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Urbanisation

Bujumbura, the capital city of Burundi, on a rainy day. Seventy per cent of African cities have high vulnerability to climate shocks. Meanwhile, Africa is the fastest urbanising region in the world, and is already experiencing climate change impacts first-hand. Without drastic changes in the way energy is produced and consumed in African cities, carbon emissions will increase as these cities develop.

Building climate-resilient African cities — experts outline what is needed

Window of opportunity to secure liveable, equitable, and sustainable futures in the face of climate change is closing fast, more so for Africa
Downtown Kampala

Getting the right institutions in place to run Africa’s rapidly growing cities

Historically, cities have been the drivers of productivity and engines of economic growth. But urbanisation in many sub-Saharan African countries is not delivering the benefits of people and firms clustering together

Understanding the informal sector in Kampala

The informal sector in Kampala is not black and white: it is not simply a regulatory issue and it is not a major reservoir of entrepreneurial talent. Put simply, most informal firms don’t make enough to pay tax and are unlikely to grow
Namirembe Road in downtown Kampala

Africa’s cities face unique risks. What can be done to manage them?

Sarah Colenbrander, University of Leeds Cities in sub-Saharan Africa are growing fast. Nigeria alone is projected to add 212 million urban dwellers by 2050, equivalent to the current population of Germany, France and the UK. But focusing on population growth leads many to overlook the other unusual features of African cities. Urban economies across the

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