Search Results

< Back Interview with Mariam Issoufou Kamara: Founder and principal Architect at atelier masōmī Mariam Issoufou Kamara's interview delves into her transition from software engineering to architecture driven by her passion for creativity. She discusses the potential of digital tools in architecture and the significance of generosity in African architectural practices. Highlighting projects like the Dandaji Daily Market, she emphasizes the blend of tradition with modernity for community benefit. Exploring the "Bët-bi Museum" in Senegal, she illuminates its symbolic underground galleries, drawing inspiration from cultural heritage, spirituality, and the cycles of life in Africa. She envisions spaces as community hubs rather than imposing structures. What path led you to pursue a career in Architecture? I started my career as a software engineer. At the time, it felt like a reasonable career choice. But, I have always lovely drawing and being creative, since I was a child. The desire to be an architect never left me. After a few years of working as a software engineer, I started realising all the different dimensions that architecture had. This is both in terms of how it our environment but also how it shapes the way that we see and project ourselves into the world. Architecture seemed like an incredibly powerful tool. So, I went ahead and went back to school and embarked on this adventure. Mariam Issoufou Kamara: Founder and principal Architect at atelier masōmī With your background in the IT field, do you believe that parametric design, facilitated by the IBM system, can be considered the future to conceptualizing architecture as the architecture moves more and more towards digitalization? My background in software engineering has really been advantageous in exposing my team and I to all the different tools that are out there in order for us to see what tools and processes work best for us as a firm. For us, research into the history, context and culture of the places where we work is an important part of our process. In the African context, how does the concept of generosity in architecture, as mentioned in your statement "I like that architecture provides the opportunity to be generous," manifest itself? As much as architecture is an important tool for good, the opposite is also true, particularly in Africa, where it has been a tool of subjugation. In thinking about generosity then, particularly in African cities where the buildings in our cities date back to colonisation, there is a large amount of generosity in thinking up spaces that embrace the climate, context and people for whom the architecture it being built. What was the design process behind the Dandaji Daily Market, which was designed by Atelier Masomi, of which you are the founder? We were approached to design a permanent market in the village of Dandaji. The market was organized around an ancestral tree. It was made with simple adobe posts and reed roofs. Our main goal was to create a space that projects a sense of confidence in the future users. The project design references the area’s traditional market architecture of adobe posts and reed roofs, pushing the typology forward using compressed earth bricks and colourful recycled metal for durability. We wanted the market to be visually appealing, so that everyone can be proud of it, and that it could attract more commerce to the area. The colorful recycled metal canopies were produced through a succession of individual shading structures that compensate for the difficulty in growing trees in such an arid, desert climate. Tell us a little bit more about the “Bët-bi Museum”, what is the reason behind sinking the galleries below the ground? Render of the new Bët-bi museum in Senegal designed by atelier masōmī and developed by the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation and Le Korsa The Bët-bi Museum is a project commissioned by the Albers Foundation to be located in the Kaolack region in Senegal. The form is a nod to both the logic behind the nearby megaliths and the Saloum Kingdom’s original ethnic groups, the Serers and the Mandinkas, which still inhabit the region along with several other ethnic groups. As a matter of fact, the Saloum kingdom existed until 1969 when it officially joined Senegal. In many African societies, much of art is ubiquitous, and encountered daily, while some art was traditionally used for sacred rites. The Serers held a deeply mystical indigenous religion that had an intimate relationship to the natural elements: the sun, the wind, water, ancestral spirits. The geometric language of Bët-bi Museum came from looking at this traditional spiritual realm and the series of triangles that describe the relationship between divinity, the elements, the living and the dead – a self-renewing cycle of life that was translated into a triangular building with a ramp system that metaphorically reproduces this sense of the sacred journey. The triangle (and resulting diamond shapes when put together) are also ubiquitous in design, decoration and textiles in West Africa, further emphasizing its symbolic importance. The museum galleries themselves are buried below ground in the same way the megaliths surrounded a mound under which cherished memories and ancestors were buried and are arrived at the end of the unfolding ramp. Above ground is the place for community and celebration, open to and merging with the landscape to make the project approachable and democratic in its use. The project is at the surface a public space for communities to come together and use as a destination, rather than a big museum building. Cultural Centre Niamey, Niger designed by Mariam Kamara, Atelier Masomi Previous Next

< Back Education in architecture, planning and design in Africa: Challenges and vision for more sustainable and resilient African cities Architectural education in Africa needs a shift. This involves integrating local social, cultural, and environmental considerations. The current Western-centric curricula are critiqued and a more holistic approach is advocated. Interviews with academics and researchers highlight the gap between traditional grid-pattern city planning and the actual needs of African communities. The importance of community engagement and understanding local contexts is stressed. Students are encouraged to explore African architectural heritage, engage with diverse perspectives, and adopt bottom-up approaches. This will help graduates build sustainable and resilient cities that address the unique challenges and opportunities in African urban environments. MARK OLWENY, Architect, Educator, Senior Lecturer in Architecture, School of Architecture and the Built Environment, University of Lincoln, Research Associate Professor, Faculty of the Built Environment, Uganda Martyrs University. Experienced Senior Architect with a demonstrated history of working in developing countries. Skilled in Environmental Design, Sustainable Architecture, Urban Design and Architectural Education. Strong administrator, Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD) focused in Architecture from Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd. I believe a new direction for architecture and planning education should begin with a more holistic approach Unfortunately, architectural and planning curricula on the continent are still largely based on the western approach. Thus, much of what is taught and what is considered important in the curricula comes from outside rather than within the continent. Moreover, if you look at some of the old schools that came into being around independence in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and more recently in Zimbabwe, etc., their objectives have been to train people to produce buildings that celebrate the aspirations of these independent states. The result is seen in the architecture and layout of our cities where what is perceived to be a ‘good city’ is one that is planned in a grid pattern, with streets primarily for cars, which has absolutely nothing to do with how people actually use space in the African context. Consider the fact that most people don’t drive. For them, to get from A to B the distance should be as short as possible. I don’t need space for four or at times six cars, I need comfortable space for people to walk. So if we start thinking about people first, the way our spaces are designed and laid out will be very different. But a lot of the current approaches to architecture and planning are car oriented despite only 5% of people using cities actually drives. So once we adopt this idea of planning from a physical entity, we automatically exclude people. But when you look at it from a people’s perspective, one of the things you don’t do in planning is produce a map. In South Sudan, there have been a series of proposals for Juba that are in the shape of animals. Although these may seem appropriate on a plan, this ignores the reality that these are not visible or apparent for the users as people experience urban spaces when they are within them, and not from the sky. Some schools, and mainly the newer ones, manage to break away from this paradigm. But most of them still remain in this way of thinking where man is put aside in architectural and urban designs. This is also the case in private schools that do not find it lucrative to detach themselves from the classical teaching methods. Personally, I believe a new direction for architecture and planning education should begin with a more holistic approach, one that compels students to appreciate specific social, cultural and environmental issues. Here education could take a leaf from landscape architecture education. Landscape architecture education and the profession engage with social and cultural issues in ways that architecture and planning do not. Landscape architecture asks questions, like, what is the meaning of a place? Why do people do it this way? How can we make it work? Rather than saying, well, this looks horrible, let’s just tear it down or start from scratch. Juba city Southern Sudan, Photo source: Google earth “We need to adapt the teaching to the local context. It may not produce the high architecture that we see in the world, but it will meet the local needs..” I will focus on the case of Anglophone Africa, on architectural education specifically and address three aspects: how were the schools of architecture created, who teaches in them and what were their objectives? There are parallels with planning, which I will include when I can. As far as their creation is concerned, by far the majority of architecture schools came into existence just after independence (outside South Africa, these are Ahmadu Bello University, University of Nairobi and University of Khartoum). While the initial goal was to provide skilled labour to replace expatriate staff, the desire by the newly independent states to showcase their aspirations, and demonstrate their position internationally, it was not long before educational endeavours were steered toward fulfilling these objectives, geared toward national prestige through iconic - an ideological imperative. Now, for the teachers in these schools. Initially, it was necessary to rely on foreign staff, for a number of reasons, but primarily the schools were following an international curriculum that needed staff that could deliver it satisfactorily. These instructors largely came from Western Europe (generally former colonisers countries), as well as the Soviet Union, the United States and to a lesser extent India). . While this has served to allow the development of divergent currents of thought, there has been little in-depth interrogation of the appropriateness of these curricula and pedagogical approaches. The most obvious example I can cite here are many history and theory courses, which still rely heavily on a chronological approach heavily biased toward European architectural and planning endeavours. You have to ask yourself, is the knowledge content, and approaches to architecture and urbanism we teach fit for-purpose? and in many cases the answer is no. There is a need for us to scrutinise what we teach and how we teach it. What exactly are we doing? What is the purpose of architecture and planning education now? Do we want to produce replicas of cities and buildings in Europe and North America? Or do we want to help improve the conditions of people?The situation on the ground and the needs are completely different. We need to adapt the teaching to the local context. It may not produce the ‘high’ architecture, but it will meet the local needs. Uganda for example is a very hilly country. But many plans (both planning and architectural) ignore this fact. Why does this happen? In some aspects the training is not context specific; it seems to reinforce the notion that the site (and people) should adapt to suit the designs, and not the other way around. So we need to do better than that and think, how do we compel the next generation of urban planners and architects to be cognisant of and respond to the local situation, understanding that and work with it as a basis for developing appropriate spaces that work for people. When you look at, for example, the most common building typology in Uganda today, it is the same as that designed during colonial times for single men. These «boys’ quarters» because at that time in many parts of Africa, there was a need for workers, usually young men who came to town to work, and were granted temporary residency. To prevent them bringing their families, they were provided with minimal accommodation with small rooms that barely accommodated one person, with shared toilet facilities, and no kitchens... Now more than 60 years after independence, we still build the same way. So if after all these years and all the architects and urban planners trained, why is it that there has not been any change? I believe this is because as architects and planners we have failed to impact on the general population, and continue to train subsequent generations to ignore the needs of the majority. Uganda-Development Photo source: Wikimedio commons “Students are unfortunately taught to prepare to make the next tallest building, rather than getting them to understand the sense of the place…” The way architecture and urban planning training is delivered on the continent has indeed an impact on African cities. On the positive side it can create functional spaces where people have decent environments to live, work and recreate. But on the negative side, I think things are often done out of context. Take housing for example, this is often developed and planned in isolation of socio-economic realities, an approach that reduces the question of ‘low-income’ housing to the provision of the proverbial four walls and a roof. Consequently, we often see such housing developed far away from the centre of cities. These are a distance away from economic and employment opportunities - the reason people migrated to the cities’ areas in the first place. Oddly enough, this was a problem that was seen in the US, UK and Australia during the 1960s, so why are we building the same mistakes in 2020? We have to rethink our approach, taking note that some of what is still taught is obsolete, and in many cases was not actually based on the realities experienced within the context within which it is taught. Back to the housing question, the lack of housing and the burgeoning slums, squatter and informal settlements close to the city centres are a result of a larger question. It comes to human dignity and the value of humanity. By paying a salary that is barely enough to live on, workers are compelled to seek the most convenient accommodation as close to their place of work as is practically possible. No one wants to spend all their salary and time commuting. So as