Tag Archive for: Urbanisation

UCLG Africa presents the African Cities Development Fund (ACDF) at the Workshop on Integrated Urban Development of the Global Platform for Sustainable Cities

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Sustainable and inclusive urban development is the vision that guides the Global Platform for Sustainable Cities (GSPC).  As part of the implementation of this vision, GSPC organized, in partnership with the World Bank and the African Development Bank, a workshop on Integrated Urban Development, from May14-16, 2018, in Dakar, Senegal.

Approximately one hundred people took part in the workshop, including representatives from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the World Bank, the African Development Bank (Afdb), and 10 African countries.

The Global Platform for Sustainable Cities brings together all participating cities and a wide range of entities that are working on issues for urban sustainability to create a shared platform for global knowledge and an evidence-based, integrated approach to realize its outcomes.

Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the platform currently comprises of 28 cities in 11 countries, including a dozen African cities, (Accra, Johannesburg, Abidjan, Dakar, Djamnagio, Saint-Louis, Douala, Nairobi, Yaoundé and Dodoma). The purpose of the Dakar workshop was to promote integrated approaches to urban development, capacity-building and an exchange of experiences.

Issues addressed included urban data, the implementation of integrated planning, urban mobility in Africa, the “Transport oriented Development” (TOD) approach , financial municipal viability and public-private partnership.

In the financial dimension section, a presentation of the African Cities Development Fund (ACDF) was made by the Director of Programs for UCLG Africa, Dr. François Yatta.  The African Cities Development Fund is designed as a cooperative fund of the major African cities, (about 20 cities at first), that will undertake to disburse a seed capital of 100,000 Euros.

This seed capital should be used to raise additional resources from the financial institutions or the financial markets. The fund is intended to finance the investments and services needed to cope with the rapid growth of the continent’s cities making the current operation of most African cities globally ineffective. Access requirements should also help to improve the financial performance and governance of local and regional governments and promote more cost-effective and efficient investment choices economically and socially. The call for expressions of interest for the ACDF  was shared with cities present at the workshop.

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In addition, the meeting allowed participants to learn from the application of the  “Urban Sustainable Framework”  or Urban sustainability Framework approach. This approach is structured in two parts

The first is to understand and achieve urban sustainability through a four-step approach that includes:

– The diagnosis of the current situation of the city.

– The definition of a vision for change and priority setting;

– A financing approach in the plan that demonstrates fiscal viability;

– Monitoring and evaluation.

The second part concerns the GPSC’s measurement framework, which builds a common understanding of sustainability in the urban context through two dimensions.

The Enabling Dimension:

– Governance and integrated urban planning

– Fiscal viability

The dimensions of the results:

– Urban economies.

– Environment and natural resources;

– Climate action and resilience;

– Inclusiveness and quality of life.

The exchanges helped to explore good practices and positive results achieved in the cities.

Don’t miss the INTA 42 Congress under the Theme : “The Hidden Value of Medium-Sized Cities”

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A first for INTA, the 42nd Annual Congress is to be held in Germany. It is a fantastic opportunity to understand the territorial and urban management changes taking place in one of the most advanced industrialised countries, and the new relationships that are being established between the central, regional, metropolitan and rural levels in the production of an efficient, effective and enjoyable urban society.

Europe is composed of predominantly medium-sized and small cities that intend to exist politically and economically side by side with big cities and metropolises. However, there is recognition that the current focus on large cities is too narrow to promote genuine economic and technological development, social wellbeing and environmental resilience of all territories. The concept of the Regional City: “Regiopolis” was therefore developed by the City of Rostock for these small and second-tier cities to gain a specific and dynamic place in the territorial system, and to foster the conditions for social, technological and economic innovation.

How to reveal the hidden value of medium-sized cities? This central theme will be addressed through different formats: policy plenaries, technical visits, workshops, keynotes, and networking.

For more information please click this link

Crans Montana Forum on Africa and South-South Cooperation: The contribution of UCLG Africa to the International Conference on Global Urban Management

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The fourth edition of the Crans Montana Forum,an International Conference on Global Urban Management on “Africa and South-South Cooperation,”was held in Dakhla (Morocco), March 15–20,2018.

Themeeting, held on March 17,had the participation of several African metropolises who met with their counterparts and shared their knowledge and expertise on urban development, urban planning, housing, mobility, waste and waste water treatment, sustainable development and urban security.

Theconference waschaired by Mr. Mohamed Boudra, President of the Moroccan Association of Presidents of Municipal Councils (AMPCC) andwas moderated by Mr. Jean-Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa).

Presidents from the local governments associations andPan-African Councils of UCLG Africatook part in theinternational conference, which addressed the issue of urban development: an unavoidable human evolution,given the ongoing rural exodusand a key challenge for Africatoday.

The Secretary General highlighted 4 key points when discussing the importance of involving local authorities in the implementation of urbanization projects in Africa:

  • “It is imperative that cities areplanned, so that we know where we are going. We must have strategic thoughts. By planning cities, we must be concerned about the SDGs and the participation of people becausewhat you do for me without me, you do against me.”
  • “We need to be concerned with how local authorities are funded. Both largeand small cities. We must leave no one behind following the leitmotiv of the international community.”
  • “If we do not put in place institutional systems, legal systems and necessary human resources, it will remain in the field of discourse. Cooperation addressesthese exchanges both in the legislative and financial capacity-building field so that each local government gradually reaches a level of control of its development.”
  • “The South/South cooperation is the future, because Africa is the future of the world. Africa will have 4 billion inhabitants in 2100:40% of mankind. It is now that Africa must be prepared to assume its responsibilities.”

