Women in Green Building Competition powers Africa’s sustainable future

• GBCSA and IFC launch 2026 competition to accelerate women’s leadership in sustainable building across Africa.
• Winners receive internationally recognised EDGE training, convention access, industry exposure and career-building opportunities.
• Competition tackles gender barriers while expanding technical green building expertise in the built environment sector.

Women in green building take centre stage

‍The Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA), in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has officially launched the 2026 Women in Green Building (WIGB) Competition under the powerful theme: “Your Perspective Matters.”

Now entering its fifth year, the competition continues to play a critical role in building technical capacity, promoting inclusion and advancing women within the green building and sustainable construction sectors across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The initiative comes at a pivotal time for the built environment industry as sustainability, climate resilience and low-carbon development become increasingly central to future property and infrastructure investment.

Building the next generation of green leaders

‍The competition is designed to equip women professionals with globally recognised technical expertise through EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification training.

Developed by the IFC, EDGE is an internationally recognised green building standard focused on improving resource efficiency through reduced energy use, water consumption and embodied carbon in building materials.

Participants selected for the programme will receive specialised training through the GBCSA Academy and IFC, helping professionals strengthen their sustainability credentials and expand career opportunities within the built environment sector.

This year’s competition again places strong emphasis on addressing systemic gender imbalances that continue to affect the industry.

Addressing the “leaky pipeline”

‍According to industry research, women continue to exit the built environment sector at various stages of their careers despite growing participation levels.

Challenges such as workplace culture, limited advancement opportunities, lack of flexibility and insufficient support structures continue to contribute to underrepresentation across engineering, construction, architecture and property sectors.

Georgina Smit, CEO of Green Building Council South Africa, says the competition is about ensuring women actively shape the future of sustainable development.

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“This competition seeks to address persistent gender disparities in the built environment. As the sector undergoes rapid transformation in response to climate imperatives, initiatives like this are essential to ensuring that women are not only included, but actively shape the future of the built environment,” says Smit.

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About the partners

‍The Green Building Council South Africa is a member-based organisation focused on transforming the built environment into a more sustainable, resilient and people-centric sector through green certification, education and industry advocacy.

Its partner, the International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Group developed the EDGE certification platform to help developers and property stakeholders design greener, more efficient buildings using measurable and cost-effective sustainability solutions.

EDGE has become increasingly important globally as investors, lenders and occupiers place greater pressure on the property sector to improve environmental performance and reduce carbon emissions.

Career growth through EDGE certification

‍Kushinga Kambarami, Green & Resilient Built Environment Lead: Africa at the IFC, says the partnership creates a practical pathway for women to strengthen their technical expertise and career prospects.

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“Our partnership with GBCSA through the WIGB Competition offers participants access to globally recognised EDGE certification training, delivered via two targeted pathways,” says Kambarami.

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“The EDGE Expert stream builds foundational knowledge, while the EDGE Auditor stream is designed for experienced professionals supporting independent certification. Both pathways are intended to strengthen career prospects and drive advancement within the built environment.”

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The competition has already helped several previous participants accelerate their professional standing within the sector.

Previous winners highlight industry impact

‍One of the 2025 winners, Zantĕlli (Zee) Krűger, Project Manager Professional, EDGE Expert and Auditor, says the certification significantly elevated her technical credibility and project delivery capabilities.

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“The EDGE designation is widely recognised in the market and immediately signals a high level of technical expertise, credibility, and practical experience,” says Krűger.

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“Completing the Auditor training has strengthened my capabilities as an EDGE Expert. It has sharpened my attention to detail, enhanced the rigour of my technical reviews, and improved the overall quality and accuracy of the information I submit.”

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Niksha Singh, Co-founder and Technical Director of BlackPeak Energy and a previous EDGE Expert Stream winner, says the programme expanded both her technical skillset and broader industry visibility.

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“The additional expertise allows me to provide more holistic sustainability solutions to our clients,” says Singh.

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“The award, coupled with engaging with industry leaders and like-minded professionals, has expanded my influence within the green building sector.”

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The competition

‍Ten finalists will be selected to receive specialised EDGE training through the GBCSA Academy and IFC. Two overall winners will receive:

• Full access to the GBCSA Green Building Convention in Cape Town
• A R10,000 prize voucher
• Formal industry recognition at the convention

Entries opened in March, with submissions closing on 29 May 2026.

Interested applicants can also attend a free one-hour information webinar on 8 May 2026, where the IFC and GBCSA teams will unpack the competition process, training streams and prizes available.

Greener smarter future

‍As Africa’s built environment faces mounting pressure to become greener, smarter and more climate resilient, the need for broader inclusion and technical transformation has never been greater.

The Women in Green Building Competition is becoming more than a skills initiative, it is evolving into a platform that helps shape the future leadership of sustainable property and infrastructure development across the continent.

At a time when green finance, ESG priorities and low-carbon buildings are rapidly reshaping global real estate, initiatives like this are ensuring women are not simply participating in the transition,  but helping lead it.

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