Trimble and Engineers Without Borders Partner to Empower Global Development
Trimble has strengthened its global commitment to social impact by expanding its strategic partnership with the Engineers Without Borders (EWB) network, facilitated by Engineers Without Borders International.
This new chapter builds upon years of collaboration in the United States, taking the relationship onto a global stage with a significant boost in resources, training, and technology. The aim: to help local communities unlock critical infrastructure funding and build sustainable engineering capacity.
Trimble’s extended support package includes a generous monetary donation, advanced hardware, specialised software, and vital training expertise. This comprehensive approach will directly empower EWB chapters worldwide to execute transformative projects in underserved communities.
“This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our shared mission to use engineering and technology to create lasting change,” said a Trimble spokesperson. “By expanding our partnership internationally, we’re helping more communities access the infrastructure they need to thrive.”
A Proven Commitment to Humanitarian Engineering
Trimble’s relationship with Engineers Without Borders dates back several years. In the United States, the company has been an active contributor to EWB’s mission through technology grants, financial support for disaster relief, and initiatives promoting STEM education. These programmes have already strengthened local resilience against climate-related challenges and inspired a new generation of engineers.
Now, with this expanded partnership, Trimble is taking its impact global. The collaboration with EWB International enables a coordinated approach across more than 50 national EWB organisations operating in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Europe, and the Americas.
Unlocking Infrastructure Funding in Uganda
The first initiative under this expanded partnership is an 18-month critical infrastructure project in Eastern Uganda, led by Engineers Without Borders East Africa. This region faces a pressing challenge: while government funding is theoretically available for infrastructure, local parishes often lack the technical capacity and data required to access it.
As a result, many communities remain without essential services such as clean water, sanitation, energy, and quality education facilities. Trimble’s collaboration aims to change that by helping EWB East Africa develop master plans, financial models, and the engineering expertise needed to meet funding requirements.
Peter Nzabanita of EWB East Africa explained the significance: “Working with Trimble can help unlock these funds and deliver essential master plans, financial models and engineering skills at the required scale. This scale is crucial for creating opportunities that lead to sustained impact, including training programmes that generate a local talent pipeline and government engagement for continued accountability and investment.”
Three Phases of Transformation
The Uganda project has been structured into three key phases to ensure both technical rigour and community ownership.
Phase One: Laying the Groundwork
- Conducting comprehensive baseline surveys and infrastructure mapping using Trimble’s advanced GIS and drone technologies.
- Recruiting and training 40 local youth as enumerators to carry out a detailed population census.
This initial stage establishes a robust foundation of data and spatial insights essential for strategic planning.
Phase Two: Co-Design and Capacity Building
- Hosting a hands-on “Buildathon” event to bring together Trimble engineers, local professionals, and community members.
- Collaborating with education partner Panelle to engage women leaders in construction and engineering.
Panelle’s involvement is particularly significant, as it helps promote gender inclusion within industries where women remain underrepresented. This initiative underscores Trimble’s belief that inclusive development leads to more resilient outcomes.
Sumele Adelana, Product Marketing Leader for Architecture and Design at Trimble, said: “The critical infrastructure project in Eastern Uganda marks an ideal commencement for the expanded collaboration between Trimble and the Engineers Without Borders network. By assisting local communities in developing engineering plans to secure funding, we can empower them to address their critical infrastructure needs both now and in the future.”
Phase Three: Financing and Future Growth
- Completing feasibility studies, technical audits, and financial models.
- Presenting findings to investors and stakeholders to attract commercial investment and public-private partnerships.
The ultimate goal is to establish a sustainable framework that can be replicated across other regions in Africa and beyond.
Technology as a Catalyst for Development
Trimble’s core strength lies in connecting the physical and digital worlds through cutting-edge technology. From high-precision positioning systems to advanced modelling and analytics, the company’s tools are instrumental in transforming how infrastructure projects are planned, designed, and maintained.
In Uganda, these technologies will play a central role in improving the efficiency and transparency of project delivery. By digitising data collection and analysis, local authorities will gain access to real-time information that supports evidence-based decision-making.
Trimble’s involvement also extends to training. The company is equipping local engineers with the skills to operate its systems effectively, ensuring the community retains long-term technical capacity even after the project concludes.
Empowering Communities Through Knowledge
Engineers Without Borders has always prioritised knowledge transfer as a cornerstone of sustainable development. The organisation operates on the principle that real change happens when communities gain the skills and confidence to lead their own progress.
Through this partnership, Trimble is helping EWB deliver on that principle by integrating digital literacy and engineering education into each stage of the project. Workshops, mentoring sessions, and practical training exercises will prepare participants for future employment opportunities, strengthening local economies in the process.
A Global Network for Sustainable Development
Established nearly four decades ago, Engineers Without Borders is a global movement of professionals and volunteers dedicated to harnessing engineering expertise for humanitarian and environmental causes. The organisation operates across more than 50 countries and is coordinated by EWB International.
EWB’s work is guided by a simple yet powerful mission: to ensure a safe and just future for all within the sustainable limits of our planet. Projects range from building resilient housing and renewable energy systems to developing clean water networks and disaster recovery infrastructure.
This shared vision of sustainable progress is what makes the partnership with Trimble such a natural fit. Both organisations recognise that technology and engineering can be transformative when applied with empathy, innovation, and local collaboration.
Building a Blueprint for the Future
What’s most remarkable about Trimble’s expanded partnership is not just its scale, but its replicability. The Uganda initiative serves as a living model for how corporate expertise can be channelled into global development efforts that deliver measurable, lasting benefits.
By combining Trimble’s advanced technologies with EWB’s grassroots knowledge, this partnership is setting a new benchmark for how public, private, and non-profit sectors can work together to tackle infrastructure inequality.
As Trimble continues to expand its global footprint, its partnership with Engineers Without Borders exemplifies how innovation, collaboration, and compassion can drive meaningful change in communities that need it most.
A Shared Vision for Global Resilience
In a world where infrastructure gaps still define opportunity, partnerships like this one prove that progress is not just about technology, but about people. By empowering engineers, training youth, and unlocking local resources, Trimble and Engineers Without Borders are paving the way for more equitable and sustainable development.
The Uganda project may be the first of many, but its legacy will likely extend far beyond its borders, inspiring future collaborations that combine technical excellence with human-centred design.