 

ThePresident of AMPCC, Mr. Mohamed Boudra asserted, “We can say that the future of Africa will dependupon urban and youth policies. Thesepolicies need to be carried out in cooperation. Mayors and citizens must be at the center of all these policies: Not alone, but together as governments, ministries, experts and academics. We need to strengthen South/South cooperation. Money is better managed locally because it falls under the control of the population.”

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Royal support to UCLG Africa and an invitation to the Africities 2018 Summit

During the opening ceremony of the forum, the royal speech was read by the President of Dakhla, demonstrating that, “Morocco’s option for advanced regionalization is extremely assertive. According to the Secretary General:

“It means that His Majesty wishes that the implementation of development in Moroccoshould start from its territories. It is a very strong political sign that also addresses the whole of Africa. Africa will develop from its territories.There is a strong delegation of African mayors and presidents of African regions present here in Dakhla. I am very pleased that this message is visible and I am honored that the King has mentioned our organization,UCLG Africa, in his speech. This year’s Crans Montana meeting marks a turning point for South/South cooperation, particularly inter-territory cooperation and advanced regionalization. Decentralization is about empowering people through the elect to manage their daily lives. Somewhere, Morocco is exemplary in this movement that will take time to succeed.” (Interview given to Medi1 TV).

The Secretary General also announced the organizing of the Forum of African Regions at the Africities summit in Marrakech from November 20-24,2018.

The summit, organized every 3 years by UCLG Africa, the oriental region of Morocco and the Association of the Regions of Morocco (Morocco) are to pilot the forum.  The full interview of Mr. Mbassi is available here in French. 

The President of the AMPCC, Mohamed Boudra, promised that the International Conference on Global Urban Management would continue at the Africities Summit in Marrakech.

The local elected women’s network of REFELA also took part in the session on March 16, 2018on women’s integration in the political, social and economic decision making processes. Mrs. Jacqueline Moustache Belle, former mayor of Victoria (Seychelles), shared her experience as a local elected woman and the REFELA vision that has been advocated since 2011.

Register Now: ALGA’s MOOC on “Financing Infrastructures in African Cities”

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The African Local Government Academy (ALGA) of UCLG Africa launched on 5 February 2018 a second free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) covering ”Financing Infrastructures in African Cities”.

The first MOOC was launched by ALGA in September 2017, on “Planning for Climate Change in African Cities”. Both courses are developed in partnership with Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Available on COURSERA, the MOOC on ““Financing Infrastructures in African Cities” has five modules and in five weeks, you will learn:

 

 

•             Financial decision-making environment in urban systems

•             Mechanisms for mobilizing local revenues

•             Innovative mechanisms for financing infrastructure projects through partnerships, and

•             Financial decision making under uncertainties and risks

This training will help you understand the challenges of the rapid urbanization of African cities. Indeed, the world is urbanizing fast. In less than a century, more than 1 billion people have been urbanized. That translates into the fact that more than half of the world’s population is already living in cities. Experts forecast that very soon Africa will become one of the most urbanized continents. However, almost 70% of world’s urban population is living in the cities where governments are struggling to provide basic services like sanitation, schools, hospitals, and adequate clean water.

The reason is that, their governments do not have enough money. This may also be true also for the city where you live or work. Poor infrastructure affects your daily life. Local governments struggle with mobilizing finances so that they can improve your quality of life but many times they are not aware of the right mechanisms.

Imagine that your government wants to know how to finance cities and they want you to advise – where will you begin with? Our finance experts are bringing their experience right at your desk through this MOOC.

We will provide you a carefully selected set of literature, quizzes and interactive discussion forums. So join our MOOC and find out the ways to make your city a better place to live in for yourself and for your next generations.

UCLG Africa will participate to the 16th International Economic Forum on Africa

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The OECD Development Centre, the African Union Commission and the OECD Sahel and West Africa Club organize the 16th edition of International Economic Forum on Africa on 29 September 2016, at the OECD Headquarters in Paris.

The theme for this edition is “African Cities for Africa’s Development”. It will be the occasion to “discuss the opportunities and challenges of the urbanisation process in Africa, looking into how to address informality in urban areas, the role of cities as drivers of economic transformation, and innovative ways to provide adequate and predictable financing for local governments and municipalities”, said the organizers.

UCLG Africa will participate in this meeting, which will see its General Secretary, Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, deliver a speech at the opening session, which will be under the theme: “Cities as an engine of Africa’s sustainable development». During this session, two other speeches will be given by H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, President of the African Union Commission and H.E. Marcel Alain de Souza, President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States.

Three other sessions to the program carried on:

– Urbanisation: an engine of transformation for Africa?

– African cities for all citizens

– Looking ahead: what will it take to finance African cities for the coming millions?

The Africa Forum is the annual gathering where OECD officials and African policy makers, private sector, academia and civil society leaders weigh the continent’s approaches to face the present and the challenges that lie ahead. The debates will benefit from the conclusions of the African Economic Outlook 2016 report, jointly produced by the OECD Development Centre, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The complete agenda of the forum with concept notes of different sessions is available here.