we can see, architecture and planning is not just about physical infrastructure, it is much wider. These are the links that are often not presented as part of the educational process, which often exists in silos. Many countries in Africa are characterized by their macrocephaly. In Uganda, for example, as soon as you leave Kampala, there is literally nothing going on in the small towns. Some time ago there was not even a supermarket outside Kampala. Everything happened in the capital. Now, with decentralization, things could be better, but it is important to provide the secondary towns and the countryside with adequate facilities and infrastructure to limit the pressure on the big urban centers and to strengthen the links between the cities and the countryside. Currently, getting a national identity card, or a driving licence requires a trip to the capital Kampala. This is not at all practical, neither is it contributing to the idea of decentralisation. Now, in terms of education, I prefer to use education, rather than training as I believe education is a core element of higher university education. While there are elements of training within architecture and planning education, it is important that students acknowledge that their role goes beyond merely fulfilling narrowly defined objectives of individual projects, to include an appreciation of the consequences of these actions. If you look at Zanzibar, the old city - Stone Town, is among the most visited places in Tanzania. This is not because it has new glass and steel clad buildings or wide multilane roads. It is because it is at a human scale in a number of ways. It is a pedestrian environment with narrow streets, but with spaces where people can sit and talk. The soul of the community keeps it alive. The street itself is a channel of information. And that information can travel long distances because every time you walk down the street, greet people, stop, talk to them they will tell you a story. So it’s strange that we assumed that cities should be so new and glitzy. And that’s what students are unfortunately taught, to prepare to make the next tallest building, rather than getting them to understand that the way people use spaces and how they engage with the environment, is what makes the difference. Photo by Javi Lorbada on Unsplash “Adapted curricula to build more inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities in Africa…” The starting point would be thinking about the people, their climatic, cultural, social context, etc. If you start from the climate for example, the solution in Botswana can certainly not be the same solution that you have in Uganda or, in South Sudan, because these are very different situations and climates. We teach students about what is happening in the rest of the world, but very little about what is happening in the local areas. There is limited literature on the architecture of African context, so we need to write and tell the stories of and from Africa, while criticizing the things that don’t work. We are often reluctant to criticize things, just because somebody put a lot of money into it, whether it works or not. Unless we start having deep, meaningful, frank discussions about our context, we’re going to continually go down a path that doesn’t help us to build sustainably and resiliently. When you look at many urban centers across much of sub-Saharan Africa, we find an informal sector that is actually larger than the formal sector. The people who work in this grey economy are rarely if ever included in design discourse, effectively marginalised from what is perceived to be a desired future. Without an appreciation of their needs, this marginalization is set to continue with these issues brought into the mainstream of teaching and practice. In the university I work with in Uganda, the Uganda Martyrs University, we are taking students out of the classroom, to talk to the communities. For example right now, a student is working to understand how people live and how they engage in their daily activities. This bottom up approach is critical in ensuring any proposals are embedded within the community, and not cosmetic. One of the things I think is also important is to take some of the architecture schools out of the major urban areas, figuratively and practically, to get a feel for the communities and their needs. When you look at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, the Copperbelt University in Zambia, and the University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe, these are all located in secondary cities, and where the first architecture schools in these three countries were situated. This deliberate move ensures that the link between education and the lived experiences of a large proportion of the population could be better addressed. This was also the rationale for the location of the architecture school at the Uganda Martyrs University at the university’s main campus at Nkozi.. This certainly has a big impact on the shape of the education and the students that go there. So, it’s about basic things like understanding what our needs are, beyond just shelter from the elements? How do we make our urban centers work better for people? How do we make them work better in the context? Should we continue building wider roads, yet the real need is for more and efficient public transport networks? Uganda Martyrs University “Make friends, talk to people who come from different backgrounds, who have different life experiences, and travel as much as possible…” I think the very first piece of advice I would give is to be open to learning. Be open to new ideas and to constantly question preconceived ideas you may have. Beyond that, you have to understand that whatever education you get, whether it’s architecture, landscape architecture, or urban planning, it’s only education to help you start your career, it’s not the end of your education, which should continue throughout your life. This is what differentiates training from education. I also believe that students should try as much as possible to draw on their own experiences, and understand that their experience is just an individual experience, in the midst of millions of other people’s experiences. To be able to design for other people, it is important to understand and appreciate why we do things a particular way, and that this is not how millions of other people do it (for a host of different reasons). Often, I think we approach things from the perspective that our experience is the only valid one, and presume other people’s experiences and views are equal to ours. This is a consequence of the socialization process of education. For many students their experiences are narrowly defined, limiting their exposure to the diversity of experiences of others. A poingient expression of this can be found in Musa Okwonga’s memoir, ‘One of Them’. The outcomes of educational systems that derive students from a narrow group of students cannot truly address the issues of broader society. Indeed even today, some schools of architecture have intakes comprising students from a handful of secondary schools, it would be impossible for this group of students to appreciate the value of different opinions as they have never really been exposed to difference. And so my advice in this context is to make friends outside of that very narrow circle. Talk to people who come from different backgrounds, who have different life experiences, if possible, travel as much as possible whether it’s inside or outside your region or country. Many students and even professionals do not know the richness of their own country in terms of architectural and urban heritage. Knowing one’s history, heritage and environment can contribute to a better understanding of place, and space. We had great cities in Africa 300 or 400 years ago. You have Benin City in Nigeria, you have Congo City in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. We have Great Zimbabwe, and Bigo in Uganda ... so there are great cities that exist that we don’t hear about. Taking an interest in and learning about these early endeavours would greatly contribute to design explorations, not only in terms of form and materials, but also in terms of our ideation. Those are the key lessons I would like some people to understand. A drawing by a British officer representing the city of Benin before its destruction by the British army in 1897, wikimedia PHILIPPA NYAKATO TUMUBWEINEE, Architects; Senior lecturer and Head of School at Architecture Planning and Geomatics, University of Cape Town. She was awarded her PhD at the School of Higher Education Studies, University of the Free State. Tumubweinee’s commitment to architectural education has developed through her involvement as an external examiner for MProf and BHons students in Architecture at the University of Pretoria and Namibia University of Science and Technology “School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics” The current School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics (APG) at University of Cape Town (UCT) is the result of two mergers. The first merger took place in 1985 between the then School of Architecture and the Department of City and Regional Planning, and the second merger took place in 2002 between the School of Architecture and Planning and the Department of Geomatics. The School’s primary purpose is to produce professionals who can deal competently and creatively with the development and conservation of the built and natural environment by imagining alternative, more just and inclusive urban futures. The School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics (APG) has a current enrolment of 667 students, 227 are registered for postgraduate degrees; of these 22 students are registered for PhDs. APG offers programmes which lead to the following qualifications: Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS); Bachelor of Science in Geomatics; Bachelor of Architectural Studies (Honours); Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Geographical Information Systems; Bachelor of City Planning (Honours); Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Honours); Master of Architecture (Professional); Master of City and Regional Planning; Master of Landscape Architecture; Master of Urban Design; Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Conservation of the Built Environment; Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Southern Urbanism; and Opportunities to study for research-based MPhils and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. APG is located within the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (EBE). Professor Alison Lewis (from the Department of Chemical Engineering) was elected as the Dean of the Faculty in 2015, and she remains in the position. All Departments and Schools within EBE offer degrees accredited by professional councils/ institutes. Processes of accreditation are recognised and supported in the Faculty and the University. EBE comprises five Departments (Construction Economics and Management; Civil Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; and Electrical Engineering) and one School (the School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics). In accordance with 2021 data, EBE has an enrolment of 4,452 students, of whom 1,116 are registered for postgraduate qualifications and 262 are PhD students. EBE comprises 429 academic staff and 173 professional, administrative and support staff. The Faculty has 20 active research groups, 7 SARChI chairs, 58 NRF rated staff and R220 million in research income. The undergraduate Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS) Programme within the School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics (APG) provides a foundational design-oriented education from which streaming can occur into a range of postgraduate degree programmes, including the Bachelor of Architectural Studies (Honours), the Bachelor of City Planning (Honours) (linked to the Masters of City and Regional Planning) and the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Honours) (linked to the Masters of Landscape Architecture). These Honours level qualifications allow students to apply for the one-year Master of Urban Design (MUD) degree, a one-year MPhil specialising in the Conservation of the Built Environment and a research-based MPhil. APG also offers opportunities to register for a PhD. Furthermore, the African Centre for Cities (ACC) facilitates a coursework and dissertation MPhil on Southern Urbanism and some of these students take electives in the Planning Honours Programme. A planning stream was introduced into the undergraduate Geomatics Programme cluster in 2004. Several degree programmes in the School are recognised by professional Councils. The Masters of Architecture (Prof) degree is recognised by the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP). In addition to SACPLAN accreditation, the Planning Programme is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) ( http://www.rtpi.org.uk/ ). The combined Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Honours) and Masters of Landscape Architecture Programme is accredited by the South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession (SACLAP). The MPhils are non-professional and non-accredited research degrees. “The way we educate our urban professionals on the wider continent and in South Africa is being challenged” This is not because what we teach is not good, it is because it has become increasingly difficult, within a set and structured curriculum, to address the constantly shifting dynamic nature of the urban environments we live in. Within this changing context we, as urban professionals, find ourselves confronted with how to advance appropriate theories and practices to develop a holistic understanding of the urban environment across multiple and growing disciplines and interests. This difficulty is evident in the schism between what is needed and what is done. It translates as a break between how we as academic institutions develop and train the next generation of urban professionals and the realities of the multiplicity of fundamental tools and tactics that are required to develop and implement policies and governance systems that effectively deliver for people. In part the schism stems from theories and practices that are borrowed from other times, other places and other cultures. As institutions we repackage and retrofit these theories and practices without always addressing the underlying complexities of our urban complexities and place-based realties. This calls for a “rogue” approach in the way that we train urban professionals who can contribute meaningfully in African urban environments and respond to, address and embrace a continually shifting context. This approach to training urban professionals could develop a form of urbanism that consolidates political, social, cultural and economic capital with the natural & built environment in order to bring together a conceptualisation of place and people as part of a complex world. “Rather than provide a clear ‘vision of African cities of tomorrow’, it is vital that academic institutions together with other urban professionals and civil society collectively experiment and speculate as to what an African city should look like…” The African urban terrain is complex, and because it is complex questions of sustainability, resilience, and technological development in any African city can only be speculative. This provides fertile ground from which urban professionals, and the institutions in which they are trained, can explore and experiment with alternate realities and solutions to address a variety of underlying concerns. These include climate change and resilience, significant socio-spatial inequality