Lecture

African Urbanization: Challenges and Potentials

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Description

This lecture discusses the diversity of African cities, highlighting the different dynamics and challenges they face, such as infrastructure deficits, informal economies, and urban poverty. It also explores the potential for urban development in Africa, focusing on the importance of local governance, data-driven decision-making, and the need for innovative partnerships to address urban issues effectively.

In MOOC

African Cities III, urban planning and management

"African Cities" offers a course on urban management and planning. After a review of the major urban themes (climate change, infrastructure and services, energy, the right to the city, land, housing, the informal economy), we will take a critical look at the tools currently used in urban management and planning. We will then look at how to manage and plan a more inclusive, productive, resilient and resource-efficient city that respects the environment. Finally, we will look successively at the issues of ci

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Related concepts (31)

Sustainable urbanism

Sustainable urbanism is both the study of cities and the practices to build them (urbanism), that focuses on promoting their long term viability by reducing consumption, waste and harmful impacts on people and place while enhancing the overall well-being of both people and place. Well-being includes the physical, ecological, economic, social, health and equity factors, among others, that comprise cities and their populations.

Urban planning

Urban planning, also known as town planning, city planning, regional planning, or rural planning, is a technical and political process that is focused on the development and design of land use and the built environment, including air, water, and the infrastructure passing into and out of urban areas, such as transportation, communications, and distribution networks and their accessibility.

Sustainable city

The sustainable city, eco-city, or green city is a city designed with consideration for social, economic, environmental impact (commonly referred to as the triple bottom line), and resilient habitat for existing populations, without compromising the ability of future generations to experience the same. The UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 defines sustainable cities as those that are dedicated to achieving green sustainability, social sustainability and economic sustainability.

Urbanization

Urbanization (or urbanisation) is the population shift from rural to urban areas, the corresponding decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change. It can also mean population growth in urban areas instead of rural ones. It is predominantly the process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as more people begin living and working in central areas. Urbanization is often responsible for the myriad of modern problems facing humanity.

Urban sprawl

Urban sprawl (also known as suburban sprawl or urban encroachment) is defined as "the spreading of urban developments (such as houses and shopping centers) on undeveloped land near a city". Urban sprawl has been described as the unrestricted growth in many urban areas of housing, commercial development, and roads over large expanses of land, with little concern for urban planning. In addition to describing a special form of urbanization, the term also relates to the social and environmental consequences associated with this development.

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