The International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) was founded in Paris in 1928. ICOLD membership currently comprises of 92 countries, with 10000 individual members. Members are from Consulting Engineering companies, Contractors, Environmental organizations, Researchers, Academics, Governments, Financial Institutions, etc. ICOLD leads the profession in setting guidelines to ensure that dams are built safely, economically, and in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner.
The African Club of ICOLD was established in 2012. Currently 22 National Committees from Africa are part of the African Club. The key objective of the African Club is to facilitate interchange of knowledge and experience between countries with common interests and environments. The Club seeks to enhance access to ICOLD knowledge and experience by those who may not otherwise have access to the Commission’s events.
Encourage and support African conferences, symposiums, workshops, study tours, and Young Professional Forum (YPF) activities that foster learning, leadership development, and networking.
Facilitate African contributions to ICOLD Technical Committees, research projects, technical papers, case studies, and knowledge products that reflect Africa’s specific dam engineering challenges and solutions.
Encourage the non-ICOLD member countries to form National Committees and support their ICOLD membership application process.
Encourage the formation, restructuring, and effective functioning of African National Committees, including governance, membership growth, Secretariat capacity, and sustainability.
Promote training, workshops, staff exchanges, mentoring, and other professional development initiatives to equip African practitioners and young professionals with up-to-date knowledge and skills.
Support the development and continual improvement of dam safety frameworks, risk-informed approaches, performance monitoring, surveillance, emergency preparedness, and response across Africa.
Enhance leading practice in the planning, investigation, design, construction, operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, and, where necessary, decommissioning of dams and associated hydraulic structures.
Provide a platform for cooperation among National Committees, utilities, regulators, consultants, contractors, researchers, universities, and other stakeholders involved with water and energy infrastructure.
Assist in implementing ICOLD policies, guidelines, and bulletins in the African context, and promote active African participation in ICOLD programmes, Technical Committees, and Annual Meetings.
Promote the exchange of technical, environmental, social, and operational expertise between African countries with common interests, environments, and development challenges.