and poverty (tied often to colonial spatial planning), and a significant demographic youth bulge in African cities. Rather than provide a clear ‘vision’, it is vital that academic institutions together with other urban professionals and civil society collectively experiment and speculate as to what an African city should look like. For if we cannot creatively conceive of it within the specificities and peculiarities of our context, we cannot build it. In APG we aim to develop urban professionals across all programmes who can radically reshape the urban environment at all levels. This extends to, but is not limited to: 1) how we can creatively plan, design and develop our cities, towns and their neighbourhoods; 2) how we can creatively integrate combined thinking across the broadest range of disciplines involved in the urban environment – physical, socio-cultural, economic, public health, food, governance etc; 3) how can we creatively lead and manage policies and planning in the system at all levels of civil society and government. MANLIO MICHIELETTO, Dean of the School of Architecture and Built Environment (SABE) at the College of Science and Technology (CST) University of Rwanda (UR ). Manlio Michieletto is an Italian Architect graduated in 2007 from the IUAV University of Venice,and earned a PhD in Architectural Composition in 2010 from the IUAV School of Doctorate. After different academic and professional experiences in Europe (Italy and Germany) and Africa (Burkina Faso andD. R. Congo), he has since 2016 became the dean of SABE. “School of Architecture and Built Environment (SABE)..” The School of Architecture and Built Environment (SABE) started in 2009 as a faculty of architecture in the former Kigali Institute of Technology. In 2014, the government decided to unify all scattered institutes in one unique public university that is called University of Rwanda, and the Faculty of architecture became the School of Architecture and Built Environment. SABE is one of the five schools comprising the College of Science and Technology that is one of the nine colleges of the University of Rwanda. SABE is in a very inspiring compound designed by the French architect Patrick Schweitzer and our students have the opportunity to be trained in this amazing architectural artifact. The building’s aim is to be intended as an open book for students through the utilisation of different materials, construction techniques, details etc. Furthermore, it’s a passive building with no use of mechanical installation. SABE has around 1000 students and four departments (Department of Architecture, Department of construction management, Department of estate management and valuation, and the Department of geography and urban planning). These are for undergraduate programs, but we also have a post graduate program in MSc IN GEO-INFORMATION SCIENCE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT and we are working with partners from Europe to set up a master in architecture that will start in 2023. These programs are supervised by around 40 staff members, including junior staff, senior staff, Professor, associate professor, senior lecturer, lecturer, assistant lecturer and tutorial assistant. School of Architecture and Built Environment, Photo source SABE “We have to significantly improve the offer in terms of education to give to young people the chance to study and be actors of changes in their communities and countries…” I do think the way education in architecture and planning is made have an impact on african cities now and in the future. However, to have a positive impact, it is fundamental to establish more schools or faculties of architecture and urban studies in Africa. We can not have or continue to have countries with just one Institute or School of Architecture, urban planning, etc. To meet African cities’ challenges and turn them into opportunities, we must increase the education offered in Architecture, urban planning, and other urban studies not just in quantity, but also in quality. So, when we talk about the impact, we have first to significantly improve the offer in terms of education to give to young people the chance to study and be actors of changes in their communities and countries. African cities are a bit wider as a concept, so we cannot compare Ouagadougou with Lagos or Lome with Kinshasa, etc. I think for training in architecture in Africa, the undergraduate students have to be trained as any other students over the world, then, specialize themself through for example, postgraduate programs on the local context. At SABE, we try to introduce in the existing curricula the analysis and the study of the local context, to train students able -after an undergraduate degree, to appropriately manage a project in the local context. African cities are very different in shape, in size, etc. So, African students have to learn critical methods that enable them to have a holistic overview of the context. They have to be able to build a critical point of view, train their eyes to understand the context, identify problems and find the appropriate solutions. “At SABE there is a constant relationship between teaching activities and local context…” Lectures are normally based on tropical architecture and urban design, that means the architecture adapted to the local environment and context. We also teach students history of architecture and theory of architecture including the relationship between the city, and the built environment. So students move from universal theories of architecture and urban planning to theories of African cities, from tropical villages to African architecture. We also use resources to equip our students with theoretical and practical knowledge like books on African cities, UN-Habitat rules and principles, and the Green Council buildings rules that the Rwandan government established for the construction of green buildings in Rwanda. So, for us at SABE there is a constant relationship between teaching activities and local context. For example, in the Department of Geography, urban planning, students always have practical workshops on the local context, with the local community involved, population, local stakeholders etc. We also have summer workshops that are targeting real issues or challenges in kigali to not only have students adapted to the local context, but also to the local market. Furthermore, during their training, our students have to do professional internships for the fourth and fifth year. All these help them to be adapted to market needs. We have been asked by our university to move to a problem based learning teaching system, which means that all our modules, especially for assessment and final examination, have to be based on problem based learning or a challenge driven education. So we have the theoretical part of the module, and then a practical one based on a real problem that students may identify in their context. The students work in groups to propose a solution to a real problem, starting from problem identification to an adapted solution. “I see the future of African cities in the past…” First of all, we have to be conscious of our past. The African city is rich in history and heritage that have shaped its evolution over time. This ancestral African city has always been smart and sustainable. It is therefore important to go back to this history and heritage to build the African city and not to import models from elsewhere. The second important thing in this context of rapid growth and urbanization is to train local actors who understand the context. It is a question of training city actors (architects, urban planners, designers, etc.) at the local level with local knowledge and know-how because they know their history, they have grown up in these cities and are the best able to understand the problems and to provide solutions. Another fundamental aspect to take into account for the African sustainable city is the political will. We can see that the great cities throughout the world were mostly built by political vision. Therefore, in Africa, it is important that the leaders draw a shared vision of the sustainable city and take the necessary means to achieve the objectives of the sustainable city. “Be committed and passionate about what they are doing…” My advice for young students is to really be committed and passionate about what they are doing, because it is the only way to achieve good results, in all aspects of their life. MOUSSA DEMBELE, Malian Architect graduated in architecture from Xinghua University in China. He worked as an architect for 4 years in Singapore, then obtained his doctorate from the Kyoto Institute of Technology in Japan. After teaching for several years in Japan and China, he opened an architectural office in Mali before being appointed in 2015 as the General Manager of EAMAU. “Tell us about the African School of Architecture and Urbanism…” The African School of Architecture and Urban Planning (EAMAU) is an inter-state institution that brings together 8 countries of the UEMOA (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo) and the 6 countries of the CEMAC (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad). It was created under the will of the heads of state in order to train young people to face the urbanization of African cities in 1975. In view of the challenges facing African cities in terms of urbanization, it can be said that this vision of member states through EAMAU is more than salutary in order to meet the challenges posed by the rapid urban growth of the continent by training local actors on urban issues. To this end, EAMAU trains architects, urban planners, and urban managers through Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral training cycles. The training courses are both theoretical and practical and lead the learners to the professional-grade after 5 years of study. The training method equips them with tools that enable them to practice the profession in an operational manner in different African countries, particularly with field training courses throughout the training program. African School of Architecture and Urbanism, Photo by G2L-PHOTOGRAPHY “It is crucial to train professionals capable of facing the challenges of the continent in terms of urban development…” With more than 1400 high-level graduates, who continue to shape the political, economic, and cultural landscape in African countries, EAMAU is an institution that is constantly adapting to best meet the challenges of the continent. Indeed, we have moved from the great canons of education in architecture and urban planning to the Bachelor’s Degree Master’s Doctorate (LMD) system in 2010. In addition, the diplomas of EAMAU have been accredited by the African and Malagasy Council for Education (CAMES), and our institution has been for the occasion retained as a reference school for the training of architects and urbanists. It is, therefore, necessary to adapt constantly to produce professionals capable of facing the challenges of the continent in terms of urban development. As we can see, the continent is experiencing rapid urban growth, and many factors are influencing this growth, so it must be directed and controlled so that cities are spaces of well-being, inclusion, social peace, economic prosperity, and offer a healthy and preserved living environment. This is why we put a particular emphasis on providing our learners with key and contextual tools through our training to achieve these objectives. “Train professionals able to respond to global issues…” EAMAU today has a scope that extends beyond the member countries by training actors from the whole continent and the rest of the world. This is how we keep an open mind on the world, by adapting and innovating, to train professionals able to respond to global issues related to digital development, climate issues, environmental protection, etc. However, we make it a point to ensure that our students have this understanding, the very expression and specificity of Africa in the training. It is in this context that our students do fieldwork each year to diagnose problems in African cities, and these problems are transcribed into concrete and local solutions through projects. Thus, the projects proposed by the students are the result of a concrete and pragmatic approach to research in order to respond specifically to the challenges of African cities. The teaching methods within our institution converge towards excellence through the international character of the students, the transversality of the teachings, and the projects that are developed by the learners. This is so that the school is at the service of the States for the development of our countries. It is in this context that we develop training that can lead to projects that will allow States to modernize their development and economic take-off. We have introduced in this context a very important phase which is research. Today no institution, no field can develop without research and in our context this research component allows us to address in-depth the issue of African architectural and urban heritage. Africa is endowed with an immense heritage that can be considered open-air museums. The question is what can we draw from this heritage to build more sustainable and resilient cities? It is with a view to answering these questions that we are developing the research aspect in order to effectively produce reflections that contribute to setting up human settlements adapted to the African context. For the history of cities and civilizations millennia African abounds in examples in terms of sustainability, and resilience through the use of local materials, functional organization of spaces, waste management, environmental preservation, etc. The approach here is through research to draw from this rich heritage to develop modern solutions adapted to the social, cultural, economic, and geographical context of our cities. “Students and young professionals across the continent have the mission of build more sustainable and resilient cities in Africa…” We think that the objective for graduates should not only be to work in architecture or urban planning agencies, but to get involved in the high levels of administration, banking institutions, international organizations because they have the resources to do so. It is for them to be a force of proposal, not to evolve in a vacuum, to inform themselves, to travel to build more sustainable and resilient cities in Africa. Previous Next

Lomé, the capital and largest city of Togo, is uniquely positioned as the only capital city in the world that borders another nation—Ghana. Situated on the Gulf of Guinea, Lomé serves as the economic and administrative hub of Togo, with its bustling port playing a critical role in the country's economy. The city is known for its vibrant markets, especially the Grand Marché, a colorful epicenter of Togolese commerce and culture. Lomé also features a mix of colonial architecture and modern buildings, reflecting its history and development. The city's coastline is lined with palm-fringed beaches, making it a picturesque location for both residents and visitors. Lomé-Togo Lomé, the capital and largest city of Togo, is uniquely positioned as the only capital city in the world that borders another nation—Ghana. Situated on the Gulf of Guinea, Lomé serves as the economic and administrative hub of Togo, with its bustling port playing a critical role in the country's economy. The city is known for its vibrant markets, especially the Grand Marché, a colorful epicenter of Togolese commerce and culture. Lomé also features a mix of colonial architecture and modern buildings, reflecting its history and development. The city's coastline is lined with palm-fringed beaches, making it a picturesque location for both residents and visitors.

