The Governance Strengthening Program for the Extractive Industry in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) is supported by the Canadian International Resources and Development Institute (CIRDI), financed by Global Affairs Canada - International Development Funding (GAC-IDF). The program was implemented by Polytechnique Montréal - one of three university members of the CIRDI consortium, alongisde the University of British Columbia (UBC), and Simon Fraser University (SFU).

The program falls under CIRDI's scope, because it seeks to reinforce governance of the extractive industry, while supporting developing countries' governments so as to optimize the industry's contribution to sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. As such, it seeks primarily to support governments (central, regional and local), but may also support acts related to the strengthening of other industry players via a systemic and global approach. The program is guided by a sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction mission.

The program was developed through consultations with representatives of targeted countries, as well as from the results of a planning mission which took place in Senegal and Burkina Faso in May 2014. It meets collaboration requirements brought forth by the leaders of targeted countries, as well as those presenting WAEMU member countries who invited CIRDI and Polytechnique Montréal to present a program proposal. 

Activities began in September 2013, and the program will last five years. 
For additional information, please contact  Mr. Ghislain Rivard, Senior Advisor and Project Manager.

The Institute in Applied Solar Technologies for the West African Economic and Monetary Union - WAEMU project took place between 2013-2018, and was co-financed by the Canadian Government (GAC-IDF/ CIDA) and Polytechnique Montréal. This project builds on the Burkina Faso Applied Solar Technologies (Technologie solaire appliquée) project, completed within the framework of the Programme des Partenariats Universitaires pour la Coopération et le Développement between 2005 and 2011. The latter initiative also led to the creation of the Institut de Formation en Technologies Solaires Appliquées. The Institute offers programs to all West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) member countries. At its peak, more than three hundred and thirty students will attend the Institute’s programs. Twenty engineers and one hundred technicians specialized in solar technology will graduate each year - specialised labour that will support the implementation of the Initiative Régionale en Énergie Durable, adopted by WAEMU-member countries, in order to foster electric energy availability in the region. The initiative acknowledges the importance of solar energy as a pillar of economic growth and poverty reduction in the region, as well as fulfilling the underlying need for qualified labour to support the industry.

This five-year project began in 2013, and is the result of efforts by Polytechnique Montréal, and its partners: Research Institute in Applied Sciences and Technology (IRSAT); University of Ouagadougou of Burkina Faso; École Polytechnique de Thiès in Senegal, and the Abderhamane Baba Touré National Engineering School (ENI). The project is lead by Polytechnique Montréal Professor Oumarou Savadogo (Department of Chemical Engineering) and is coordinated by Polytechnique Montréal International (POINT).

For additional information, please contact Ms. Guylaine Larocque, Senior Advisor and Project Manager.

In collaboration with the World Bank and the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom, this program seeks to improve good governance of the mining industry, and increase the contribution of economic growth and sustainable development in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mandate entrusted to Polytechnique Montréal was achieved in 2014-2015, and was to analyse higher education and university programs related to the mining industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo, so as to develop curricula to train executives whose abilities can satisfy mining companies as well as the national community. The following engineering programs at the Université de Lubumbashi were inventoried and assessed: mining, geology, electrical engineering, electromechanical engineering, metallurgy, environmental engineering, materials engineering, civil engineering, industrial chemistry.

Polytechnique Montréal Professors Richard Simon, Oumarou Savadogo and Robert Legros are notable academics involved in the project.
For additional information, please contact Ms. Guylaine Larocque, Senior Advisor.

This initiative focuses on reinforcing primary healthcare systems through reliable and sustainable electricity supply, and is made possible through contributions from three partner insitutions belonging to the Réseau d’excellence des sciences de I ’ingénieur de la Francophonie (RESCIF; Network of Excellence in Engineering Sciences of the French-speaking Community), namely Polytechnique Montréal, the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, and the École Nationale Supérieure Polytechnique de l’Université Yaoundé 1. The project includes the creation of a national Competance Centre (in Cameroon) and internationally.

For additional information, please contact Ms. Guylaine Larocque, Senior Advisor.

