ECA-CEA Copyright © United Nations Human Settlements Programme, 2008
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ISBN 978-921132015-2 9 7 8 9 2 1 1 3 2 0 1 5 2 ECA-CEA Copyright © United Nations Human Settlements Programme, 2008. All rights reserved United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) P.O. Box 30030, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 7621 234 Fax: +254 20 7623 904 Website: www.unhabitat.org Cover photo: Satellite image of Maputo, Mozambique. ©Space Imaging This image shows the spatial layout differences of a “fragmented city”, consisting of a low density formal city with regular street patterns, public open spaces and public green, that clearly contrasts with the dense, unplanned and ad hoc developments within the informal parts of the city. 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THE STATE OF AFRICAN CITIES 2008 A framework for addressing urban challenges in Africa ECA-CEA Foreword by UN-HABITAT It gives me great pleasure to introduce the fi rst State of of them are predicted to live in slums and informal settlements the African Cities Report, a cooperative effort between UN- unless radical corrective measures are taken. HABITAT and the United Nations Economic Commission Over the past 15 years, democracy and economic change have for Africa. transformed many African nations. The region’s commitment This is the fi rst issue in an evolving series of state of the to good governance can be seen in the establishment of African cities reports, intended to provide both a tool and a NEPAD and its governance counterpart – the African Peer platform for debate on urban issues within Africa. It aims to Review Mechanism. Continental economic growth has provide focus and encouragement to African governments at exceeded 5 percent for several years – a positive change over the central and local level as well as to other key actors in the the dismal economic performance of the 1980s and 1990s. broad area of sustainable human settlements development. We The number of confl icts in the region has declined by two- hope to promote new thinking about sustainable urbanization thirds since the late 1990s and African nations themselves by drawing attention to critical housing, urban development now build and maintain peace within the continent. and governance issues in this new age of globalization. Africa’s burgeoning urban problems have received less Contrary to common perception, most urban growth in attention than warranted and now, at the dawn of Africa’s Africa now takes place in secondary and tertiary settlements, urban age, these need to be urgently addressed. The the towns with less than 500,000 inhabitants, rather than in challenges clearly put a premium on vision and leadership its largest cities. Consequently, the smaller African cities will for addressing such issues as deep urban poverty, the need need the close attention of policy-makers if their growth is for closing the affordable housing gap, safe drinking water, to be pragmatically guided taking into account challenges sanitation, transportation and livelihoods for swelling urban imposed by environmental changes resulting from population populations, regardless of whether they live in Africa’s mega- pressure and climate change. cities or smaller settlements. Meanwhile, the larger African cities will continue to grow Finally, I like to commend the good spirit of inter-agency as well and the mega-city has now also emerged in Africa. cooperation in a true One UN manner for the preparation More and more African cities will soon join ranks with the of this publication. I thank all our partners for their vision, world’s largest cities. In addition, there are now indications of contributions and cooperation. the emergence in Africa of very large ‘city regions’ and urban development corridors as a result of spatial and economic synergies between cities in relative proximity. Increasingly, urbanization is moving from city-based to region-based confi gurations, which poses a host of entirely new challenges over and above the already complex issues of Africa’s current urban transition. This is an even more noteworthy Anna K. Tibaijuka phenomenon given that the bulk of Africa’s urban transition, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director though yet to come, is only a generation away. By 2030 the United Nations Human Settlements Programme majority of Africans will be urban residents, and the majority (UN-HABITAT) FOREWORD ii Foreword by UNECA The sustainability of the continental environment and Poverty reduction and the creation of economic opportunity human life requires, amongst other things, that human is a key goal for Africa. However, tackling poverty requires not settlements in both urban and rural areas are made only signifi cant increases in GDP per capita, but also requires economically buoyant, socially vibrant and environmentally reduction of inequality and investing in social development to sound with full respect for cultural, religious and natural enhance the capabilities of those living in poverty and other heritage and diversity. Urban settlements hold a promise for vulnerable groups. Additional action is needed to overcome human development and for the protection of the region’s disparities in the opportunities available to different sections natural resources through their ability to support large of society, such as those between men and women living numbers of people, especially when negative impacts on the in urban agglomerations. These disparities start during natural environment can be limited. However, many cities in childhood when girls have limited access to education and the Africa are witnessing harmful patterns of growth, of land use resulting gender-related inequalities adversely affect human and of degradation of their physical structures. Such problems development at individual, family and community levels. are often accompanied by soil, air, water and waste pollution With the present prevailing conditions in the cities and towns and destruction of resources. Many cities are also subject to of Africa, the magnitude of the problems and the sheer size limited water supply, sanitation and drainage and dependent of the challenges, Governments should gear up to implement on toxic and non-renewable energy sources. Many of these strategies for the sustainable facilitation of adequate shelter trends are aggravated or accelerated by high population for rapidly growing urban populations and for the urban poor growth and rural-to-urban migration. through enabling approaches to shelter development and Many African countries’ improved economic performance other improvements that are environmentally sound. is being threatened by a global economic crisis and can As in the past, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) be exacerbated by high population growth rates and is extremely pleased to have worked successfully with UN- environmental degradation. Previous economic crises, HABITAT on the State of the African Cities Report 2008. It is including the debt burden and the collapse of import- an excellent initiative and a good example of our commitment substitution industries, increased the number of Africans to working with various partners to enhance our collective living in absolute poverty and without access to adequate support to, and impact on Africa’s political, economic and shelter. Indeed, the increasing incidence of squalid shelter social development. conditions and homelessness is cause for concern in many African countries and threatens health standards, security and even life itself. It is estimated that 46 percent of the African urban population lives in slums and informal settlements where poverty, overcrowding, unemployment, crime and pollution are prevalent. African cities must therefore be reoriented to provide environments where people can live Abdoulie Janneh and work in social harmony and can overcome negative Under-Secretary-General FOREWORD urban features. Executive Director Economic Commission for Africa iii Acknowledgements In seeking to cover in detail conditions and trends consisting of George Madara, Julius Majale, Gora Mboup, throughout the African continent, this report has drawn on the Philip Mukungu, Omondi Odiambo and Raymond Otieno knowledge of a range of specialists. This included a process of The following reviewed the draft report in a meeting of the peer review for sections of the draft report and a review of the editorial board in Addis Ababa in July 2008: Peter Acquah, fi rst consolidated draft by experts who constituted the editorial Zadon Adane, Babatunde Agbola, Charles Akol, Abuye board. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Anley, Alioune Badiane, Daniel Biau (Chair), Milha Desta, (ECA) hosted and sponsored a meeting of the editorial board in Joshué Dioné, Bert Diphoorn, Nega Emiru, Basil Gonsalves, their Headquarters in Addis Ababa from 16 – 18 July 2008. Belachew Kalechristos, Lusungu Kayani,