From the Editor's Desk
As we come to the close of another month, I'm reminded that landscape architecture is constantly evolving. Every month brings new opportunities to learn, celebrate achievements, and strengthen our profession across Africa and beyond. Looking through this edition of the newsletter, that spirit of growth is evident in so many different ways.
This month, we celebrate the opening of the Africa Urban Lab in Zanzibar, an exciting initiative that promises to shape the future of urban research and education on the continent. We also congratulate Gaby Hansen on receiving international recognition for her doctoral research, a reminder that African scholarship continues to make meaningful contributions to global conversations on climate-responsive design and nature-based solutions.
Education continues to be a recurring theme throughout this issue. We feature the milestone of 30 years of Landscape Architecture education at ISA Chott Mariem in Tunisia, together with the establishment of its new Department of Landscape Architecture and the launch of a professional Bachelor's programme. These achievements remind us that investing in education is ultimately an investment in the future of our profession.
You'll also find invitations to engage with our wider professional community. Whether through the upcoming IFLA Climate Action webinar on Water Futures Without Silos, submitting your work to the next issue of the African Journal of Landscape Architecture (AJLA), or participating in conversations across our growing network, there are countless opportunities to contribute and learn from one another.
One thing I continue to appreciate about landscape architecture is that it never stands still. Our profession grows because people are willing to share knowledge, ask difficult questions, mentor others, and build communities that extend beyond national borders, enjoy this open letter from Victor Ayelabola in Nigeria, and the summary of an MBA dissertation from Thozama Mputa from South Africa. Every research paper, every new educational programme, every webinar, and every collaboration adds another thread to the fabric of landscape architecture in Africa.
As always, thank you for being part of this journey. I hope this edition inspires you to keep learning, keep sharing, and keep building the future of our profession together.
Happy reading!
Tobiloba Akibo
from the President's Desk
Updates
Launch of IFLAHUB – The international hub for landscape architecture
For the first time, landscape architects worldwide have a shared open-source platform to access knowledge, collaborate globally and strengthen the profession. IFLAHUB was created from a simple idea: our profession is stronger when knowledge is open, accessible and shared across every region of the world.
Built by the international landscape architecture community, for the international landscape architecture community, IFLAHUB brings together the resources, connections and opportunities professionals need to know more, build together and influence change.
The idea was first conceived at the IFLA World Congress in Gwangju, South Korea, in 2022, when Gwendolyn Kusters and Claire Martin asked how regional expertise could be better connected to global action. Since then, a dedicated team of volunteers and experts has transformed that vision into a living, open knowledge ecosystem for the profession.
IFLAHUB combines internally hosted content with carefully selected external resources, creating a connected and comprehensive knowledge platform. A global map further supports this mission by making landscape architecture projects, expertise and contributions visible around the world.
What does IFLAHUB offer?
• Global Project Archive – inspiring projects, best practices and climate-resilient designs from all IFLA regions.
• Professional Practice Resources – technical standards, sustainability guidelines, geoportals, policy tools and research.
• Educational Resources – information on landscape architecture education worldwide.
• Media Library – articles, webinars, podcasts and other professional content.
• Job Board – international career opportunities.
• Organisations Directory – key landscape architecture organisations and their resources.
• Products Database – innovative products and practical solutions for professional practice.
Join and Contribute
We invite member associations and individual professionals to help shape and grow IFLAHUB:
1. Discover the platform at www.iflahub.org.
2. Explore and share knowledge.
3. Contribute to help build together and influence change.
IFLAHUB demonstrates what can be achieved when we move from individual effort to collective action. We thank everyone who contributed to bringing this vision to life and invite you to help make IFLAHUB the global home of landscape architecture knowledge and collaboration.
Namibia: African Research Recognised on the Global Stage
Congratulations to Gaby Hansen (Schmidbauer), whose doctoral thesis has received the Research Award (PhD) at the 6th International Conference on the Past, Present and Future of Public Space, organised by City Space Architecture.
Gaby's award-winning research explores nature-based solutions in dryland and African urban contexts, helping to address a significant gap in international research on public space and climate adaptation. As the only African doctoral student presenting a Southern African perspective at the conference, her work brought valuable attention to the unique challenges and opportunities facing arid cities across the continent.
Reflecting on the recognition, Gaby shared that the opportunity to represent a Southern African context on the international stage was especially meaningful, highlighting the importance of ensuring that underrepresented African landscapes and experiences are part of global conversations.
IFLA Africa congratulates Gaby on this outstanding achievement and celebrates her contribution to advancing knowledge on climate-responsive design, public space, and nature-based solutions for African cities.
Africa Urban Lab Opens New Hub for Urban Innovation in Zanzibar
The Africa Urban Lab (AUL) has officially launched at the African School of Economics (ASE) Zanzibar, creating a new centre dedicated to research, education, and policy on the future of African cities. Based in Fumba Town, Zanzibar, the initiative aims to equip the next generation of urban planners, designers, policymakers, and city leaders with the knowledge and practical skills needed to respond to Africa's rapid urbanisation.
The Africa Urban Lab combines applied research with professional training and real-world engagement, focusing on themes such as urban planning, governance, economics, finance, and sustainable city development. Through its educational programmes, research clusters, and partnerships across the continent, the Lab seeks to foster a growing community of practice committed to building more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous African cities.
For landscape architects, urban designers, planners, and allied professionals, the Africa Urban Lab represents an exciting new platform for collaboration and interdisciplinary learning. As African cities continue to grow at an unprecedented pace, initiatives such as AUL offer valuable opportunities to shape urban futures through innovative research, policy, and practice.