This initiative focuses on reinforcing primary healthcare systems through reliable and sustainable electricity supply, and is made possible through contributions from three partner insitutions belonging to the Réseau d’excellence des sciences de I ’ingénieur de la Francophonie (RESCIF; Network of Excellence in Engineering Sciences of the French-speaking Community), namely Polytechnique Montréal, the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, and the École Nationale Supérieure Polytechnique de l’Université Yaoundé 1. The project includes the creation of a national Competance Centre (in Cameroon) and internationally.

For additional information, please contact Ms. Guylaine Larocque, Senior Advisor.

This research addresses the first International Development Research Centre program - Agriculture and the Environment, and more specifically its two Canada-Africa Reseach Grant (CAREG) research priorities: (1) Agriculture and Food Security and (2) Climate Change and Water Change. The main objective of this project is to determine expected future changes in domestic water use in Southern Africa. Targeted specific objectives are: (1) selection of existing climate change models to predict surface water resources (SWR) and its uncertainties in future time periods 2020-20-79;(2) selection of models to determine SWR impact on agriculture and food security; (3) selection of an end-use model to determine SWR impact on household water use; (4) application of the paradigm via several case studies. The final deliverable is the development of an action plan to contribute to the better management of available water resources, as well as secure urban agricultural production. A strategy for gender equality will be clearly explained in the action plan, so that the project is able to implement measures to mitigate potentially negative impacts on women. The action plan will also contain aspects focused on reducing water-borne disease risk factors. Lastly, the training of some local development leaders and stakeholders will be organized towards the conclusion of the project.

Polytechnique Montréal Professor Musandji Fuamba is a notable academic involved in this project.
For additional information, please contact: Ms Guylaine Larocque, Senior Advisor. 

This project supports the establishment of the Mauritania School of Mines - EMiM (including the following training programs: Mineral Resources Engineer, Electromechanical Engineer for Mining, and Senior Technician in Mining Technology), and lasted five years, from 2011 to 2016. Four major components were included: i. Curriculum development and preparation of educational content; ii. Capacity building of professors and teacher-technologists; iii. Support for facility design and equipment procurement; iv. Support for the establishment of academic and administrative systems. Polytechnique Montréal is the project's main technical partner, in conjunction with Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, and the Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

Polytechnique Montréal Professors Richard Simon and Michel Gamache are notable academics involved in the project.
For additional information, please contact Ms. Guylaine Larocque, Senior Advisor.

This project supports the establishment of the Mauritania School of Mines - EMiM (including the following training programs: Mineral Resources Engineer, Electromechanical Engineer for Mining, and Senior Technician in Mining Technology), and lasted five years, from 2011 to 2016. Four major components were included: i. Curriculum development and preparation of educational content; ii. Capacity building of professors and teacher-technologists; iii. Support for facility design and equipment procurement; iv. Support for the establishment of academic and administrative systems. Polytechnique Montréal is the project's main technical partner, in conjunction with Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, and the Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

Polytechnique Montréal Professors Richard Simon and Michel Gamache are notable academics involved in the project.
For additional information, please contact Ms. Guylaine Larocque, Senior Advisor.

This North-South partnership project will contribute to sound and sustainable water resource management in the Mekong Delta region, by way of undertaking research, training and transfer actions. In addition to Polytechnique Montréal, three other partner institutions from the Réseau d’excellence des sciences de I’ingénieur de la Francophonie (RESCIF) are collaborating on this project: the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (Vietnam), Grenoble INP (France), and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland). Accomplishments to date, are: CARE Research Centre established in Ho Chi Min City; implentation of research projects, international exchange programs related to water as an an essential resource; completion of a colloquia themed "L’eau en partage" (sharing water) in 2014, at the Vietnam CARE Centre within the Entretiens Jacques-Cartier framework. 

Polytechnique Montréal Professor Guy Leclerc is a notable academic involved in this project.
For additional information, please contact Ms Guylaine Larocque, Senior Advisor.

Expert consulting and institutional support, related primarily to cyber security and airport security, provided to OFNAC in Haiti. 

Polytechnique Montréal Professor José Fernandez is a notable academic that developed and is involved in this project. 
For additional information, please contact Ms Guylaine Larocque, Senior Advisor.