BUCABUMA

BUCABUMA is a grant-funded project awarded to the TCC International Centre for Innovation, Manufacturing, Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship (TCC-CIMET) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) under powers delegated by the European Commission. The project aims to accelerate research, innovation, and capacity building in climate-resilient construction across Africa.

The Building Capacity in Circular Natural Materials using Frugal Digital and Traditional Engineering Innovations (BUCABUMA) Project focuses on strengthening skills and institutional capacity within the building and construction sector by blending indigenous construction knowledge with modern digital technologies. By leveraging locally available, renewable materials such as clay, bamboo, wood, and natural fibres, the project promotes the development of affordable and environmentally sustainable building solutions.

BUCABUMA applies frugal engineering principles and digital design tools to reinterpret traditional construction techniques, creating innovative pathways for sustainable construction. The project also addresses pressing environmental challenges by advancing circular economy practices that reduce resource depletion and lower carbon emissions. Through the integration of advanced digital fabrication methods with traditional building knowledge, BUCABUMA enhances material efficiency and supports climate adaptation and resilience.

Led by Principal Investigator Prof. Alexander Marful, the project engages students from KNUST’s Colleges of Engineering; Art and Built Environment; and Science. Participants will take part in an Intra-Africa Mobility Programme involving partner institutions in Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa, fostering cross-regional collaboration and knowledge exchange.

The BUCABUMA consortium comprises five leading institutions:

• TCC-CIMET, KNUST (Ghana)

• University of Nairobi (Kenya)

• Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development, Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia)

• University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa)

• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany

According to the Director-General of TCC-CIMET, Prof. Francis Davis, the project is timely and strategic, reinforcing the mandate of the UNESCO Category II Centre of Excellence for Africa hosted at KNUST.

Through the promotion of natural materials, the development of climate-resilient housing models, and research into biological and technical circular economy cycles, BUCABUMA seeks to catalyse a transition toward greener, more adaptive construction practices. By centring hyper-local materials and community-driven innovation, the project represents a significant step toward a more sustainable, affordable, and climate-conscious built environment for Africa.