< Back La géopolitique de la gouvernance urbaine – une approche innovante pour coproduire des connaissances Sina Schlimmer L'Institut français des relations internationales (Ifri) lance un programme de recherche intitulé « Gouverner la transition urbaine en Afrique » pour aborder la compétition géopolitique croissante autour des infrastructures urbaines et les approches de gouvernance innovantes pour les villes de taille moyenne en Afrique. Ce programme vise à créer des connaissances sur la gouvernance urbaine en développant des approches qui lient recherche, utilité sociale et action concrète. Lancé en 2022, il se concentrera sur des études continentales, régionales, nationales et de quartiers, abordant trois domaines clés interconnectés de la gouvernance urbaine : le foncier, la mobilité et les infrastructures. Le programme traitera également des besoins en matière de financement des infrastructures, des questions foncières et de mobilité à travers des études de cas issues de capitales et de villes de taille moyenne en Côte d'Ivoire, au Kenya, au Nigeria, au Sénégal et en Tanzanie. Il vise aussi à briser les frontières de la connaissance entre le « Sud global » et le « Nord global » en intégrant les perspectives des acteurs de différents secteurs professionnels liés à la gouvernance urbaine dans la conception de la recherche. Le nombre d'initiatives de recherche sur les villes africaines et sur la manière de réguler leur croissance ne cesse de croître. De nombreux acteurs contribuent à la gouvernance urbaine et beaucoup mènent leurs propres collectes de données et produisent des résultats de recherche. Cependant, les canaux et les interactions entre ces organisations et experts restent souvent limités et sous-exploités. Ce programme de recherche, lancé par l'Ifri en mai 2022, a pour objectif de fournir une plateforme permettant à ces acteurs de se rencontrer, de partager leur expertise et de coproduire des connaissances dans trois domaines clés interconnectés de la gouvernance urbaine : le foncier, la mobilité et les infrastructures. Le programme repose sur un consortium multipartite dont les membres sont des chercheurs, des décideurs locaux et nationaux, des organisations de la société civile et des fondations, des agences de développement, des organisations internationales, des corps professionnels et des acteurs du secteur privé, tous directement impliqués dans différents secteurs et activités liés à la gouvernance urbaine. Les réflexions transversales, les ateliers de recherche, les publications et des événements plus classiques, comme des webinaires et des conférences organisés dans des villes européennes et africaines, seront les principaux composants du programme. Les activités de la première année se concentreront sur les politiques de gouvernance urbaine, la concurrence géopolitique croissante autour des infrastructures urbaines et les approches de gouvernance innovantes pour les villes de taille moyenne. Au cours de la dernière décennie, la croissance urbaine en Afrique a suscité une grande attention de la communauté internationale. Plus particulièrement, depuis que l'objectif de créer des villes inclusives et durables a été inclus dans la liste des 17 Objectifs de développement durable en 2015, divers acteurs de différents secteurs (privé, agences de donateurs bilatéraux et multilatéraux, société civile et mouvements de base, municipalités, gouvernements nationaux, etc.) et à différents niveaux (local, national et international) ont développé des programmes, lancé des initiatives et construit leurs agendas autour des dynamiques d'urbanisation sur le continent. Des programmes de politiques, des projets de développement, des initiatives de diplomatie municipale, mais aussi des modèles d'investissement et de financement – tous visant à contribuer au développement urbain du continent – ont été conçus et mis en œuvre par de nombreux types d'acteurs et d'institutions. Ensemble, ils forment un réseau dense et multi-échelle d'acteurs, d'initiatives, de relations et de compétitions qui constituent et caractérisent la gouvernance urbaine (Förster, Amman, 2018; Bekker, Fourchard, 2013, Myers, 2011). ] Les initiatives de recherche traitant de la transformation des villes africaines augmentent également, mais ne sont pas récentes. Des chercheurs issus de multiples disciplines – en particulier dans les universités occidentales – produisent des connaissances, notamment depuis les années 1950. Ce corpus comprend de nombreux débats sur la nature, les acteurs et, dans une certaine mesure, la politique de la gouvernance urbaine (voir un aperçu de la littérature dans Schlimmer, 2022). Mais la production de connaissances sur les villes africaines et la gouvernance urbaine n'est pas un domaine exclusif des salles de séminaires et des revues académiques : des agences de développement, des organisations de la société civile spécialisées, des réseaux internationaux (UCGL, FMDV, etc.) et des corps professionnels ont produit des rapports contenant des informations empiriques précieuses, basées sur des collectes de données quantitatives et qualitatives ou des restitutions d’événements. En résumé : autant les acteurs impliqués dans la gouvernance des villes africaines sont nombreux, autant les initiatives de recherche créent de la sensibilisation et des données. Dans ce contexte de débats vifs et d'expertise croissante, deux grands problèmes se posent : le premier est la communication limitée et la collaboration restreinte entre les membres de cette communauté de recherche et de gouvernance urbaine. Chaque institution étant absorbée par ses propres agendas, objectifs et centres d'intérêt, il peut être difficile d'identifier des initiatives de recherche similaires menées par d'autres organisations. Deuxièmement, il est de notoriété commune qu’après leur publication, certaines données et rapports restent inexploités tandis que de nouveaux projets et initiatives de recherche sont déjà en préparation. En lien avec ce problème, certaines institutions réfléchissent à la manière d’améliorer la promotion et l’élargissement de la diffusion de leurs produits de recherche. Le programme de recherche sur « Gouverner la transition urbaine en Afrique » coordonné par l'Institut français des relations internationales (Ifri) vise à créer des connaissances sur la gouvernance urbaine en développant des approches pour aborder ces questions, qui concernent le lien entre la recherche, son utilité sociale et l’action concrète. L'architecture même du programme reflète cette approche de recherche orientée vers la résolution de problèmes : elle repose sur l’objectif de coproduire des connaissances avec différents acteurs clés impliqués dans la gouvernance urbaine, tant à l’international, qu’au niveau bilatéral et national. À partir de 2022, le projet se concentrera sur des études continentales, régionales, nationales (Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Sénégal et Tanzanie) et locales portant sur trois domaines interconnectés de la gouvernance urbaine : le foncier, la mobilité et les infrastructures. L’un des principaux sujets de la première année est l’accent croissant mis par les gouvernements, la communauté internationale, mais aussi les entreprises, sur la promotion des villes de taille moyenne et des nouvelles villes. Les publications porteront, par exemple, sur les enseignements tirés du projet de « nouvelle ville » à Diamniadio. Initialement annoncé comme une initiative pour décongestionner la capitale sénégalaise Dakar, des rapports et discours sur son caractère de ville fantôme et la viabilité limitée des créations urbaines ex nihilo se multiplient. Une autre recherche porte sur les villes de taille moyenne au Nigeria, où la recherche sur les politiques urbaines s’est largement concentrée sur la croissance exponentielle de la mégapole Lagos. Les résultats de cette recherche seront présentés et discutés lors de webinaires impliquant des décideurs et des experts des pays concernés. Le centre Afrique subsaharienne de l'Ifri organise un programme de recherche sur les grands défis des transitions urbaines en Afrique (2022-2024). Il a mis en place un consortium composé d'experts d'organisations internationales, des pays cibles de l'étude, ainsi que de la France et de l'Allemagne (et le réseau est encore en expansion), qui couvrent les domaines professionnels suivants : organisations internationales multilatérales et clés dans le domaine de la gouvernance urbaine en Afrique, agences de développement bilatérales, institutions académiques, secteur privé/entreprises impliquées dans le développement des infrastructures urbaines, maires, corps professionnels (par exemple dans les domaines du foncier et de l’urbanisme), ainsi que des fondations et des organisations de la société civile. Avant la création du consortium, une phase de consultation d'un an avec des parties prenantes basées en France, en Allemagne et au Kenya a permis de rencontrer et de discuter avec des chercheurs, des experts et des représentants de différentes institutions afin de comprendre leurs approches et définitions de la gouvernance urbaine, d’en apprendre davantage sur leurs activités et d’identifier leurs besoins en termes de production et de diffusion de connaissances de leurs propres initiatives de recherche. Sur la base de ces entretiens et de ces sessions de travail avec les membres du consortium, une carte des initiatives et données existantes a été créée, des idées pour accroître leur impact et étendre leur portée ont été développées, et un pool de domaines de recherche qui restent à aborder a été établi. Il est nécessaire de mieux comprendre les questions foncières, le financement des infrastructures et la mobilité, que ce programme abordera à travers des études de cas portant sur des capitales et des villes de taille moyenne en Côte d'Ivoire, au Kenya, au Nigeria, au Sénégal et en Tanzanie. La coproduction de connaissances est le concept clé de ce consortium. Elle sera mise en œuvre à travers différentes méthodes de collecte de données, d'analyse et de diffusion de la recherche. “Ateliers multi-acteurs sur différents aspects de la gouvernance urbaine” En plus des webinaires classiques et d'une conférence annuelle organisée à tour de rôle dans une ville européenne et une ville africaine, les ateliers seront des moments clés pour coproduire, partager et échanger. Les partenaires du consortium se réuniront pour discuter de sujets sélectionnés. Durant la première année du programme, les événements porteront sur le financement durable des projets de « nouvelles villes ». Basé sur l’expérience de l’Ifri en tant que think tank leader sur les relations internationales, l’événement abordera la question du financement des infrastructures urbaines en tant que terrain fertile pour la concurrence géopolitique, à mesure que le nombre de partenariats public-privé (PPP) et d’accords de financement entre les gouvernements africains et des partenaires « traditionnels » et « nouveaux » (par exemple, la Turquie, les États du Golfe, la Chine) augmente. Un autre webinaire abordera différentes approches de la gouvernance urbaine dans les villes de taille moyenne, y compris la coopération décentralisée et la diplomatie des villes. Lors de ces événements, les participants partageront leurs expériences professionnelles quotidiennes en les confrontant aux perspectives et analyses d’experts et de chercheurs. Inversement, les chercheurs et experts auront l’occasion de se rapprocher des professionnels, praticiens et décideurs impliqués dans les secteurs foncier, de la mobilité et des infrastructures de la gouvernance urbaine. L'objectif est de créer un environnement d'apprentissage constructif, où tous les participants cherchent à dépasser les frontières institutionnelles et les cloisonnements thématiques. Briser les frontières de la connaissance entre le « Sud global » et le « Nord global » L’une des principales observations de la recherche sur les villes africaines est que les outils de gouvernance et de planification, les normes et les modèles sont largement inspirés d’approches occidentales, dont certaines se sont révélées incompatibles avec les réalités de la vie urbaine sur le terrain (Lindell, 2008). Le pool de chercheurs et d’experts impliqués dans le programme a travaillé dans des institutions internationales, africaines et européennes et acquis de l’expérience dans la création de villes dans différents contextes. Ils contribueront aux discussions transversales et déconstruiront les approches dominantes. Les articles comparatifs et coécrits confrontant des études de cas et croisant des approches disciplinaires sont encouragés. Les produits de recherche se concentreront sur différentes échelles d'analyse allant du niveau continental au niveau local. “Un réseau croissant de chercheurs, d'experts et de professionnels” Le consortium et les événements qui seront organisés sont conçus comme une plateforme d'échange, d'apprentissage et de mise en réseau. Le réseau se développera au fil du temps en