As a structural engineer, Nicola has always been interested in bridges. After his studies in Modena (Italy), his engineering career began in Madrid with FHECOR Ingenieros Consultores and continued in Nicaragua, Scotland, and Rwanda with Bridges to Prosperity. He lived in Kigali (Rwanda) between 2018 and 2023, first in the role of Engineering Manager and now as Corporate Program Senior Manager, a job that he is now continuing to carry out from his hometown in Italy, Modena.

 

For more than two decades, B2P has played a crucial role in connecting isolated communities to essential services by constructing trail bridges. These bridges are pathways to opportunity, health, education, and economic growth. With more than 600 trail bridges built or supported across 21 countries, B2P has directly impacted the lives of over 3 million people. Their work in Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Zambia has begun to transform these communities, offering them a connection to the world and a chance to thrive, and they do it also thanks to the support of many of BuildIT’s key partners, including Kiewit, WSP, Jacobs, Bechtel, ARUP, and ENR Magazine.

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B2P’s current efforts are centered in East Africa due to a compelling mix of need (with millions living in rural isolation due to impassable rivers), existing interest from national governments to invest, the region’s track record of safety and stability of leadership, and B2P’s long-standing relationships in the region. They currently have scaled programs in four countries: 

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• Rwanda: Since 2019, B2P has partnered with the Government of Rwanda in its first scaled national program, constructing over 200 trail bridges to serve more than 660,000 people by 2024.
   

• Uganda: Launched in 2018, B2P's Uganda program tests a country-wide coalition model for rural access, working closely with government and partners to build systemic capacity for bridge construction.
   

• Ethiopia: In 2021, B2P joined Helvetas and the Government of Ethiopia in a $10.7 million, 3-year initiative funded by the Helmsley Charitable Trust to build 150 trail bridges between 2022–2025, reaching over 1.3 million people.
   

• Zambia: In 2024, B2P launched a rural access collaboration with the Government of Zambia, supported by the Helmsley Charitable Trust, aiming to connect 65,000+ people and establish a sustainable, government-led program. The pilot includes 15 bridges, national-level training, and integration into development planning to address the country’s estimated 1,500-bridge infrastructure gap.

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BuildIT