WCCE’s 16th General Assembly of the World Council of Civil Engineers was held virtually on January 25th, 2022. 9 organizations from its corresponding countries attended the General Assembly in which Argentinian Engineer Mr Jorge Abramian succeeded Mr. Carlos Mineiro Aires as WCCE President for the period 2022-2024.
The General Assembly showcased the activity of WCCE's Standing Committee since the last General Assembly showing how WCCE was able to overcome the circumstances created by COVID-19 through new initiatives and member's collaboration.
Main outcomes
Regarding our General Assembly, various issues were addressed being the major achievements of the meeting as follows:
WCCE Executive Committee Elections results
In addition to Mr Jorge Abramian Argentinian Engineer taking succeeding President Carlos Mineiro Aires as WCCE President for the period 2022-2024, the election called during WCCE's 1st Extraordinary General Assembly had the following outcome:
- Costa Rican delegate Óscar Sánchez Zúñiga was elected new President Elect for the period 2022-2024, taking over the presidency for the 2025-2027.
- Several continental representative to the Executive Committee were elected
- Africa: Nigerian Engineer Mrs Aishatu Umar
- America: Brazilian Engineer Joel Krüger
- Asia: Georgian Engineer Iuri Svanidze
Ongoing initiatives
📺 LET’S TALK CIVIL ENGINEERING initiative
Fostered by COVID-19, the option of conducting webinars became an ideal option to promote WCCE objectives. The use of streaming technologies (ZOOM and YouTube) has shown a convenient and effective technology for active participation of all parties involved and provided a swift interaction with the audience. Defined as 2h workshops roundtable or lecture formats with a closing Q&A session, the series held during 2021 as follows:
- 22 events in 4 days hosting 40 speakers from 17 countries
- Audience from the 5 continents
Also, the recording of the sessions, available at WCCE’s YouTube Channel and website wcce.biz have provided a relevant momentum to the initiative (allowing persons to watch the Webinars at their leisure) which has achieved the following metrics:
- 1000+ hours of Capacity building & networking
- 200+ viewers Live audience & on-demand
- 500+ new followers to WCCE’s social media profiles.
📺 WCCE Contribution to WFEO's World Engineering Day
This initiative commemorates the International Day of Engineering for Sustainable Development of the United Nations, which has been celebrated on March 4 since 2019. Launched by WFEO on behalf of UNESCO's, World Engineering Day for Sustainable Develop - March 4th was contributed by WCCE with the following activities:
- 10 events in 4 days hosting 11 speakers from 7 countries
- Audience from the 5 continents
Also, the recording of the sessions, available at WCCE’s YouTube Channel and website wcce.biz have provided a relevant momentum to the initiative (allowing persons to watch the Webinars at their leisure) which has achieved the following metrics:
- 500+ hours of Capacity building & networking
- 200+ viewers Live audience & on-demand
- 100+ new followers to WCCE’s social media profiles.
Secretariat to WFEO's Working Group on Water
WCCE has contributed to the development of the monograph Adaptation to Climate Change: Water and Engineering, whose aim is to identify potential mitigation and adaptation measures for climate change adaptation that engineers and engineering can contribute in the field of water, taking into account:
- Climate uncertainty at the local level
- Economic impacts caused by extreme hydrological events
- Evolution from crisis-based approach to risk management or adaptive management approach
The final version will be validated in the next WFEO's General Assembly.
🤝 Partnerships
Regarding partnerships, WCCE has participated actively in the fllowing activities:
- 34th UN-Water Meeting
- 2021 UPADI Meeting
- 72nd and 73rd ECCE General Assemblies
- Participation in WFEO's 50th Anniversary meeting
- Participation in 12th CICPC's meeting held virtually
Other outcomes
Financing
After several economical difficulties, WCCE has been able to stabilize its finances through several austerity measures which have reduced expenditure and enhanced membership's fees income. On such grounds, 2021 financial standing brought a positive result and the 2022 Budget proposal also expects a result which will be able to restain any pending obligations.
Standing Committees renewal
The General Assembly has agreed to initiate current Standing Committees’ renewal and has entitled its Executive Committee to lead such procedure, which is to be finalized during WCCE’s 17th General Assembly.
President Mineiro valectory message
In his valedictory message, Carlos Mineiro stated that his mandate has severely hindered not only by COVID-19 but also the unexpected withdrawal of Colegio's support, which has required an important rethihking of WCCE's goals, initiatives and finacial framework. Albeit these circumstances, contributions to UNESCO's 2nd Engineering Report were delivered consolidating WCCE as a global partner with the UN system, and enforcing regional networks through the partnership agreements signed with UPADI and FAEO.
The next General Assembly in the last quarter of 2022.