incluant davantage d'institutions, d'experts et en particulier de jeunes chercheurs intéressés par une recherche novatrice axée sur les politiques et les actions en matière de gouvernance urbaine. Les praticiens de différents secteurs urbains soulignent parfois les impacts limités, directs et mesurables, de la recherche sur les projets urbains et les communautés cibles. Bien que ce programme de recherche n’ait pas pour objectif de formuler des solutions fixes et compactes pour la gouvernance urbaine, sa fondation sur un consortium multi-acteurs facilitera l'accessibilité et la compréhension des résultats de la recherche par un public non académique et orienté vers l'action, augmentant ainsi sa signification. Notre approche de coproduction aidera à inclure les perspectives des parties prenantes de différents domaines professionnels liés à la gouvernance urbaine dans la conception de la recherche. Les perspectives et connaissances créées se diffuseront à travers les activités et approches du programme : Événements de restitution : La plupart des études publiées (formats longs et courts), publiées en anglais et en français, seront présentées par leurs auteurs lors de cycles de webinaires et/ou lors de la conférence annuelle ouverte au grand public. La première conférence annuelle est prévue à Dakar en 2023 et réunira des experts et de jeunes chercheurs de la région pour partager des connaissances et discuter des défis liés au foncier, aux infrastructures et à la mobilité dans les projets de nouvelles villes établis dans la région. Certaines des recherches menées seront également présentées lors de petits ateliers multi-acteurs, où les praticiens du consortium pourront directement partager leurs préoccupations quant à la pertinence et à la réutilisation des résultats de la recherche dans leur travail quotidien. Si des fonds sont disponibles, des événements de restitution régionaux et locaux permettront à la population cible de projets urbains spécifiques, ainsi qu'aux représentants de la société civile et des mouvements de base, de partager leurs commentaires et d'évaluer la signification des résultats de la recherche. Collaborations scientifiques entre différentes institutions d'apprentissage : dans la mesure où les sujets le permettent, nos chercheurs seront encouragés à coécrire leurs articles avec des collègues d’autres instituts de recherche, afin de favoriser les synergies entre les institutions d’apprentissage et d’élargir le réseau. L'Ifri collabore étroitement avec les Instituts français de recherche à l'étranger (UMIFRE), qui sont des plateformes renforçant la collaboration scientifique entre les chercheurs français et les laboratoires de recherche du monde entier. Les bureaux à Nairobi, au Kenya, et à Ibadan, au Nigeria, sont des partenaires proches qui nous aident à identifier de jeunes chercheurs et experts ainsi que des initiatives de recherche traitant de sujets liés à la gouvernance urbaine. Membres actifs du consortium représentés dans nos pays cibles d’étude : en plus des chercheurs qui mènent des travaux de terrain, le consortium de recherche est composé d'organisations internationales, d'agences de développement, de fondations et d'entreprises ayant des bureaux dans nos différents pays cibles d'étude. Ils sont concrètement impliqués dans différents aspects de la gouvernance urbaine, tels que la formulation de politiques, l’urbanisme, le financement, la conception et la mise en œuvre d’infrastructures, mais aussi le soutien aux organisations de la société civile. La présence active de nos partenaires sur le terrain, y compris des chercheurs, ONU-Habitat, la Fondation Friedrich-Ebert, l'Agence française de développement, mais aussi Bureau Veritas, Egis, Meridiam, Orange et la Société, est cruciale lors de la diffusion de nos résultats de recherche, lors de leurs propres événements et activités, mais aussi lors de la coorganisation de séminaires de restitution sur place. Ils serviront également de nœuds pour les réseaux locaux que nous entendons construire et étendre pendant le programme. Conçu comme un consortium de recherche multi-acteurs, notre programme est une initiative novatrice qui vise à exploiter l'expertise des différentes parties prenantes impliquées dans la gouvernance urbaine pour coproduire une recherche pertinente et socialement utile. Après un an de revue de la littérature, de réseautage et de plusieurs séries de réunions de consultation, le programme de recherche « Gouverner la transition urbaine en Afrique » a été lancé en mai 2022 à l’Ifri à Paris. Les membres du consortium se sont réunis pour préparer et valider la feuille de route de la première année du programme et ont décidé à la fois du programme de recherche et des événements à organiser. Le foncier, les infrastructures et la mobilité seront traités comme des domaines clés interconnectés de la gouvernance urbaine. L’évaluation de ces secteurs est particulièrement pertinente dans les villes de taille moyenne, qui reflètent certains des taux de croissance urbaine les plus élevés du continent. L'agenda de la première année met également l'accent sur la politique de la gouvernance urbaine, y compris la concurrence géopolitique croissante autour des projets d'infrastructures urbaines par des pays partenaires dits « traditionnels » et « émergents ». La fondation du consortium de recherche a été lancée, mais il ne peut vivre et se développer que si d'autres experts, chercheurs et partenaires rejoignent l’aventure et alimentent nos réflexions et débats sur la gouvernance urbaine tout au long de sa mise en œuvre. Previous Next

< Back Abidjan: Repenser la mobilité par la planification, l’inclusion et le dialogue Dans cet entretien, Charlène Kouassi, Directrice de Movin’On Lab Africa, met en lumière les défis du système de transport urbain à Abidjan. Les coûts élevés de déplacement, résultant d'une offre non intégrée et d'un manque de subvention de l’État, poussent les usagers à des solutions alternatives telles que la marche. Les véhicules vieillissants et l'inégalité d'accès aux offres de mobilité soulignent l'urgence de solutions inclusives et immédiates. Les femmes, particulièrement touchées, nécessitent une conception de transport adaptée à leurs besoins. Pour améliorer la situation, Charlène préconise des dialogues réguliers avec les acteurs du secteur et une meilleure inclusion du transport artisanal dans les offres publiques. En parallèle, l'initiative Movin’On Lab Africa vise à promouvoir des pratiques durables et innovantes en matière de mobilité. Enfin, une planification urbaine adéquate, favorisant l'intermodalité et les modes de transport doux, s'avère cruciale pour transformer les villes africaines en espaces harmonieux, durables et accessibles à tous. La configuration actuelle du système de transport urbain à Abidjan pose des défis à plusieurs niveaux En 2019, la Banque mondiale estimait que le transport représente la troisième principale source de dépenses des ménages derrière la nourriture et le logement en Côte d’Ivoire. De plus, une amélioration de la mobilité à Abidjan de l’ordre de 20 % pourrait accroître la croissance économique du pays d’au moins 1%. Ce qui renforce davantage l’enjeu immense que représente la mobilité. Au-delà des aspects structurels liés au déficit de l’offre de transport formel par rapport à la demande, l’inclusion des personnes joue également un rôle prépondérant. “Se déplacer dans la ville d’Abidjan représente à peu près 40% des revenus d’un ménage moyen, ce qui représente une charge importante. Aujourd’hui l’offre ne permet pas de réduire drastiquement cette source de dépenses.” , affirme Charlène KOUASSI, Directrice de Movin’On Lab Africa. Ces coûts élevés de transport résultent d’une part de l’absence d’une offre intégrée réunissant l’ensemble des modes de transports suivant une logique d’intermodalité et d'interopérabilité. D’autre part, l’absence de subvention de l’Etat dans le secteur des transports complique l’accès aux services de transport dits formels pour tous. La plupart des usagers se voit ainsi contrainte de recourir à des solutions alternatives telles que la marche qui représente environ 40% des déplacements bien que dans un contexte où les voies piétonnes sont mal conçues, inadaptées, voire inexistantes. Au-delà de la marche, les modes de transport popilaires sont hautement plébiscités. Ceux-ci représentent environ 70% de l’offre de mobilité à Abidjan et sont les plus utilisés pour les déplacements motorisés constitués entre autres par les minibus (gbakas) et les taxis collectifs (woro-woro). Toutefois, l’inclusion financière dans ce secteur représente un défi majeur aussi bien pour les ménages, dans la mesure où la décomposition du trajet entraîne des coûts supplémentaires, ainsi que pour les transporteurs avec des revenus faibles, le manque de traçabilité, l’absence de couverture sociale, etc. L’accès aux véhicules de bonne qualité et à des prix abordables est également un enjeu important lorsqu’il s’agit de mobilité inclusive. Bien que le taux de motorisation soit faible, la majeure partie des véhicules constituant le parc automobile sont vieillissants et d’occasion issus de l’importation non soumis à des normes. En raison des revenus faibles des ménages, ceux-ci ne peuvent s’offrir un véhicule neuf et aux normes. Boulevard Abrogoua à côté de la mosquée du marché Adjamé à Abidjan, par AIN, décembre 2021 Le transport dit artisanal est également un important consommateur de ces véhicules de seconde main qui échappent aux normes de sécurité et de pollution entre autres. Pourtant, cette situation est contradictoire à la loi de 2017 fixant la limitation d’âge des véhicules d’occasion importés et affectés au transport public des personnes et des marchandises en Côte d’ivoire à cinq ans. Enfin, sur le plan territorial, les offres de mobilité sont inégalement distribuées, ce qui accentue la fracture spatiale. On observe un décalage entre la planification urbaine et la planification des systèmes mobilités. Les quartiers reculés et informels se retrouvent mal desservis avec des offres en transport qui se concentrent majoritairement sur les axes principaux. Plus loin, les politiques et stratégies de mobilité durable pensées pour la ville d’Abidjan et la plupart des villes africaines proposent des interventions sur le long terme (10 à 20 ans). Or, il urge de penser également des solutions pouvant d’une part, mobiliser des moyens techniques, humains et financiers sur le court terme, et d’autre part être mises en œuvre rapidement afin d’améliorer le quotidien des usagers. Bien que, des initiatives telles que l’aménagement des arrêts minutes pour les minibus à Abidjan, sur la commune de Yopougon, sont à encourager et à multiplier, quoiqu’elles restent insuffisantes. Les femmes sont malheureusement misent en marge dans le design de l’offre de transport La configuration de l’offre de transport actuelle à Abidjan place les personnes vulnérables au rang desquelles les femmes, en ligne de front face aux dangers liés aux services inadaptés des offres de mobilité existantes. En effet, que ce soit en termes de sécurité, avec l’absence d’éclairage public et de systèmes de surveillance ; ou en termes de confort, avec l’absence de commodités comme les aires de repos, les toilettes, etc., la conception des modes de transport ne prend pas en compte les besoins spécifiques et les vulnérabilités des femmes pour leur bien-être et leur épanouissement en matière de mobilité urbaine. Pourtant, en adressant ces questions, les systèmes de transport seraient inclusifs non seulement pour les femmes, mais profiteraient au bien-être de tous. “Quand on s'intéresse aux problématiques que vivent les femmes dans le transport, on se rend compte que ce sont des problématiques qui, si elles trouvaient une réponse adéquate, pourraient profiter à l'ensemble de la population” précise Charlène. Du point de vue des usages, les femmes sont les principales usagers du transport public et des espaces publics. Tandis que l’homme a un trajet beaucoup plus linéaire de type domicile-travail, les femmes par contre ont un trajet beaucoup plus dynamique domicile – travail – marché – école pour récupérer les enfants – etc. En dépit de cela, ces dynamiques de mobilités ne sont pas souvent traduites dans la plupart des études de transport. Cet écart de données sur le genre peut s’avérer pourtant crucial dans la planification, la conception et l’exploitation des infrastructures de transport. D’ailleurs, des initiatives telles que WomenMobilizeWomen travaillent à réduire ces écarts en organisant des campagnes de collecte de données de mobilité basées sur le genre. Promouvoir le dialogue et concilier avec l’informel pour une mobilité durable à Abidjan Transformer la mobilité urbaine implique de multiplier les cadres de concertation avec l’écosystème des acteurs de la mobilité au niveau local, incluant les institutions villageoises, les usagers, les entreprises, les start-ups, etc. Ceci afin de co-créer, à travers les échanges et le dialogue, des