programme is based on three complementary poles of action: • A Roof - Help boost demand for adapted buildings at local level; MODEL OF MODEL OF • A Skill - Train independent artisan-masons for the Nubian Vault sector; ASSISTANCE DEVELOPMENT • A Market - Generate political and economic support to Giving houses Encouraging demand help the NV market grow. *Since 2000 These actions are part of an innovative model for development that is based on the principle of “teaching others to fish rather than giving them a fish”, extending this to the entire structure of Building houses Training the sector DIRECT ACTION the housing market and construction sector. It is better to learn *Since 2000, with specific to build a house rather than to just give someone a house; it reinforcement since 2014 is even more profitable to share the necessary skills with all stakeholders in order to galvanize the home-grown market, Exogenous diffusion Transfer of competencies leading to real change. Three levels of intervention therefore overlap in all of AVN's *Under development since 2014 activities, at every geographical and institutional level: MANAGEMENT • Direct awareness-raising and training activities on-the- ground; One-time partnership Development of adapted public policies • A transfer of project management to legitimate operators; ADVOCACY *Under development since • Advocacy that encourages structured change. 2014 and accelerated in 2017 * Implemented by AVN Programme History 11,700 € annual Start of the programme budget Creation of AVN in France in Burkina Faso 1st community 1st AVN Burkina by a French mason and a awareness, training of buildings permanent team Burkinabe farmer masons, constructions in Mali in Boromo 2000 2003 2006 2007 2008 1st technical tests 1st public funding Ashoka Award - 1st salaried employee to standardize by the French Ministry of Changemakers for for AVN France the NV concept Foreign Affairs Affordable Housing 10 Direct Action At the heart of AVN since its very beginnings, its on-the- ground action consists of two main components: Awareness raising: Local AVN teams raise awareness with the rural Sahelian populations about housing and environmental issues and tell them about existing solutions. These activities encourage demand for Nubian Vaults on the local housing market. Specific activities