Recently, the Engineering Capacity Building for Africa Programme (ECBAP), undertaken by Nankai University (NKU), was officially included in the United Nations International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD).

ECBAP is a ten-year programme launched by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), with the support of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the African Academy of Sciences, the Federation of African Engineering Organizations, as well as engineering organizations from Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and other African countries.

ECBAP was officially launched in Nairobi, Kenya on March 17, 2025. CAST and WFEO entered into a cooperation agreement for ECBAP, according to which CAST will support the establishment and operation of the ECBAP International Programme Office at NKU. In July 2025, the initiative was included in the Action Plan of the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting.

As a flagship global initiative to advance engineering capacity, ECBAP aligns with the global trends of digital and green transformation and conducts systematic planning centered on the pivotal role of engineering technology in sustainable development. The initiative is focused on promoting the application of AI and digital technologies in key sectors such as energy, agriculture, water resources, and infrastructure, while establishing a comprehensive “Digital + Engineering” implementation pathway.

ECBAP aims to systematically strengthen engineering education systems, enhance capacity for continuing professional development, and promote technology transfer and innovation. It is designed to support African countries in developing localized, engineering-based, and scalable solutions to major sustainable development challenges, thereby positioning engineering technology as a crucial supporting force for achieving the goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs).

（Edited and translated by Nankai News Team.)