solutions innovantes, plus inclusives, particulièremennt pour les femmes mais aussi pour les groupes dits vulnérables tels que les personnes âgées, les personnes à mobilité réduites et les jeunes. “Bien que certains espaces de dialogue avec les transporteurs aient été mis sur pied, ceux-ci manquent de proactivité” souligne Charlène. Une approche plus efficace consisterait à instaurer des échanges beaucoup plus fréquents, idéalement chaque semaine, et à allouer des ressources de manière continue pour assurer leur bon déroulement. Cela favoriserait un suivi et une évaluation plus rigoureux en utilisant des critères de performance basés sur les retours d'expérience des transporteurs et des voyageurs. Dès lors, rendre la mobilité inclusive reviendra à intégrer le transport artisanal aux offres de transport public existantes. D’autant plus que l’offre actuelle ne représente qu’un faible pourcentage comparé au transport artisanal représentant près de 70% de l’offre globale. Cette inclusion passera notamment par, la formation et l’accompagnement des chauffeurs de Gbaka, de woro-woros, et de pinasses mais aussi par la maintenance ou le renouvellement de leur flotte. La digitalisation a permis l'essor des solutions digitales comme GO TAXI, MOJA RIDE et BIM BARA, YANGO et UBER, l’on assiste à l’émergence d’une palettes de services de mobilité à l’instar du transport à la demande ou encore de la professionnalisation du secteur des taxis compteurs. Ces solutions émergentes ont l’avantage d’offrir une meilleure inclusion financière aux transporteurs artisanaux. Grâce à des mécanismes de suivi de leurs revenus, d’octroi de récompenses selon leurs performances, de certification, etc., ceux-ci pourront avoir accès à de meilleures conditions de travail ainsi qu’aux services financiers. Movin’On Lab Africa, acteur engagé pour la promotion d’une mobilité durable et inclusive en Afrique L’initiative Movin’On Lab Africa, est un Think & Do Thank, dédié à la mobilité durable en Afrique et qui promeut des bonnes pratiques et solutions innovantes à travers le continent. A cet égard, le Think Tank propose plusieurs pistes de réflexion sur les opportunités, challenges et défis à venir, etc. Différents canaux de communication sont utilisés à cet effet pour faire passer des messages clés, notamment : ateliers, conférences, podcasts, talkshow, etc. “Le rôle de Movin’On Lab Africa est de fédérer, autour d’un objectif commun, la création de valeur locale et la soutenabilité des systèmes de mobilité en Afrique” , affirme Charlene. L’objectif étant de mettre en place des communautés d’intérêt centrées sur des problématiques propres aux villes africaines à l’instar du transport artisanal. Une meilleure planification urbaine est un prérequis incontournable pour une meilleure planification des transports Dans le contexte des villes africaines et particulièrement de la ville d’Abidjan, la planification des transports doit encourager l'intermodalité avec la mise en place d'infrastructures dédiées favorisant les modes doux et la mobilité partagée. Cela contribuera à réduire significativement la congestion, la pollution sonore et atmosphérique. “Dans les cinq prochaines décennies, ma vision pour les villes africaines est finalement assez terre à terre. Des villes où il fait bon vivre, où la nature reprend sa place et où tradition et modernité cohabitent de façon harmonieuse. J'aspire à l'adoption de designs et de techniques architecturales intégrant des services de première nécessité, des espaces culturels et de loisirs accessibles à tous. Une ville où il y a une multitude d'offres de transports accessibles à tous.” conclut Charlène. Previous Next

< Back A Sustainable and Resilient Urban Transformation in Africa: The Dakar REVE Project, Leveraging IMM Diagnostics Carlo Andrea Biraghi, Sidy Sall, Fatou Bintou Sall, Massimo Tadi Based on the challenges faced by cities in sub-Saharan Africa, this article presents the application of the IMM urban diagnosis as a promising tool to address these issues and improve the sustainability and resilience of urban systems. This holistic approach, developed at the Politecnico di Milano, scientifically analyzes urban structure and its environmental performance using geospatial data. It can be applied to cities of any type and scale, either to an entire city to detect and prioritize potential transformation areas or to smaller sites to assess the impact of alternative transformation scenarios. By using free and open-source tools, it represents a viable solution to significantly enhance the precision and comprehensiveness of existing planning practices while keeping costs very low. Within the framework of the Dakar REVE (Green Regeneration) project, which addresses the improvement of urban public services through a set of complementary initiatives, the IMM was applied to the city of Dakar and was also transferred through a training program to local technicians. These activities are in synergy with others by the Dakar municipality to fully exploit the potential of geolocated technologies, promoting cooperation and integration among existing expertise in different fields. The results have the necessary granularity to bridge the gap between site and city scales, serving as a basis for further analysis or supporting the preparation of strategic planning documents. The rapid urban growth in Dakar demands innovative solutions for emerging structural and organizational challenges The massive and rapid growth of cities, particularly Dakar, presents new structural and organizational challenges. The chaotic production and occupation of space associated with this growth create acute cultural, technical, and economic difficulties. This reality, which endangers the very development of the city, affects multiple areas of expertise, including urban planning, architecture, sociology, and demography. In many cases, it even calls into question the analysis methods, design approaches, and intervention techniques of city managers. Additionally, urbanization in large cities is taking on new forms previously unknown (such as diffuse cities, alveolar spaces, etc.), which, due to the speed and scale of their characteristics and the lack of available resources, require entirely new approaches and intervention methodologies. This is why the City of Dakar and its strategic partners are actively seeking innovative solutions to make Dakar a resilient city. Dakar REVE advances sustainable urban development by enhancing waste management and civic participation The DAKAR REVE (Dakar Green Regeneration) project is funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, following the December 2019 call for «Promotion of territorial partnerships and territorial implementation of the 2030 Agenda.» The project aims to contribute to the sustainable urban development of the Dakar region in the current context of climate transition by improving urban services and civic participation related to waste management. The multidisciplinary consortium has initiated a set of activities ranging from the construction of an organic waste collection center and the incubation of local green businesses to awareness projects in schools, training of local urban sector technicians, and the diagnosis of the entire urban system using the IMM methodology to provide strategic support for future planning initiatives. This project is a cornerstone for the success of the «Dakar Clean City» program, as well as for advocating at the local government level for the establishment of innovative public waste management and valorization channels. The project will conclude in January 2025, but some of its activities have already been completed. The Integrated Modification Methodology (IMM) offers a data-driven, systemic approach to urban sustainability The Integrated Modification Methodology (IMM), developed by the ABC department of the Politecnico di Milano, is a comprehensive procedure using various scientific techniques to analyze and evaluate the built environment at multiple scales. IMM is distinguished by its integrative and system-oriented approach, its focus on sustainability, its data-driven methods, and its alignment with global sustainable development goals (SDGs) The methodology involves a non-linear process that offers a systemic understanding of urban areas, proposes improvement strategies, and examines modification plans. IMM has already been applied globally in cities such as Tehran, Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro, and Milan. The methodology is structured in phases, starting with a diagnostic phase based on geospatial data, leading to the design and optimization of solutions. The first phase involves data collection and mapping, followed by geoprocessing to enrich the information. This data, divided into four components (volumes, voids, networks, and types of uses), is then integrated to describe relevant urban dimensions, called Key Categories (KC). The KCs—namely accessibility, diversity, effectiveness, interface, permeability, porosity, and proximity—are described using a combination of maps and numerical measures. These readings allow for both a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the potential of the current urban structure in relation to specific dynamics. The results are then further integrated to produce more synthetic representations that show the emergence of recognizable urban patterns. This process allows for the detection of the city’s weakest subsystems in terms of spatial areas and constituent elements. A meta-project then follows, defining a hierarchy of design actions to be undertaken to improve the performance of the existing urban structure. The actions identified have the advantage of being located in specific areas of the territory and can be compared with policies already implemented in the city. Ensuring data consistency for IMM application in Dakar was challenging but essential Geospatial data plays a crucial role in the application of IMM. However, the availability of data can vary significantly depending on the context, in terms of coverage, quality, granularity, topology, standards, and richness of attributes. Regardless of their quality, considerable effort is required to ensure consistency between local standards and those used to consolidate IMM procedures. This involves a collaborative effort between IMM experts and local points of contact to address discrepancies and ensure compatibility. The complexity of this work is further compounded by the interwoven nature of the correspondences between the elements of the two data sets. Data collection for Dakar was particularly challenging due to the absence of a geoportal and the lack of open-source data. Several conflicting sources were integrated into a new data set. Key activities included completing information on building floors and remapping population data, with efforts to simulate missing values. The type of uses data was manually classified with the help of local staff to align with IMM concepts. Network data was primarily sourced from OpenStreetMap, while high-quality authoritative data was provided for open spaces. This phase, known as Data Mapping, was conducted jointly by PoliMI, the City of Dakar, IAGU, and IPSIA. It should be noted that informal systems (housing, transport, activities) were not taken into account due to the difficulty of mapping them on such a large scale. However, their inclusion in the analysis is feasible if collaborative mapping campaigns are activated to determine their coherence and characteristics. IMM analysis in Dakar highlights critical urban challenges and guides future planning strategies The application of the Integrated Modification Methodology (IMM) to the city of Dakar has provided valuable insights into the major urban challenges facing this sub-Saharan African city. One of the most critical issues identified is the rapid urbanization and growth of informal settlements, which place considerable pressure on the city’s infrastructure and services. The analysis of the key categories «Proximity» and «Accessibility» revealed that while central areas of Dakar offer better access to points of interest and public transport, many peripheral neighborhoods suffer from low proximity and accessibility. This highlights the need for more equitable urban development and investments in infrastructure to connect all parts of the city. The evaluation of «Diversity» also underscored the importance of promoting a mix of uses and activities to create more resilient and adaptable urban environments. The results suggest that areas with low diversity are more vulnerable to external changes and may require targeted interventions to improve their robustness. Furthermore, the analysis of the key category «Interface» revealed issues with the quality of the road network, particularly in the north-west area of Ngor and in certain municipalities such as Hann-Bel Air and Mermoz-Sacré-Cœur. This indicates the need for infrastructure upgrades and improvements in