New partnership for Sustainable Smart Villages in Africa – UAC – PACC – HRC – iLima

US Africa Collaborative, Pan African Chamber of Commerce, HBCU Resource Center Inc, and iLima
Digital Foundary, announce partnership to establish a Center of Excellence for Sustainable Smart
Villages and Human Settlements

Baltimore, MD & Johannesburg, South Africa – November 6, 2024 – The US-Africa Collaborative (UAC), Pan African Chamber of Commerce (PACC), HBCU Resource Center (HRC), and iLima Digital Foundary (iLima) are thrilled to announce a transformative partnership to create a Center of Excellence dedicated to Sustainable Smart Villages and Human Settlements. This initiative aims to advance sustainable development and drive technological innovation across Africa by designing scalable models of resilient and environmentally conscious communities.

Through a combined wealth of expertise, this Center of Excellence seeks to harness the collective expertise and resources of the partnering organizations and will serve as a hub for sustainable, resilient, and digitally integrated community solutions to address pressing challenges, create sustainable models and support the growth of communities across Africa and beyond.

Focus areas include:

Research and Innovation
  • The Center will engage students at the University of Maryland College Park, Nelson Mandela University, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of Fort Hare, Minnesota State UniversityMankato, University of Lagos, Morgan State University, Alabama State University, University of the Free State, University of South Africa, Howard University as well as other HBCU’s, creating a living laboratory for sustainable agriculture, net-zero housing, and natural living.
  • The Center will be student-focused, managed under faculty and staff mentors, students will engage in experiential learning (learn by doing) and multidisciplinary collaborations, to be prepared to lead productive careers.
  • The Center will integrate research from academic and professional communities to support the framing of policies and regulations that impact affordable housing, critical infrastructure protection, grid security, emergency management, public safety, and community resiliency.
Capacity Building
  • The Center will provide training and resources for local governments, businesses, and community leaders to empower them in implementing sustainable practices within their regions.
Community Engagement
  • The Center will involve local populations in the planning and execution of projects to ensure that solutions are culturally relevant and effectively address the needs of the communities they serve.
Partnerships and Collaboration
  • The Center will build a network of stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, private sector actors, and academic institutions, to share knowledge and resources in pursuit of sustainable development goals.
Pilot Projects
  • Launch and support pilot projects in selected villages and settlements to demonstrate the viability of sustainable practices and technologies, serving as models for replication
“We are thrilled to embark on this strategic partnership, which represents a significant step toward creating sustainable and inclusive communities in Africa. The US Africa Collaborative is a catalyst and braintrust that brings together housing and human settlement professionals including educators, policymakers, developers, advocates, students, and financial and philanthropic institutions, from the US and the African Diaspora. By combining our strengths and expertise, we can drive meaningful change and improve the quality of life for countless individuals,” said Elizbeth Glenn, Chair, US Africa Collaborative.
“The establishment of the Center of Excellence is a testament to our commitment to fostering economic growth and sustainability. We believe that through collaboration, we can create smart villages that harness technology while preserving our cultural heritage,” The Pan African Chamber of Commerce is a catalyst for development, enabling education and local business opportunities, improving health and welfare, and enhancing democratic engagement stated Johnny Muteba, Chairman, Pan African Chamber of Commerce.
“The HBCU Resource Center is committed to expanding affordable housing efforts globally, connecting HBCUs and the African Diaspora to create resilient communities. Through collaboration and shared knowledge, we’re addressing housing disparities with innovative, sustainable solutions that uplift communities worldwide. By aligning with partners across the globe, we’re building a bridge between HBCUs and the African Diaspora to promote economic empowerment and drive meaningful change,” said DeAndre Wells, Managing Member, HBCU Resource Center Inc.

“We aim to integrate AI and digital technologies with sustainable practices to create resilient communities.
The iLima Digital Foundary is proud to be part of this initiative, which aligns with our vision of using
technology for social good,” said Karsten Popp, CEO, iLima Digital Foundary.

Next Steps

The partners are currently in the process of identifying potential locations for the Center of Excellence and will soon announce a series of workshops and community engagement events to solicit input from local stakeholders. Together, we are commited to a future where communities thrive sustainably, and we invite all interested parties to join us in this transformative journey.

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The US Africa Collaborative, Inc.

The mission of the US Africa Collaborative, Inc., a Maryland nonstock corporation (“US Africa Collaborative”) is to be a catalyst that brings together housing and human settlement professionals including educators, policymakers, developers, advocates, students, and financial and philanthropic institutions, from the US and the African Diaspora to collectively work together to address the need to create safe and tenure secure, healthy, sustainable, and resilient human settlements in the context of the global housing crisis, climate change and intensified urbanization in a culturally competent and inclusive manner. The organization’s values are based on Compassion, Empathy, Transparency, Equity, and Inclusivity. The organization aims to build resilient communities by impacting policy discussions, leading test projects, and professionalizing https://usafricacollaborative.org/

HBCU Resource Center, Inc. 501(c)(3) (HRC).

The charitable and educational program of the HBCU Resource Center, Inc. (the “Corporation,” “HBCU Resource Center,” “we,” or “our”) is complementary to the HUD Steam initiative and the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities (“HBCUs”). The Initiative is dedicated to a government-wide policymaking effort to eliminate barriers HBCUs, and Minority Serving Institutions (“MSIs”) face in providing the highest-quality education to a growing number of students. The HUD Steam-based Initiative supports a Place-based initiative building local coalitions to increase energy literacy, increase affordable and sustainable energy-efficient housing, facilitate STEM opportunities, and promote job-driven skills. Our program offering complements this Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) initiative by providing support to the work of partners and Public Housing Authorities (“PHAs”) in reducing barriers and improving access to opportunities for communities, families, and residents to improve their quality of life. Our 3,200 PHAs are the perfect platform for “Whole of Government Social Equity” programs and the HBCU Resource Center mission. https://hbcuresourcecenter.org/

iLima Digital Foundary

Ilima Digital Foundary Inc

Ilima Digital Foundary is registered in the US and in South Africa, is an independent company based in Johannesburg and San Francisco, disrupting the current construction process by harnessing AI, big data, robotics, and industrialized construction technologies to accelerate the construction of affordable housing and self-sustainable smart villages for Africa. This will be achieved through iLima’s unique SaaS AI-driven Construction Innovation Platform (ACIP), which matches producers and users throughout the project lifecycle and enables cheaper and faster
construction of affordable housing and sustainable smart villages with greater quality, sustainability, and transparency. The ACIP platform collects, processes, and analyses information, focusing on modeling, measuring, and managing data, fostering autonomy, efficiency, and traceability throughout the village’s lifecycle. It advances construction technology access, with innovative decision support models for finance, sustainability, society, and safety, enhancing community prosperity and housing access. And creating local jobs. Everything Africa Ready.
https://ilimafoundary.com/

Pan African Chamber of Commerce (PACC).

The Pan African Chamber of Commerce is a South African and US registered non-profit organization. The Pan African Chamber of Commerce is an advocate for a business environment conducive to enterprise creation and development, generating employment and contributing to the socio-economic development of Africa. Our vision is to be a catalyst in transforming the African business landscape through innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship (ICE). Key PACC focus areas include: Harnessing digital technologies and innovation to transform African societies and economies , Promote Africa’s integration, Generate inclusive economic growth, Stimulate job creation, Break the digital divide, Eradicate poverty for the continent’s socio-economic development and Ensure Africa’s ownership of modern tools of digital management
https://panafricanchamber.com/