Professional Practice West Africa

Benin

By Law n° 89-112 of 24 march 1989 recourse to an architect is mandatory for all buildings exceeding 150 m² of floor area as well as public buildings. For these buildings selection of architects have to be through competition.
Registration is compulsory with the Ordre des Architectes et Urbanistes du Bénin.
There are no schools of architecture. The architects are mainly trained in the Lomé School of architecture, in France, Canada and Russia.
Le recours à un architecte est obligatoire par décret.
The title is protected by Act n° 83-388 of 1er november 1983, which organises the profession and creating the Ordre des Architectes in the Bénin Republic.
There is a School of African Heritage in Porto Novo. This programme has been made possible with the financial assistance of the SIDA (Swedish International Development Agency), the NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation) and the Director of Cultural Heritage of Norway. ICCROM, UNESCO World Heritage Centre and CRATerre-EAG coordinate the programme.

Burkina Faso

No news

Cape Verde

No news

Cote d'Ivoire

By Law 70.488 of 03 Aug 1970 recourse to an architect is mandatory for all buildings of budget exceeding 30.000.000 F CFA (40 000 US $). To practise architecture registration to the l'Ordre des Architectes de Côte d'Ivoire is required by fulfilling the following conditions:

• To be of Côte d’Ivoire nationality
• To be of good repute and having never been condemned
• Having never been bankrupt or placed in liquidation
• To be at least 25 years old.
• To hold an architect’s qualification recognised by the government
• To apply for the registration at the Registration Council of the Ordre for liberal practise under his own responsibility.

Foreign architects should either associate with a registered architect for a specific project or be employed by a local firm.
The 1970 law protects the title and the profession and institute a Code of practise.

Gambia

No news

Ghana

Strong competition from UK architects. The Ghana Institute of Architects GIA wishes to join UIA. A membership form has been sent to the President Steve Akuffo on 05 Sep 03.

Guinea

Country at war

Guinea - Bissua

No news.

Liberia

Country at war

Mali

Legally recognised by the 01 Mar 89 Act which defines the conditions of foreign architects practise in Mali by describing their participation. However its application is not always followed.
There are no schools of architecture. The Ordre des Architectes du Mali regroups both the public and private sector architects., approx 200. Recently an Association of young architects have been created.
Every year on the first Monday of October – world habitat day. National and international architectural competitions are organised.

Mauritania

19 architects – President de l’ONAM Mr. Tidiane DIAGANA19 architects – President de l’ONAM Mr. Tidiane DIAGANA
Member of UMAR

Niger

By law registration with the Ministry for architecture is compulsory for practise.
Foreign architects may practise on the basis of reciprocity on condition that he is associated with a local registered architect. He also then has to register.
At Oct 03 there were no foreign architects practising in Niger.
The Decree N° 98-094/PRN/MEQ/I of 6 April 1998 defines the Code of Practise.
The Act N° 97-017 of 20 June 1997 creates the Ordre des Architectes du Niger.
There is a school of Heritage Conservation in Cotonou.
OAN: Ordre des Architectes du Niger
UIA Dossier sent on 16 Jul 03 on their request.

Nigeria

More than 1600 architects. Very active Institute on the African continent and at an international level with representatives sitting at UIA, AUA, CAA and RIBA Councils. The NIA is organising the Triennial AUA Congress in May 2005.

Senegal

Mandatory recourse to architects for any construction/renovation whose budget exceeds 30 millions de FR CFA (40 000 US$) and in protected zones (Dakar-plateau, la corniche, Gorée, Saint-Louis...).
The following conditions are required fro practise:

• To hold the Senegalese nationality
• To have a professional address in Senegal
• To be of good repute
• To hold a qualification listed by government decree or any other equivalent qualification
• To be accepted by the Ministry of Urban Planning on proposition of the Registration Council of the Ordre des Architectes after satisfaction of the first four criteria.
• To declare solemnly in front of the Dakar Tribunal
• To subscribe a Professional Indemnity Insurance
• To be registered to the Ordre des Architectes

Accepted equivalent qualifications are French dplg, Master in Architecture from US universities, etc…)
The Secretariat of the Ordre des Architectes du Sénégal, ODAS, located at 17, boulevard de la Republique, Dakar, BP 6384, has an up to date list of registered architects.
The Act N° 78-44 of 06 July 1978 protects the profession and creates the Ordre des Architectes.
Application decree N° 23-209 of 10 Mar 1993
In spite of all this legislation the local architects are suffering strong competition from foreign architects.
The Ordre has proposed to hold a conference in May 04 during the Dak’art biennale.

Sierra Leone

The SLIA has joined the CAA in Sep 02. They are trying to create a new school of architecture.
UIA Dossier for temporary membership sent to UIA on 25 Sep 03

Togo

Lomé School EAMAU for francophone students of West Africa.
Compulsory recourse to architects for all projects requiring a building permit except for minor maintenance and modification works. Act 90-02
Building Permit applications must have the name of an architect registered with Ordre National des Architectes du Togo (ONAT).
Conditions of practise are:

• Hold a qualification recognised by the Government of Togo or any equivalent qualification.
• To be registered at then Ordre National des Architectes du Togo.
• To be accredited by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (decree 94-117 PMRT)
This decree defines the Code of Ethics.

Foreign architects must associate with a local architect on a 50%-50% basis and are allowed to practise on basis of reciprocity.