connectivity and integration within the transport system. Integrated Modification Methodology (IMM) analysis The evaluation of «Porosity» and «Efficiency» provided valuable insights into the relationship between built volumes and open spaces, as well as the capacity of the urban structure to accommodate growth and development. Finally, «Permeability» refers to the directness of links and the density of connections in the transport network, indicating that while the peninsula limits access, some connections exist along the coast, offering guidance for future projects. These findings can inform future planning and design strategies to create more balanced and sustainable urban environments. The application of IMM to Dakar has demonstrated its versatility and potential as a tool for understanding and addressing the complex challenges faced by sub-Saharan African cities. The collaborative approach, involving local stakeholders and experts, was crucial in ensuring the relevance and applicability of the results to Dakar’s specific context. As the city continues its efforts to become more resilient and sustainable, the insights from the IMM diagnosis can serve as a foundation for the development of targeted interventions and the implementation of innovative solutions. The integration into the broader Dakar REVE project, which focuses on improving urban services and civic participation, further enhances the potential of this methodology to drive positive changes in the city. Moving forward, it will be essential to continue collaborative efforts between the city of Dakar, its strategic partners, and IMM experts to refine the analysis, integrate new data, and translate the results into concrete design scenarios and policy recommendations. In doing so, Dakar can pave the way for other medium-sized cities in sub-Saharan Africa to adopt similar data-driven and holistic approaches to urban planning and development. Strategic intervention prioritizes urban areas in Dakar for targeted development and infrastructure improvements A collection of maps synthesizing the various Key Categories (KCs) is presented. The first map confirms the overall good performance of the North-South axis and highlights concentrations of weaker cells primarily along the coast. The second map delves into qualitative aspects, revealing that the weakest areas from the previous map lack both uses and network components (shades of pink and purple). The central area, however, could slightly improve the Volume component (green cells). Richer insights can be obtained by closely examining this map at the local scale. The third map more clearly shows the concentration of weak cells on the West and East sides of a central core (Grand-Dakar, Biscuiterie, Sicap-Liberté) characterized by the presence of development opportunities. Finally, the last map outlines the largest concentrations of weak cells in morphological zones, which do not necessarily correspond to administrative units. A transformation priority was then defined for the 11 zones. First, Zone No. 1 (Île de Gorée) was excluded as it is disconnected from the urban system. Next, Zones 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11 were also excluded as they are mostly within a constraint zone (airport, natural sites). Among the remaining zones, Zone 3 was identified as the most urgent due to its size, the presence of severe flood risks and other hazards, and its proximity to the city’s most performant areas. Zone 5 is significant in size, has good proximity to performant areas, and could serve as a «bridge» for neighboring weak zones. Synthesis Integrated Modification Methodology (IMM) Additionally, when considered together with Zone 3, it could help envision a horizontal axis within Dakar. Zones 2, 4, and 9 are lower priorities due to various factors such as location, size, and other transformation challenges. Among these, Zones 6 and 8 are the most interesting in terms of size and position due to the potential for creating continuity with adjacent areas. Given this, the final ranking is as follows: 3-5-2-9-4-6-8-7-11-10-1. Today, we recognize that territory is a space to be understood to grasp the dynamics taking place within it and to make the necessary decisions for its functioning. Since 2018, the city of Dakar has embarked on the process of establishing a Geographic Information System (GIS). In its ongoing quest to strengthen our GIS, the Dakar REVE project came at an opportune time. The training provided allowed city agents to acquire new skills in processing and analyzing territorial data. Moreover, the quantity of data returned at the end of the project will not only enrich Dakar digital atlas but also the modifiable data provided, facilitating future spatial analyses. This will subsequently generate insights to help the mayor and the municipal council better guide their city policies. The IMM urban diagnostic results for Dakar highlight its general applicability, requiring specific adjustments to local characteristics. The results, aligned with visual interpretations, reinforce the arguments. The next steps include incorporating new data and creating design scenarios for the municipality, based on the same IMM diagnostic process. Previous Next

< Back Urban-Rural linkages at the center of urban policy agenda in Africa Grace GITHIRI, Inès Diurtionnel NGOUANOM, Antonio KIPYEGON Urban-rural linkages in Africa are a significant challenge, with rapid urbanization and rural-urban migration putting pressure on urban and peri-urban areas. UN-Habitat and partners implemented the "Leaving no space behind: strengthening urban-rural Linkages (URL) in Africa" project in four countries: Cameroon, Guinea, Nigeria (Niger State), and Tanzania (Zanzibar). The project aimed to enhance the capacities of policymakers and change agents at all levels to collect and use evidence for fostering cross-sectoral, multi-level frameworks, strategies, and action plans for integrated and inclusive territorial development. The project involved the development of context-specific normative toolkits, capacity-building sessions, technical dialogues, and advisory services to stakeholders. The project also provided an overall framework for the review of the National Urban Policy (NUP) for each country and in the data collection process at a local level. The project aimed to strengthen the synergies between urban and rural communities and spaces, promoting integrated territorial development and achieving global goals. Traditional approaches to planning and development viewed urban and rural areas as two separate entities creating a dichotomy between the two. In reality, the boundary between urban and rural areas is diffused, and the two are intertwined and connected in a functioning system of linkages that sustains the interactions between them. While urban growth might bring prosperity to many urban regions, the urban dividend is often not shared across the territory. In some countries, small and intermediary cities, which are a crucial link for integrated territorial development, find it difficult to define their roles in the contemporary economy; hence adversely suffering from uncontrolled growth, poverty, lower incomes, high youth unemployment rates, inward migration from rural areas and outmigration of mainly young and skilled. To address these urban-rural linkages challenges in the African context, UN-Habitat and partners implemented, the project “Leaving no space behind: strengthening urban-rural Linkages (URL) in Africa” in four countries: Cameroon, Guinea, Nigeria (Niger State), and Tanzania (Zanzibar) Funded by the United Nations Development Account this project supported the four countries to enhance their urban-rural linkages and bridge the urban-rural divide by enhancing the capacities of policymakers and change agents at all levels to collect and use evidence for fostering cross-sectoral, multi-level frameworks, strategies, and action plans for integrated and inclusive territorial development. Ensuring the entire project cycle was inclusive and participatory, UN-Habitat employed several delivery methods, including the development of context-specific normative toolkits and guides, national and subnational capacity-building sessions, technical dialogues as well as advisory services to a wide array of stakeholders, including government officials, academia, civil society and women and youth groups. The project implementation involved the creation of awareness along with capacity-building activities on the significance of strengthening URL. Through the awareness-raising activities, the countries were also able to define their priorities or key pressing issues towards functional and inclusive URL at the national and local levels. This was to provide an overall framework for the review of the National Urban Policy (NUP) for each country and in the data collection process at a local level respectively. In Africa, the urban-rural divide is a reality that participating countries must address. To be specific, rapid urbanization, due to rural-urban migration is placing enormous pressure on urban and peri-urban areas, including intermediary cities. Large cities and metropolitan areas are already experiencing urban sprawl and expanding their border to peri-urban areas, surrounding rural areas, and hinterlands. When expanding in such an unplanned manner, cities consume valuable (close by) agricultural land (in some cases) which could in turn affect food security and food systems in general. Similarly, fragile ecosystems are being transformed into urban land uses, impacting ecological resources such as waterways, fisheries, and forests. The 2017 report of the UN Economic Commission on Africa on “Urbanization and Industrialization for Africa’s Transformation” states that Africa's least urbanized countries are urbanizing fastest due to rural-urban migration, a phenomenon which still remains even as countries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, unlike global trends, the urban-rural disparities in Africa do not seem to narrow with increasing urbanization. Low connectivity and insufficient infrastructure in rural areas widen these inequalities between urban and rural areas and since economic investment is often low, job opportunities remain few. The 2017 report of the UN Economic Commission on Africa states that “management of the rural-urban transition in a way that promotes equity is one of the major challenges facing policymakers in most African countries.” The situation in the project countries is no different, for example in Cameroon, rural-urban migration was defined as the main cause of urban sprawl. The reasons for migration as described above, specifically the search for better opportunities due to urban and rural disparities and inadequate infrastructural development. In Niger State, Nigeria, the inefficiencies of infrastructure, leading to a declining local economy, is one of the main contributors to poverty among rural populations. Connecting food producers to urban markets and enhancing the flows of goods, products, and information would improve the lives of the rural dwellers, and also promote urban food security. In Guinea Conakry, the poor connectivity of physical infrastructure, information transfer, and social connectivity cause a major development gap between rural and urban areas. The case in Zanzibar, Tanzania is no different; the poorest and least developed, low literacy levels and access to health care among other challenges being experienced, in rural areas. Faced with these challenges, the call to strengthen the synergies between urban and rural communities and spaces is pivotal towards integrated territorial development and achieving global goals. The project thus provided for the countries to define their priorities, gather data, review policy, and make recommendations for policy enhancements. UN-Habitat implemented the project using several delivery methods to ensure an inclusive, effective, and participatory approach. These include the development of innovative, contextspecific normative tools and guides, capacity development sessions as well as technical dialogues and advisory services. UN-Habitat coordinated activities at the regional level and offered normative tools for adoption in the country's contexts. The main activities in the field were over ten capacitybuilding workshops, data collection exercises at different locations, policy reviews, and recommendations for enhancing the policy frameworks in the lens of urbanrural linkages. One unique aspect of the project is that it integrated inputs from technical experts and local communities or stakeholders to inform the policy review and recommendation process. Approximately 2500 people were engaged during the implementation of this project. The project not only gathered inputs for policies but the stakeholders involved had their capacities strengthened which will be replicated to others and in their daily work on urban-rural linkages. Data collection