An appropriate architecture, as soon as

possible, for as many people as

possible

In sub-Saharan Africa, with a

majority Muslim population, as in

many semi-arid regions, the problem

of access to decent housing plunges

millions of families into a vicious

circle of poverty.

In order to remedy this problem, the

Association La Voûte Nubienne (AVN) promotes an appropriate

construction technique (the Nubian

Vault - NV) built professionally by

skilled masons as part of an

emerging and actively promoted

markets.

This technique is appropriate also

for the construction of mosques.

The building of a mosque can be an

important launching-pad phase for

promoting the NV technique locally.

We invite you to join us in

supporting new communities in

getting access to decent and

sustainable housing based on the

traditional African Nubian Vault

technique, at the same time

strengthening local economies and

quality of life.

The Challenge

According to the UN and WRI (World Resources Institute), over 50% of African families in the Sahel lack

access to decent housing.

In sub-Saharan Africa, bush timber has traditionally been used for roofing and for load-bearing supports.

However, climate change, deforestation, and increasing population growth, mean that traditional building

techniques are no longer feasible.

Therefore, rural families have to dip into their meager food, health, and education budgets to buy imported

and expensive corrugated iron sheets and sawn timber for roof building. Such roofs have many

disadvantages, especially a poor thermal and sound insulation, making houses too hot in the day, often too

cold at night, and extremely noisy during the short but intensive rainy season. They can easily be damaged

by wind and rain, last little more than ten years, and their very fragility is a source of danger. They have to

be paid for in cash, which is often a problem for the many families who live outside the cash economy.

Families are locked into a vicious circle of poverty and squalor, with no durable solution to the problem of

decent housing; this costs the local economy several billions of CFA Francs every year.

In order to help solve this problem, we need a global solution that integrates:

A construction technique for affordable and appropriate roofs

Built professionally by masons with the necessary skills

As part of emerging and actively promoted markets in sustainable housing

The solution

«A construction technique for appropriate roofs…. »

The Nubian Vault (NV): a standardized version of an ancient African technique of earth architecture.

Social Responsibility:

Solid (thick walls, weather-resistant roofs)

Comfortable (less noise, good thermal isolation)

Can incorporate traditional flat roof terraces

Reinforces local and family networks

Conserves traditional Sahelian construction

practices.

Economic viability:

Less expensive than sheet metal and cement =>

accessible to local families.

Simple => rapid training of local masons and

creation of local markets.

Local labor force and materials => strengthening

the local economy.

Environmental durability:

No timber => 1 standard Nubian Vault (about 25

m2) saves 4 trees.

No sheet metal, cement or steel => 1 standard

Nubian Vault saves 2 tons of CO2-equivalent.

Cultural suitability:

Conserves the heritage of traditional Sahelian earth

architecture.

Ideal for the construction of mosques.

« A construction technique for appropriate roofs; built professionally by skilled masons… »

NV masons: there are five levels of skill:

L1: a novice apprentice.

L2: an advanced apprentice.

L3: a mason, able to build a vault.

L4: a foreman mason, able to supervise a

construction site.

L5: a mason-entrepreneur, able to negotiate

with clients and supervise several

construction sites.

The NV masons:

are local, currently from Burkina Faso,

Senegal or Mali

most of them are farmers

are trained on site as apprentices by other

masons, and are thus introduced to market

realities

promote the NV technique and sell their

know-how locally

supervise the NV construction sites

transfer their know-how to trainers

share their experiences with other masons

are paid 100% by their clients, in cash, trade

or barter

are not employed by the Association La

Voûte Nubienne.

can not only build simple houses, but also, in

partnership with local organizations, public

buildings based on the NV technique.

collaborate mainly with La Voûte Nubienne : exchanging ideas and information about the market,

clients’ needs, potential apprentices, both informally, and at formal congresses arranged by AVN

each year; some of them go even further, getting involved as extension agents promoting the NV

technique, for which AVN compensates them.

1- In the pilot-village of Dendjola and surrounding villages, I identified a local “champion”,

Imam Siaka Djiri, who was convinced of the NV technique and who is locally respected.

2- I accompanied Imam Djiri to promotional meetings to explain the NV technique and to attract

interested clients and apprentices, thus setting the foundations for an eventual NV market; the

first, unanimous, request from the villagers was for the construction of a mosque.

3- I then sent a NV mason-entrepreneur, Ibrahim Mien, to start the local market: paid by the local

clients, he trained the first group of village apprentices on-the-job, and built the village mosque

and several houses for local people. I stay in touch with him and Imam Djiri to provide any help

needed to develop the local NV market.

4- Over a 4 - 5 year period, the process of raising awareness, construction and training will

reach a level that is self-sustaining, with the appearance of an autonomous local market; at this

point both I and the original NV mason can withdraw, leaving the place to the locally trained

masons.

So far, after 3 years, 22 villages have been involved, 8 mosques and 30 houses have been

built, and about 20 masons have been trained.

5- From this original pilot village a true pilot “zone" is now emerging. Using this strategy, my

colleagues and I will promote and spread this solution on a large scale, then withdraw

progressively from the areas that have developed an independent market in NV construction.

Adjara, an AVN

extension agent

A construction technique for affordable and appropriate roofs; built professionally by masons »

with the necessary skill; as part of emerging and actively promoted markets in sustainable housing »

"Pump-Priming" the market

AVN’s mission is to promote the Nubian Vault as soon as possible, for as many beneficiaries as possible. In

order to do this, the Association trains and guides extension agents to “pump-prime” local markets. Starting

from a base of pilot villages, evolving into pilot zones, and then entire regions.

The construction of a mosque has proved to be a successful way of introducing the NV technique into pilot

villages.

Adjara is an AVN extension agent; here she explains her approach, in collaboration with Imam Siaka Djiri,

in the pilot village of Dendjola in Mali:

Imam

Siaka Djiri

Examples of NV buildings in Dendjola (Mali)

A village mosque

About 85 m2 floor space

5 vaults

Cash cost to the local community: 200 000

Fcfa (450 USD), or c. 2 800 Fcfa/m2 (6.20

USD/m2)

Unskilled labor and finishes provided free by

the community

A small house

About 25 m2 floor space

1 vault of 7m length

Cash cost to client: 70 000 Fcfa (156 USD)

The AVN solution (A roof + A skill + A market)

Generates increasing, sustainable, rapid, and large scale impacts

Impacts

In four countries: Burkina Faso,

Mali, Senegal, Zambia

10,000 beneficiaries of NV

176 trained masons

More than 1,000 Nubian

Vaults built

11 mosques have been built,

6 under construction

44 volunteers and

employees

300 "social investors"

40% annual average growth

in the percentage of NV built

The local economic impact generated is more than 500 000 €

The annual estimated budget (2010-2011) : 350 000 €

They said about us

« …. A remarkable initiative ….. » (Muhammad Yunus, Nobel peace prize 2006)

« The Nubian Vault is until now the best program in the world in this field » (Satprem

Maini, UNESCO chair, architecture of the land)

« The leverage effects generated by the Nubian Vault are one of the most innovative

initiatives for the benefit of the population in the Sahel », (Arnaud Mourot, Chief

executive of Ashoka, France)

Our Proposal

« You also, being individuals, NGO's or private companies, you could help to launch the NV market from a

Muslim pilot village, creating local jobs, and at the same time helping the local population to build,

independently, durable and decent houses, mosques, schools, dispensaries, etc. »

Example of investment / impacts for the deployment of the Nubian Vault from a Muslim pilot village in

Mali or in Burkina Faso.

Potential impacts in 4 years:

3 NV mosques built

15/20 NV houses built

3 trained masons and 6

apprentices in training

400 beneficiaries

Costs:

3000 € / year for 4 years

Impacts after 4 years:

Independent growth of impacts as NV markets develops, without any new external investment

For more information

Visit our web site:

http://www.lavoutenubienne.org/ : In French

http://www.lavoutenubienne.org/?lang=enIn English:

For photos and updates of the Program around Dendjola, go to our entry on Global Giving

(http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/sustainable-housing-for-rural-communities-in-mali/ ).

You can also make donations to help the local Muslim community gain access to decent housing

via Global Giving.

Call us on the telephone number: +33 (0)4 67 81 21 05

Or send us a mail: Batoul.kazwini@lavoutenubienne.org

Examples of Nubian Vault buildings (exteriors)

Kadiala mosque (Mali)

A small house in Burkina Faso

Examples of Nubian Vault buildings (interior)

Dendjola mosque in Mali

A house in Burkina Faso