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Engineering groups sign agreement to fight poverty

Four engineering associations have banded together to promote the role of engineering in fighting poverty and improving livelihoods in developing countries.

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Engineering Against Poverty (EAP), RedR and Engineering Without Borders (EWB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote a collaborative approach to aiding communities in need.

By signing the memorandum they hope to increase the contribution, and further promote the role of engineering, technology and innovation in fighting poverty, promoting sustainable development and providing a better life for all people.

Paul Jowitt, ICE president, said: ‘Engineering, technology and innovation are crucial in the fight against poverty, in rebuilding disaster-stricken communities and in the mitigation of climate change. By uniting on this common cause we can strengthen our impact and make a real difference to those in need.

‘Issues of global water security, increasing population, urbanisation and climate change mean the world we live in is changing rapidly and we require innovative solutions to meet these new challenges.’

The three objectives of the agreement are:

• To develop engineering, technology and innovation capabilities to respond to communities in need
• To engage with government, industry and civil society to increase awareness of the positive impact of engineering in the development of society
• To promote internationally accepted good practice

Andrew Lamb, chief executive at Engineers Without Borders UK, said: ‘Our four organisations are unique but we have a common message: engineers, and engineering, are central to the relief of poverty and suffering.

‘I think the engineering community is re-awakening to this idea and that what we need to do now is to re-awaken the development and relief communities to engineering. This agreement sets the basis for some exciting collaborations in the future.'