The Women in Green Building Competition 2025
A transformative opportunity for women in the built environment, brought to you by IFC and GBCSA
Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA), in proud partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) brings you the 2025 Women in Green Building Competition. Now in its fourth year, this transformative initiative continues to open doors for women in the property, construction, and sustainability sectors by offering career-boosting training, certifications, and recognition.
The programme runs from April to November 2025.
Empowering Green Careers
The competition offers participants access to internationally recognised green building credentials, helping them deepen their technical skills and expand their career opportunities. For the first time, applicants can choose between EDGE Expert or EDGE Auditor training, depending on where they are in their professional journey. Previously, only EDGE Expert training was offered.
Prizes
A first round of 10 finalists will benefit from training and exams offered by GBCSA Academy and IFC:
- EDGE Expert or EDGE Auditor training, depending where the participant is in their EDGE journey
- EDGE exam access, if the participant is on the EDGE Expert track
- DfGE Training for EDGE Expert participants
From these finalists, two overall winners will be selected for:
- A pass to the GBCSA Green Building Convention in Cape Town (11 – 13 November 2025)
- Special recognition certificates awarded at the Convention.
- A R10 000 Incredible Connection voucher each
Competition overview
The competition is made up of three phases:
- Phase 1: Entry (April – May)
- Phase 2: EDGE Training and Exams Access (May – September)
- Phase 3: Awards and Recognition (November)
An Info Webinar will be held on Thursday, 15 May at 11:00am. All interested applicants are encouraged to attend to learn more and ask questions.
Entries for Phase 1 close at midnight on Friday 30 May 2025.
Competition Process
Phase 1: Entry (April- May)
Applicants who meet the Qualification Criteria (outlined below) are invited to submit their entries in the form of a Green Word Search Challenge, along with their details at the link below. Those who successfully complete their entry will be entered into a lucky draw to get through to the next round.
Entries close at midnight on Friday 30 May 2025.
Enter using the buttons above
Phase 2: EDGE Training and Exams Access (May – September)
A lucky draw will take place, in which 10 finalists, comprising EDGE Expert and EDGE Auditor candidates, will be selected and notified.
These 10 will each be given training from GBCSA Academy, and EDGE exam access, depending on their current level or expertise:
- EDGE Expert candidates will be given free access to GBCSA Academy’s EDGE Expert learning programme, as well as access to the EDGE Expert Exam. They will have until 22 September 2025 to complete the training and exam.
- EDGE Auditor candidates who qualify, will be eligible for free EDGE Auditor training from GBCSA Academy, which includes a live workshop on 7 August 2025. Note: Those who apply for EDGE Auditor training must be prepared to submit portfolio evidence of eligibility should they be selected, as per the Licensing Protocol for EDGE Auditors.
All 10 will be given access to the DfGE training, a new offering from IFC, facilitated by GBCSA Academy, at a date to be confirmed.
All training must be completed by 22 September 2025, after which one winner will be selected from each stream, based on their exam result (EDGE Expert) or submission performance (EDGE Auditor).
Phase 3: Awards and Recognition (November)
Winners will be invited to the GBCSA Green Building Convention 2025 in Cape Town, and will be awarded prizes and achievement certificates at the Women in Green Building event at the Convention. Please note travel and accommodation costs are for the winners’ expense.
Find Out More: Join our Info Webinar
All interested applicants are invited to join us for an informal webinar on Wednesday 15 May to find out more about the competition and the opportunities it holds, and get answers to any questions you may have.
The Info Webinar will run from 11:00am to 12:00pm.
Click below to register for the Info Webinar.
Competition Rules, Terms, and Conditions
Qualification Criteria
- The competition is open to women professionals working in the built environment based in South Africa or its directly neighbouring countries.
- The competition is open to those who do not already have an EDGE Expert qualification or EDGE Auditor qualification.
- The competition is not open to participants shortlisted in previous versions of this Competition (2022, 2023, 2024).
- For anyone applying for the EDGE Auditor stream: Any potential EDGE Auditors will need to be eligible to take the training, as per the Licensing Protocol for EDGE Auditors. This includes the full details of Eligibility Criteria [section 2.2] and Application Process [section 3.1] including documentation required.
Timelines to Plan Around
- The Info Webinar will be held on Wednesday 15 May
- Entries for Phase 1 close at midnight on Friday 30 May 2025.
- For EDGE Expert candidates: EDGE training and exams must be completed by 22 September 2025.
- For EDGE Auditor candidates: the EDGE workshop will be set up by GBCSA on 7 August 2025. Should there be any changes to this date, candidates will be given sufficient notice.
- For the final two winners: The GBCSA Green Building Convention in Cape Town runs from 11 – 13 November 2025
Final Prizes
- The final two winners will be awarded the following prizes:
- A pass to the GBCSA Green Building Convention in Cape Town (11 – 13 November 2025)
- Special recognition certificates awarded at the Convention.
- A R10 000 Incredible Connection voucher each.
- Please note that travel and accommodation costs for the Convention are not included in the prizes.
About EDGE Training offered by GBCSA Academy
GBCSA Academy offers EDGE Expert and EDGE Auditor training, empowering professionals to help shape the green buildings of the future. The training is delivered online and on-demand, allowing candidates to complete the training in their own time, and at their own pace.
- Find out more about EDGE Expert and EDGE Auditor training here.
- Find out more about DfGE Training at this link.
Support
For any queries about the competition, please contact us at [email protected] / +27 21 486 7900.
