Responses indicate a perceived weakness in a number of areas, both in terms of standards, implementation and enforcement.
Next steps This is the first survey of the profession in the Commonwealth to have been undertaken in over 30 years and while it is by no means comprehensive and relies largely on self-reports, its findings highlight a number of significant challenges to the professions ability to contribute to delivery of a more sustainable Commonwealth. The CAA will therefore work with member organisations and other stakeholders to help address the principal findings. While further research is clearly necessary to both verify some of the survey’s results and secure a wider response, action clearly needs to be taken now to address its findings and, while much is already being done in some of these areas, such is the scale and scope of the challenge that no single agency is going to be capable of addressing all of the issues raised or achieving the transformation required. In order to do so, innovative responses will be required involving partnerships and collaborations between INGO’s, governments, NGO’s, the built environment professions, academia and the private sector. With nearly 75% of Commonwealth country’s eligible to received Official Development Assistance (ODA) finance, opportunities exist to develop programmes which will have lasting impact at scale. Tomorrow’s cities are being planned and built today and only by addressing these issues now will we be able to realise the potential of urbanisation to create prosperity, stability and a truly sustainable future.
Survey of the Architectural Profession in the Commonwealth
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