was also collected using digital tools such as Kobocollect which made data collection, analysis, and presentation quicker and relatively more accurate. The digital tool was not only innovative but also minimized the use of paper contributing to environmental conservation. The capacity-building workshops and related activities were also hybrid; both physical and online especially during COVID-19 restrictions allowing for continuity of project activities. In Cameroon, the project began by bringing together a country team which was composed of over 20 people from different sectors. They defined three priority issues that would be key in addressing urban-rural disparities. They are: improving road and transportation infrastructure; telecommunications infrastructures; Partnerships and financial services. Along with the definition of priorities, UN-Habitat worked with stakeholders such as government officials, civil society, and academia, to develop a report on the general challenges and state of urban-rural linkages in Cameroon. Similarly over thirteen policies, laws, and strategies were reviewed on the nature and extent to which they had addressed urban-rural linkages. The other related activities were data collection and six workshops on awareness, capacity building, and validation of project outcomes. In Zanzibar, Tanzania, the multi-stakeholder country team defined three priorities for strengthened urbanrural linkages. The priorities were: food security, social services, and infrastructural services. A URL situational report comprising the challenges and opportunities was developed, with the contribution of all stakeholders. Over 20 policies and strategies were also reviewed guiding the recommendations thereof. Data collection of both secondary and primary sources was conducted in the selected sites, including farms, marketplaces, and from community groups. To further enhance inclusivity and participation from all the five regions of Zanzibar, up to five workshops in the five regions were conducted to raise awareness on URL, enhance the participant's capacity as well as validate the project outcomes, attended by over 100 diverse participants. In Niger State, Nigeria, the project was implemented under the umbrella of the Niger State Urban Support Programme, which consisted of urban-rural linkages, state urban policy, and integrated development planning. The strengthening urban-rural linkages component was then integrated as a chapter in the Niger State urban policy, which was approved by the State Executive Council in June 2021, A multi-stakeholder team formulated to coordinate the project identified priority issues as infrastructure and human security. Similar to Zanzibar, the Niger State team conducted policy reviews, defined the gaps, and provided fitting recommendations to enhance urban-rural linkages. A report was also prepared on the status of URL in Niger State with specific examples of ongoing projects and initiatives by other partners and governments on rural electrification, rural road upgrading, and market studies. Through the project, a total of three workshops were conducted, which included training on data collection and validation workshops various consultative meetings along with the NUP development process. Guinea Conakry started with a stakeholder’s awareness workshop conducted in Conakry bringing together relevant stakeholders together to understand and discuss the relevance of urban-rural linkages. They also developed the status report on URL in Guinea along with a review of over ten relevant policies. Data collection was also collected to understand the three priorities identified as infrastructure, environmental issues, and economic activities. Four workshops were held in Conakry on awareness, capacity building, and validation of project outcomes. The urban policy process kicked off after the project closed, and a specific section on urban-rural linkages will be integrated with the policy document. The aim of the project was mainly to build the capacities of the stakeholders in the project countries towards enhancing urban-rural linkages and integrated territorial development through policies, and strategies among other frameworks. The projects were anchored in the project countries along with the urban policy process apart from Cameroon where the policy was already completed. The project saw several milestones reached and significant progress made in enhancing urban-rural linkages. Some of the progress made and results achieved include: Multisectoral country teams (national, and local) responsible for promoting and ensuring the consideration of urban-rural links in policies and strategies were set up and equipped through capacity-building activities and related project activities. They will thus continue playing a major role in advancing the agenda as ambassadors of urban-rural linkages initiatives in their works. The capacities of more than 2500 stakeholders in the government, private sector, academia, and civil society have been strengthened on what urban-rural linkages entail and why it is important including how local initiatives contribute to the agenda. This was not only through the capacity-building activities and data collection process but also through the reports developed that will be disseminated in the relevant languages in each project country In all four project countries, urban-rural linkages will form part of the national or sub-national (Zanzibar and Niger state) agendas having been integrated into the urban policies. In Niger state, a chapter dedicated to policy actions for managing urban-rural linkages was adopted. Urban policies form a key reference document for legislation, planning, and related strategies or projects whose benefits would be incremental at different governance levels. Another impact is that another project commenced as a multiplier effect benefitting Niger state and Cameroon with the main focus on food and transportation between urban and rural areas in the context of pandemics. This is through the University of Nairobi and partners, showing the emerging interest of academia to advance the topic of urban-rural linkages. The Project achieved its main objective is to advance the knowledge and capacities of urban-rural linkages in the context of African countries. The approach employed in the implementation of this project involved both experts and local stakeholders to collect evidence for policy enhancement. To engage these diverse stakeholders, context-specific normative tools were developed, core country teams trained, and the tools implemented. Through the various tools being piloted and adapted accordingly, the country reports were developed and shared with all stakeholders on the status of urban-rural linkages. The policies were then reviewed through the lenses of the emerging issues in the reports and recommendations developed. To contextualize and understand the situation further, study sites were identified, and data were collected in a defined functional area. The data collected provided an in-depth understanding of the nature, challenges, and opportunities of urban-rural linkages in specific contexts. The main results were a piloted toolkit that can be replicated in other country contexts, urban-rural linkages policy recommendations, and improved capacities of the stakeholders involved on ways of advancing the agenda post-project period. One of the lessons learned from this project which will be beneficial in future related projects or initiatives is the complex and broad yet context-specific nature of urbanrural linkages. The policy actions in each country are expected to lead to urban and rural food security, better connectivity and inclusive flows of commodities, people, services, and information, management of urban-rural migration, protection of the environment, and managed urban sprawl among other long-term benefits, for integrated and sustainable territorial development. Previous Next

Foumban is a city located in the west region of Cameroon, with a population of 83,522. It is a major town for the Bamoun people and is home to a museum of traditional arts and culture. This series presents some shots of this museum as well as the urban landscape of the city. Foumban-Cameroon Foumban is a city located in the west region of Cameroon, with a population of 83,522. It is a major town for the Bamoun people and is home to a museum of traditional arts and culture. This series presents some shots of this museum as well as the urban landscape of the city.

Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is Cameroon's economic hub, with an international airport and one of the biggest ports along the Atlantic coast of Africa. The City of Douala represents less than 5% of the territory of the Littoral Region, but contains 76% of its population and 82% of its urban population. In 2021, there were an estimated 3,793,363 inhabitants in the city. The average annual growth rate of Douala’s population over the last 40 years (1964-2005) has been +5.3% with projections estimating that this population will reach 6 million inhabitants by 2035. This series explores the urban ambulance of the City of Douala with its motorcycle taxis, its warmth, its openness to the Atlantic Ocean by the Wouri River and its architecture between modernism, traditional and informal. Douala-Cameroon Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is Cameroon's economic hub, with an international airport and one of the biggest ports along the Atlantic coast of Africa. The City of Douala represents less than 5% of the territory of the Littoral Region, but contains 76% of its population and 82% of its urban population. In 2021, there were an estimated 3,793,363 inhabitants in the city. The average annual growth rate of Douala’s population over the last 40 years (1964-2005) has been +5.3% with projections estimating that this population will reach 6 million inhabitants by 2035. This series explores the urban ambulance of the City of Douala with its motorcycle taxis, its warmth, its openness to the Atlantic Ocean by the Wouri River and its architecture between modernism, traditional and informal.

< Back L’African Cities Lab : une plateforme de cours en ligne au service de la transformation urbaine en Afrique Le projet African Cities Lab (ACL) est une initiative révolutionnaire regroupant plusieurs universités africaines, visant à créer une plateforme bilingue pour l'éducation numérique sur le développement urbain. Proposant des MOOCs et des formations en ligne, l'ACL forme les acteurs urbains pour les défis à venir en Afrique d'ici 2050. Allant au-delà des cours en ligne, elle offre une exploration interactive de l'avenir urbain africain avec des cours interactifs, des études de cas réelles, et des outils pratiques dispensés par des experts. Malgré des défis techniques, financiers et sociaux, le projet explore des modèles économiques durables tout en maintenant un accès gratuit. L'ACL contribue significativement à former des acteurs clés pour un développement urbain durable et inclusif en Afrique. Une initiative portée par le continent Le projet African Cities Lab (ACL) est une initiative conjointe de plusieurs universités africaines qui vise à créer une plateforme bilingue anglais – français, d’éducation numérique africaine sur le développement urbain, offrant des MOOCs de qualité et des formations continues en ligne pour les professionnels. En d’autres termes, le projet African Cities Lab a pour ambition de former le maximum d’acteurs urbains capables de faire face aux défis auxquels les villes africaines feront face d’ici 2050. Mais la plateforme de MOOCs African Cities Lab est bien plus qu'une simple collection de cours en ligne. C'est un portail dynamique où la découverte de l'avenir urbain africain se dévoile à travers des cours interactifs basés sur les réalités des villes et proposés par des experts du domaine, des études de cas concrets et des outils théoriques utiles. L'objectif est de développer les compétences des citoyens, mais aussi des professionnels et des innovateurs afin de façonner des villes africaines durables, connectées et inclusives. La durabilité passe donc pas la formation ; c’est du moins de pari de fait l’African Cities Lab. Pour cela, l’initiative a été développée autour de trois axes que sont la plateforme, les cours en lignes, et les formations rendant ainsi le projet totalement indépendant face aux infrastructures existantes. Addis Ababa, Ethiopie Des défis à la fois techniques, financiers mais également sociaux Si acquérir un espace suffisant sur un serveur est aisé, héberger des cours de plusieurs semaines facilement accessibles et lisibles sur des téléphones portables, des tablettes, le tout dans un contexte de connexion internet instable est un défi majeur. L’accès à Internet en Afrique variant considérablement d'une région à l'autre, le défi majeur consiste à garantir l’accès à la plateforme pour les apprenants, qu'ils soient en zone urbaine ou rurale. