2015 Forum

Although still a mostly rural continent, urban areas in Africa are now growing at a much quicker pace than any other continent has before. In the next 35 years, the African continent is expected to accommodate 866 million new urban dwellers, which is roughly the same amount (915 million) as Europe, USA and Japan combined have managed in 265 years, with much greater resources. Moreover, this immediate challenge is amplified by issues that are specific to Africa. African urbanisation is mainly driven by natural population growth, rather than by rural-urban migration.

Up until now, it has occurred without, or with only a weak link to, industry-driven, job-creating economic growth. Also, on a continent struggling with topographic and natural constraints, and as host to many current conflicts, the demands of the 21st century include climate change, growing migration flows and worsening security threats, all of which exacerbate the urbanisation challenge. This introductory session will set the scene for the discussions to follow, highlighting the main trends and challenges of Africa’s urban dynamics.

Chair: Ngaire Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford

Providing sufficient, affordable and sustainable infrastructure for the massive surge of urban dwellers is a central challenge. All sectors require attention, with equal levels of need and urgency, be it housing, energy, transport, water and sanitation or waste management. To be efficiently managed, this requires careful, focused and strategic urban planning, including specific attention on the balance with, and connections to, rural areas, as well as between primate and smaller cities. At the same time, demographic growth represents a huge potential market for the private sector. Properly addressed, with the opportunity to leapfrog, cities could create stronger links between African urban growth and development for the benefit of African citizens.

Chair: Trevor Manuel, Senior Adviser to the Rothschild Group

Up until now, and counter to the historical trends of other continents, African urbanisation has not been led by economic structural transformation and growth. Any progress that has been achieved in infrastructure and access to basic goods and services has also widened inequality. Almost 50% of African urban dwellers currently live in slums, and the continent hosts more than a ¼ of the world’s refugees. Youth unemployment – Africa’s ticking time bomb – is 3 times higher in urban areas than in rural areas. The young, urban population need prospects. Indeed, cities have the potential to attract the most productive activities and African cities already generate about 55% of the continent’s GDP. Under what conditions could cities become the main drivers of Africa’s economic structural transformation, while ensuring that the key challenges of sustainability and equitability are properly met?

Chair: Clare Short, Senior Policy Advisor of Cities Alliance

Addressing all of these issues requires sound governance and focused leadership. The ability of national governments to properly address daily life, individual concerns and global interdependent cross-border issues, is increasingly being questioned, specifically among the young people who form the overwhelming majority of the population of African cities. Local authorities may also contribute to a renewed sense of participation, public service and citizenship. This requires adequate urban governance policies, strong institutional capacities, sound and regular financial resources and balanced relationships across different levels of governance.

Chair: Zeinab Badawi