End of the year message

As the year draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved together as the landscape architecture community in Africa, and to look ahead to the opportunities that lie before us.

This year has once again highlighted the growing importance of landscape architecture across the continent. Against a backdrop of climate challenges, haphazard urbanisation, biodiversity loss, and social inequality, African landscape architects have continued to deliver impactful work in complex and often resource-constrained contexts. From urban to rural landscapes, our work continues to demonstrate that landscapes are not secondary considerations, but essential systems that support health, climate resilience, livelihoods, and cultural identity.

One of the major highlights of the year was the successful IFLA Africa Symposium at Pretoria South Africa, hosted by ILASA. The symposium brought together practitioners, academics, students, and partners from across the region, creating a platform for exchange and collaboration. It showcased the depth, diversity, and relevance of African landscape architecture, and reinforced the need for convening landscape architecture led forums. Landscape architects must reclaim leadership in the nature-based solutions conversation by asserting their unique expertise in designing, integrating, and stewarding living systems.  

This year, we proudly welcomed Tanzania as a new national member, strengthening representation from East Africa. In addition, we have on-boarded new individual members from Eritrea and Gabon, setting a foundation for future national association membership. Earlier in the year we had a forum with all our individual members and we believe the conversation set the pace for formation of national associations which will contribute to local growth of the profession.

In the coming year, we shall continue building on our existing partnerships and explore new ones, as we work towards the growth of the profession on the continent. We are grateful to INSITE for their support towards the IFLA Africa Award, and congratulate the well-deserved recipient Bernard Oberholzer. We continue working together with our partners CLARB in supporting national associations in their recognition and regulation journey.

This year marked a transition within the IFLA Africa Executive Committee (ExCo). Leadership transitions are moments of renewal, and we acknowledge and thank outgoing leaders for their service and dedication. The new ExCo has quickly gotten to work, building on past successes, reevaluating priorities and, formulating a road map for the next two years.

As we look ahead, the future of landscape architecture in Africa is full of possibilities. The coming years will require stronger advocacy, collaboration across disciplines, and greater engagement in policy and decision-making spaces. We need to be bold, ethical, and tactical in championing landscapes as a foundation for sustainable and equitable development.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all our members, partners, academia and volunteers for being part of the IFLA Africa community and for your contributions throughout the year. Your commitment continues to strengthen our profession and our collective impact.

As we close the year, I wish you and your loved ones a happy and restful holiday season, and a new year filled with health, inspiration, and growth.

Ruth Wanjiku

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