The Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA), in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), invites women professionals across the built environment in Sub-Saharan Africa to enter the 2026 Women in Green Building (WIGB) Competition.
Now in its fifth year, the initiative continues to build technical capacity and elevate women working in the green building sector across Sub-Saharan Africa. Selected participants will receive EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) training, a globally recognised green building standard developed by the IFC. It focuses on making buildings more resource-efficient by reducing energy use, water consumption, and embodied carbon in materials, using a cost-effective and measurable approach.
Under this year’s theme, ‘Your Perspective Matters’, the competition recognises the unique role women play in shaping a more inclusive and climate-responsive built environment, and the challenges they face. Georgina Smit, CEO of GBCSA, says: “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.”
A persistent issue is the “leaky pipeline”, widely documented in built environment research, where women exit the sector at multiple career stages despite increasing entry rates. Studies show that while participation is rising, representation remains low and attrition is driven by systemic barriers including workplace culture, lack of support and flexibility, and constrained advancement pathways.*
Kushinga Kambarami, Green & Resilient Built Environment Lead: Africa at the IFC, says: “Our partnership with GBCSA through the WIGB Competition offers participants access to globally recognised EDGE certification training, delivered via two targeted pathways. 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, building on the success of previous competitions.”
In 2025, Zantĕlli (Zee) Krűger, Project Manager Professional, Edge Expert and Auditor, was selected as the winner of the EDGE Auditor Stream of the competition. She says that achieving EDGE certification had a significant impact on her career: “The EDGE designation is widely recognised in the market and immediately signals a high level of technical expertise, credibility, and practical experience. It fosters trust and confidence among peers, employers, and clients alike.
“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. This deeper understanding has translated directly into stronger project outcomes. The positive impact extends to our clients and elevates the quality we deliver across every project.”
Niksha Singh is Co-founder and Technical Director of BlackPeak Energy. She says that the WIGB Competition was an excellent opportunity to expand her technical skillset and says that winning the EDGE expert stream has been a catalyst for both her own professional growth and BlackPeak Energy’s service offerings: “The additional expertise allows me to provide more holistic sustainability solutions to our clients. Beyond the technical qualification, the award granted me access to the Green Building Convention, which was an invaluable networking experience. The award, coupled with engaging with industry leaders and like-minded professionals, has expanded my influence within the green building sector.”
The Competition:
Ten finalists will receive specialised training through GBCSA Academy and IFC, with two overall winners awarded a full pass to the GBCSA Green Building Convention in Cape Town, a R10,000 voucher, and formal recognition at the event. Entries to the competition opened in March and women are encouraged to enter before the 29 May deadline for submissions.