The Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Aubrey Barker Fund (ABF) for the support, and development of survey and land management skills in Commonwealth countries.
The MoU was signed between CASLE President, Mr Joseph Ajanlekoko, and ABF Chairman, Mr Iain Greenway, recently in London. CASLE was formed in 1969 as a federation of independent professional societies representing surveying and land economy in commonwealth countries.
The professional societies represented cover surveying and mapping, land economy, estate management, quantity surveying, and cost control.
The ABF on the other hand was established in 1972 to enhance sustainable survey and land management skills in developing countries through professional education and capacity building for the benefit of local communities.
The fund was set up in memory of Aubrey Barker, a distinguished surveyor from Guyana, who was president-designate of CASLE but died before taking office.
The fund works to support the development of necessary survey and land management skills, and ensures that they are available in all nations and communities; alongside encouraging and facilitating the sharing of these skills and knowledge with communities to increase collective capacity to manage key assets such as land.
Ajanlekoko, who is a member of the fund’s trustees, said ABF fund managers are composed of individuals with expertise in this field from around the world, who “seek to uphold his passion through grants and establishing continuing networks, which share good practice in sustainable survey and land management.”
According to him, the MoU is centred around working together, and recognising shared interests, as set out in the two bodies’ aims and objectives.
“The MoU recognises that, by working together alongside continuing to work separately, the two bodies can enhance their collective progress.
“Grants from ABF will enhance the activities of CASLE within the commonwealth member bodies. It was indeed a good defining moment for the two bodies. The collaboration will also enhance sustainable surveying development and research work globally,” he added.
