Policy statement 506 - Building engineering capacity in developing countries

Approved by the Infrastructure and Research Policy Committee on May 20, 2024
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on June 5, 2024
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 18, 2024

Policy

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and its international partners should continue to cooperate with the United States government, other interested government, and nongovernmental organizations, to support sustainable engineering capacity building in developing countries.

Issue

ASCE, through its members, institutes, committees, councils, and Agreements of Cooperation represents all aspects of civil engineering. Thus, ASCE is well positioned to foster relationships to assist other countries, specifically developing countries, and with building their engineering capabilities. Engineering capacity includes policy, planning, design, construction, engineering education and training, implementation, deployment, maintenance, asset management, and disaster planning, mitigation, and recovery.

These relationships are developed domestically (in the United States) and internationally through conferences, symposia, workshops, education, and workforce development initiatives (e.g., curriculum development and implementation), information exchange, technical visits, web-seminars, mentoring, publications, and peer review panels. In this effort, ASCE actively collaborates with organizations such as the World Federation of Engineering Organizations, Pan American Association of Engineers, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and others.

Rationale

ASCE is committed to the global exchange of civil engineering knowledge. ASCE supports the continued building of engineering capacity globally, with a focus on developing nations. Engineering capacity building enhances the welfare of humanity with regard to the natural and built environments and supports ASCE’s vision to build a better quality of life for all. The application of engineering principles, methods, practices, and other expertise internationally and domestically, through ASCE, its members, institutes, committees, and councils, representing all aspects of civil engineering, serves the engineering profession worldwide and benefits communities globally.

This policy has worldwide application
ASCE Policy Statement 506