African Cities

Cross-city learning with Jack Makau and Temilade Sesan

“When we talk about exchanges, we are not saying one city go to another city to learn. It is one city going to another city to participate in something that is happening

Building community-driven WASH solutions in Lagos

“Sustainability for us would mean leaving behind capability and capacities, not dependency.” In the informal settlement of Okerube in Lagos, the community faces signific

Urban markets, informality and climate resilience in Harare

“I think one of the most important aspects that has come out of this space is creating that enabling environment where communities can interact with the state without nec

Unpacking housing challenges in African cities

The housing challenge in African cities is far from consistent. With differing historical, sociopolitical and economic contexts, cities are seeing urbanisation play out a

Fortifying food systems in Lagos

As in many cities worldwide, food production and management in Lagos is hugely complex – involving many different actors, shaped by various political dynamics and deeply

Understanding urban property tax with Samuel B Biitir

As urbanisation accelerates across Africa, cities are under growing pressure to deliver essential infrastructure and public services – such as water, sanitation, drainage

Action research spotlight: Healthy school meals in Nairobi

School feeding programmes are a vital safety net for vulnerable children, providing them with healthy and nutritious meals that they might otherwise miss out on. Such in

Why do land brokers matter in African cities?

Recently published ACRC research, exploring land and connectivity in African cities, found “land brokers” to be significant players within urban land markets. In Mogadish

Lessons in resilience from the Maiduguri floods

On Tuesday 10 September 2024, Maiduguri city residents woke up to an unparalleled natural disaster: flooding that severely damaged over half of the city and resulted in t

Politics and progress in Accra with Abdul-Gafaru Abdulai

Accra is home to around 5 million people and plays a crucial role in Ghana’s national political landscape. Located on the coast of West Africa, development trajectories o

Advancing inclusive housing in Lagos

Two thirds of people living in Lagos reside in informal settlements, often in flood-prone areas and with limited access to basic services. As more and more people move in

Urban reform coalitions: Foregrounding tacit knowledge with Lalitha Kamath

“No textbook can tell you how to do this.” ACRC defines inclusive urban reform coalitions as partnerships between government, experts and civil society organisations – o

Action research and coalition building in Nairobi

“From the design of the project, from the design of the tools, to implementation, to data collection and everything, the community should be at the lead, at the forefront

Politics and informality in Kampala with Peter Kasaija

"Informal settlements in Kampala, and in other cities elsewhere across Africa, they are not homogenous, they're very heterogeneous. The kinds of pressures they face

Urban reform coalitions: The role of researchers

Urban reform coalitions can play a critical role in building inclusive, sustainable and productive cities. Made up of diverse stakeholders who collaborate to achieve comm

Unlocking better housing for Lagos

“The city keeps on growing every day. New infrastructure is being brought in every day. This means we can envisage more and more people coming into Lagos needing housing.

Strengthening service delivery processes in Kampala

"How can the interest and the commitment of those in charge of this city be galvanised, so that they see service delivery as important as an end in itself? For me, we nee

Urban reform coalitions: Kampala with Shuaib Lwasa

ACRC defines inclusive urban reform coalitions as partnerships between government, experts and civil society organisations – often directly involving communities and grou

Urban reform coalitions: Freetown with Joseph Macarthy

ACRC defines inclusive urban reform coalitions as partnerships between government, experts and civil society organisations – often directly involving communities and grou

Urban politics and power in Mogadishu

As the capital and the seat of the Somali government, Mogadishu has undergone a slow process of urban recovery over the course of the past decade. The city is experiencin