GASTON BERGER’S UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC YEAR 

:2022-2023
POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE OF SAINT-LOUIS

TOPIC : IS CIVIL ENGEERING A KEY DEVELOPMENT FOR AFRICA

SCHEDULE :
INTRODUCTION

I. WHAT IS CIVIL ENGEERING ?

II. WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIL ENGEERING IN AFRICA ?
III. THE CURRENT CONTRIBUTION OF CIVIL ENGEERING.
IV. THE CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES OF CIVIL ENGEERING IN AFRICA.
CONCLUSION

MEMBERS :
PAPA MBAYE BA P33 4

NGAGNE FALL P33 26

SERIGNE MBAYE KEBE P33 30

MOUSTAPHA MBENGUE P33 33

ISSAKA SAMB P33 41

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 INTRODUCTION
The engeering profession plays a critical role in the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure. The civil
engeering is a discipline currently accounts for just less than half the number of professional engeering
technicians registered with the engeering council of South Africa (ECSA).

I. WHAT IS CIVIL ENGEERING ?

The civil engineer is the prime contractor for the engineering structures as a whole (buildings and infrastructure for the
construction and rehabilitation) its fields of action, extremely vast, goes from bridges, or factories to airports, oil
platforms, roads and cycle paths, passing through tunnels, dams, rail ways, canals and hydraulic. The civil engineer : a
major player in the construction … Expert in science and technology, the civil engineer intervenes in all the phases of the
realization and the construction of a work of art : a road, a building, a bridge, etc.
II. WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIL ENGEERING IN AFRICA

Civil engineering plays a crucial role in the development of any country, including African countries. Here are
some of the ways civil engineering contributes to the growth of its countries :

1. Infrastructure development : Civil engineering is responsible for the planning, design, construction, and
maintenance of various infrastructure facilities such as roads, bridges, airports, railways, water supply systems,
and sewerage systems. These infrastructure facilities are crucial for economic development, and without them,
businesses cannot function effectively. For example, the construction of telecommunications (roads,
railways, ...) has allowed the flow of people and goods from one point to another at a reduced time.

2. Improved living standards : Civil engineering plays a vital role in improving the living standards of people in
developing countries. Access to clean water, proper sanitation, and well-designed housing are all essential
elements that civil engineers help provide to the communities they serve. For example, the advent of boreholes
or water structures have allowed the African population to access drinking water. Also, today, the construction
of sophisticated buildings (buildings…) is increasing more and more.

3. Employment opportunities : Civil engineering projects often require a large number of skilled and unskilled
workers. This creates job opportunities for the local population, which can help reduce unemployment rates in
developing countries.
For example, civil engineering can create employment opportunities such as cement companies, sanitation
companies, public works buildings, ...

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4. Disaster management : Civil engineers are responsible for designing and implementing disaster management
plans. African countries are often prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes, and a
well-designed disaster management plan can help reduce the impact of such events. For example, in Senegal,
civil engineers had to get involve in floods in large cities during wintering by bringing pump machines.

5. Economic growth : Civil engineering projects contribute to the economic growth of African countries by
providing the infrastructure needed for businesses to function efficiently. This, in turn, attracts more investment,
creates more job opportunities, and generates more revenue for the country. For example, business revenue and
performance, hotel construction favours tourism, infrastructures, all of these contribute growth economic.

In summary, civil engineering is a critical component of the development process in Africain countries. It plays
a vital role in creating infrastructure, improving living standards, generating employment opportunities, disaster
management, and driving economic growth.

III. THE CURRENT CONTRIBUTION OF CIVIL ENGEERING.

Civil engineering represents all the technique concerning civil constructions. In this field, the civil engineering
is an exécutive concerned with the design, construction, operation and rehabilitation of works and
infrastructure. The management of these buildings allows these civil engeneering players to meet the needs of
society while ensuring public safety and environmental protection.
Concretely, the action of civil engineering is vast, it goes from bridges, buildings, houses, or factories to
airports,
Oil platforms, roads and tracks through tunnels, dams, railways, canals and hydraulic system. At this time, if we
go back a little in time, we can already link civil engineers to the first towns and cities. You have probably
already
seen remains of paved roads that may be hundreds of years old, or viaducts that carried water to the various
ancient cities. Let’s not built thousands of years ago. Sometimes, so that sovereings can rest in peace or even in
order to commemorate such or such divinty like the pyramids of Egypt. The civil engineer is therefore not a
builder, nor the designer of simple works. He or she intervenes not only during the physical development of our
cities but also sometimes has a more subtle impact on the changes in our societies. Indeed, the construction of
walls and fortifications will of course bring into play the know-how of a civil engineer, however, the roads that
unites our cities and countries are also the work of these engineers. African civil engineering has played an

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important role in the development of transport infrastructure in Africa. The reforms carried out in the field of
transport in French-speaking Africa led in 1990 to the etablishment of instrastructure construction programs
which concerned the air, rail and raoad sectors. There have been several impressive achievements in civil
engineering in the field of transport in Africa in recent years. For example, the Senegambia bridge connecting
the Gambia and Senegal is an expressive civil engineering project in West Africa. There is also the Maputo Bay
Bridge, which connects Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, to Katembe is the longest suspension bridge in
Africa. There are also several other civil projects in Africa that have been made in recent years and which are
very impressive.
If we take the example of the northern zone of Senegal such as Louga and Saint-Louis, in Louga for example is
the largest palace in Senegal which is the DJILY MBAYE palace, a palace where three differents presidents
slept in the same night. In the same vein, we find the bridge of Faidherbe in Saint-Louis, the triumphal arch of
Louga, all these buildings are part of the achievements of African civil engineers.

IV. THE CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES OF CIVIL ENGEERING IN AFRICA

1.Urbanization and infrastructure
Africa has a strong population growth and its population should expect 2,4 billion in 2050 center 455 million at
the current heme according to the website « Media monde ». In Africa, it is primordial to anticipate
infrastructure needs’ and to limit them. The environnemental and societal degradation associated with the
particular urbanization process and the lifespan of buildings. For example sustanable building offers an
opportunity to fight against
Poverty and climate change.
During the rainy saison, accidents also increase and it is one of raison why our continent need best
infrastructure.
2.The hydrolical problems’ :
In many countries, even if there is no lack of water, the population, for its part lacks. Because the continent
does not have the necessary distribution and sanitation infrastructure.
For example, since some days the social campus struggles to get water. Civil engineering must resolve this
preoblem and evrywhere in the continent.

CONCLUSION

In summary, the civil engeering profession plays a major role in the growth and development of a country ‘s
economy. It’s experiencing a shortage of engeering skills. There is no simple answer the question of how
many civil engineers are required to meet present and future.