CAN GOVERNMENTS KEEP UP WITH
Urbanisation?
It is undeniable that Africa’s future lies in its urban areas, as cities and towns will increasingly determine the fate of the continent’s inhabitants. However, the pace of Africa’s urbanization is happening at an unprecedented rate, which poses significant challenges for governments in keeping up with the necessary changes.
“For some it is the ‘single most important transformation’ that is happening on the continent.”
- Institute for Security Studies research paper
Africa has experienced a nearly twofold increase in urban population since the mid-1990s, and if the current trajectory continues, it is estimated that in less than 20 years, one in every two individuals in Africa will be living in an urban area. However, the question remains whether Africa’s urban development can keep up with such swift and significant population growth. Unfortunately, our answer is in the negative.
“Africa’s urban population boom is happening in a context of slow structural transformation, poverty, inequality and urban violence.”
- Institute for Security Studies research paper
Urbanization in Africa is occurring in the midst of pervasive poverty, sharp inequalities, and environmental degradation, which compromise the potential gains of the urban transition. Many urban residents lack access to basic services and are vulnerable to various forms of urban violence. Slums and informal settlements are proliferating, infrastructure and service provision are inadequate, and employment opportunities are scarce. The challenges are further compounded by external pressures stemming from climate change.
In this context, it is imperative to transform and develop rural Africa to facilitate economic activity. While developing urban spaces may seem like an obvious solution, many migrants lack education, cash, or credit and are unemployed. Private developers cannot address their needs through traditional rental and purchasing models, and government efforts to provide affordable access to housing are gravely challenged. With the current pace of urbanization, African cities are bound to experience a collapse of urban infrastructure under extreme stress.
In order to achieve sustainable human development outcomes through urbanization, Africa must implement improved urban planning and innovative solutions tailored to its diverse urban landscapes. However, the current rapid rate of urbanization makes this a difficult task. It is therefore imperative that governments and private developers focus on slowing down the rate of urbanization by investing in rural areas and developing necessary infrastructure and resources. By doing so, we can capitalize on the lack of property development in these areas and position ourselves as key infrastructure owners, sought after by both government and private entities in the future. The localizing of resources and infrastructure in rural areas will also reduce the need for people to migrate to urban areas for access to services.
Furthermore, the economic potential of rural areas is often overlooked, despite the fact that significant economic activity still occurs within these regions. By creating economic hubs and nodes in rural areas, we can tap into these economies and promote growth in these areas.