Training of Trainers on Low-Carbon Materials: Stabilized Earth Brickmaking and Demonstration Building

The Programme organized a Training of Trainers on production of Stabilized Earth Bricks – a type of low-carbon material following the Africa Forum on Low-Carbon Materials and SAMAO 2024. During the training, 100 practitioners – artisanal miners, researchers, students and experts from Burkina Faso and guest delegates – put into practice the knowledge about low-carbon materials that they gained during the preceding Africa Forum.

The TOT put the spirit of South-South cooperation and knowledge sharing into practice, mobilizing a team of trainers comprised of experts from Cameroon, an expert from Nigeria, locally available expertise from Burkina Faso – engineers, architects, researchers and practitioners.

The TOT combined theoretical and practical training. 

During a 3-day theoretical training, experts guided participants through Stabilized Earth Bricks (SEB) construction techniques, sustainability challenges, and the role of Development Minerals in the economy. To set the tone,  a documentary on Djenné – a world heritage site − showcased earthen architectural heritage, a historical masterpiece of traditional Sahelian architecture typical to Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Participants then were guided to design a model building. 

The remaining two weeks were dedicated to the practical training on the premises of the General Directorate of Quarries. During this hands-on training, the participants learned and practiced production of Stabilized Earth Bricks under a supervision by experts from the Programme and Cameroon. They produced nearly 6,000 stabilized earth bricks. 

Overall, participants learned making Stabilized Earth Bricks, which is one type of low-carbon materials, and elements of earth construction techniques, how to organize and manage a production unit, and business approaches. The training provided valuable skills for value-addition to Development Minerals to learners within a short period, using minerals available in abundance locally, with quality techniques and low-cost production processes.

The training culminated in construction of a demonstration building as an added asset for promoting the value of low-carbon building materials and raising awareness about the potential for skills development for youth. The building was constructed on the premises of the Directorate General of Quarries (DGC) of the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries. 

The prototype low-carbon materials building aims to demonstrate opportunities in using local materials, technical expertise and indigenous knowledge, to build buildings that can meet different purposes – from office buildings to social housing that can be scaled up in the future, to meet the demand for public infrastructure and housing in fast-growing African nations.

The Training of Trainers also promoted cultural heritage, local materials and indigenous knowledge of women painters from Kassena ethnic group from Tiébélé in Burkina Faso, who adorned the building with their traditional mural art.