SMEC’s Urban and Social Development team in Africa have completed a key assignment providing technical assistance to the Kazungula Bridge Project Office (KBPO), which includes project managers and officials from both Botswana and Zambia. Our specialists were commissioned to provide technical assistance for business management, in the areas of monitoring, evaluation and trade facilitation.
Working closely with project managers from both countries, our team were commended on their active and highly professional support. “Our persistence in supporting our client to ensure the project met a dynamic market has paid off,” said Mrityunjay Jha, SMEC Functional Manager Social Development.
The scope of work included reviewing the existing monitoring system and baseline surveys, conducting and evaluating new monitoring surveys, reviewing and managing deliverables from other consultants, and coordinating stakeholders including the technical working group for trade facilitation. To support and strengthen the capacity of the KBPO, we conducted workshops and training for KBPO employees, and established procedures for ongoing training of border management and trade facilitation teams.
Once completed, the Kazungula Bridge will provide vital transport infrastructure to facilitate trade access within the region and to international markets, through connectivity with major seaports.
In October 2023, Johan Basson (Function Manager, Urban Development) received an Honorary Fellowship from the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA).
The SMEC Foundation has supported a range of projects, guided by on-the-ground support and the professional expertise of SMEC staff. The dedication and local engagement within many of our regions sets the SMEC Foundation apart from other donor organisations. Your passion for making a difference has propelled us forward, enabling us to impact lives, uplift communities, and create positive change.
In a strong display of commitment to environmental sustainability, around 50 SMEC employees recently laced up their running shoes to participate in the “Takbo Para Sa Kalikasan” (Earth Run) 2023 held on 26 November at Liwasang Ulalim, CCP Complex, Pasay City. The event featured three run categories – 5K, 10K, and 25K – and was organised by the Green Media Events Company.
To bolster environmental stewardship, SMEC joined forces recently with the Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) for a successful tree planting initiative in Vietnam. The activity, held at Me Linh Station for Biodiversity, located around 50km north of Hanoi, marked a significant step in SMEC’s commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability.