Engineering leaders, regulators, academics and industry stakeholders from across West Africa are expected to converge in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 15 June 2026 for the 2026 Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the West African Federation of Engineering Organisations (West African Federation of Engineering Organisations (WAFEO).
The conference, themed “Advancing Engineering Standards and Professional Integration in West Africa: From Frameworks to Implementation,” will serve as a regional platform to deepen cooperation on engineering standards, accreditation, quality assurance and professional integration.
Participants will include engineering regulators, professional bodies, policymakers, academics, development partners and industry leaders drawn from across Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone West Africa. The meeting is expected to advance ongoing efforts to harmonise engineering systems in support of infrastructure development, energy expansion, transport systems, digital transformation and climate resilience across the sub-region.
Discussions will focus on the implementation of the regional standardisation roadmap, strengthening accreditation and quality assurance frameworks, and enhancing collaboration among engineering institutions. Delegates will also identify priority actions, institutional responsibilities and mechanisms to accelerate regional integration within the engineering profession.
The conference will be held alongside the Biennial Conference of the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers (Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers (SLIE)), allowing participants to engage in technical sessions, professional networking and broader discussions on engineering-led development.
President of WAFEO, Eng. Dadley Toe of Liberia, noted that West Africa’s development ambitions require strong engineering institutions and closer cross-border collaboration.
“West Africa’s development aspirations require strong engineering institutions, harmonised standards and effective collaboration across borders. This conference provides an opportunity to translate existing frameworks into practical actions that will strengthen the engineering profession and support regional integration and sustainable development,” he said.
WAFEO reaffirmed its commitment to promoting engineering excellence, professional cooperation and the harmonisation of standards across the region. Outcomes of the conference are expected to contribute to strengthening engineering capacity and advancing West Africa’s development agenda.
