Appropriate housing, for as many as possible, as soon as possible

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Appropriate housing, for as many as possible, as 

soon as possible

Since 2000, the Nubian Vault Association’s mission is to 

develop a market 

for appropriate housing in West Africa, integrating issues of housing, 

vocational training, economy, environment and climate

. At the heart 

of the programme, an architectural concept both ancestral and innovative: 

the Nubian Vault. This building technique uses neither wood nor metal, 

but only raw earth, and enables the professional training of a local and 

often precarious workforce to a business with a future. The results? Local 

populations  have  access  to  affordable  and  appropriate  –  i.e.  resilient 

and comfortable in the face of climate change – housing, green jobs are 

created,  economies  are  strengthened  at  all  levels  and  an  “appropriate 

housing” sector is developing in a growing green economy.

Deployed  in 

five  countries

,  and  growing  by 

an average 32% yearly

, 

the  programme  led  by 

67 team members

,  most  of  them  African,  and 

carried in collaboration with numerous local partners, has enabled, since 

inception, the construction of 

2,000 buildings

 in 

830 towns and villages

, 

to the benefit of 

25,000 people

; the training and professional inclusion 

of 

635 apprentices, masons, artisans and entrepreneurs

; a potential 

economy of 

65,000 tons of CO

2

; and the re-injection of 

2.5 million euros

 

into local circuits.

"A Roof, A Skill, A Market ", the programme carried by 

the Nubian Vault Association for the dissemination of an 

appropriate housing in West Africa is the winner of the 2016-

2017 World Habitat Award, the most prestigious international 

distinction in the field of housing. 

This prize, awarded by the Building and Social Housing 

Foundation (BSHF) together with UN-Habitat, demonstrates 

once  more  AVN’s  standing  as  a  major  player  in  the  field  of 

appropriate housing in Africa. Already a WHA finalist in 2009, 

this French organization working in Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, 

Benin and Ghana was chosen by the jury among 12 selected 

projects and given a £ 10,000 reward. The award ceremony 

will take place in May 2017 in Nairobi (Kenya) during UN-

Habitat’s Governing Council meeting.

Press Release

Wednesday March 15th, 2017

The Nubian Vault Programme 

Receives the 

World Habitat Award

“The Sahel is a region under extreme 

pressure  from  climate  change,  conflict 

and grinding poverty. Nubian vaults 

provide  a  far  better  way  for  people  to 

live in this fragile region for little cost and 

virtually no environmental impact.”

David Ireland, Director of BSHF, funders 

and co-ordinators of the World Habitat 

Awards

“The right to adequate housing is so 

fragile right now and under such threat, 

it’s  incredibly  heartening  to  know  that 

‘A  roof,  a  skill,  a  market’  is  fighting  to 

ensure a dignified life through adequate 

housing. It strikes me that this project 

has a macro perspective that fits with the 

human rights vision.”

Leilani Farha, UN Special Rapporteur on 

the right to adequate housing explains 

and judge of the World Habitat Award 

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Press Contact

Cécilia Rinaudo

AVN Deputy General Director

[e-mail]

[phone]

Useful Links

 Programme Booklet

 Film

 Annual Report 2015-2016

www.lavoutenubienne.org/en

 thenubianvault

 @earthroofs

2015 FINALIST

UNFCCC

Finalist

2016 Finalist

2009

FINALIST

Replacing the transformation of building 

practices into development policies for Africa

According to UN-Habitat, in Africa, 80% of the buildings that will exist 

in 2050 have not yet been built:  it  isn’t  too  late 

to initiate today a 

progressive adaptation of the construction sector to current 

economic, societal and environmental challenges

,  and  therefore 

provide an appropriate answer to the construction needs of the next 30 

years, and beyond.

AVN’s  advocacy  work  on  the  international  stage  and  towards  policy 

players resulted in the 

recognition of the Nubian Vault as a solution 

to promote for building and energy efficiency

, including 

its mention 

in several States’ commitments

 to the Paris Agreement on the Climate, 

and  AVN  supports  today  these  countries  in  the  implementation  of 

programmes integrating the Nubian Vault.

To build this transition, AVN today heightens awareness of all development 

stakeholders to the necessity of 

carrying at all scales a cross-cutting 

policy for appropriate housing

, integrated into key areas of public and 

development policies for these countries. 

Supported by its extensive experience and numerous international 

recognitions, enriched today by the World Habitat Award, AVN is 

more than ever a central player accompanying this transformation.

Prizes and Distinctions 

Press Release

Wednesday March 15th, 2017

The Nubian Vault Programme

Receives the 

World Habitat Award

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The Nubian Vault 

in Pictures

Rural Home (Mali)

Office (Burkina Faso)

Urban Dwelling (Burkina Faso)

Health Centre (Senegal)

Artistic Activities Centre (Burkina Faso)

School (Senegal)

The Nubian Vault technique makes it possible to build housing 

appropriate  for  many  uses,  from 

simple rural homes to 

two-storey urban dwellings

, but also 

community facilities 

(education,  health,  agriculture/livestock,  culture,  religion, 

offices, etc.).

Urban Dwelling (Senegal)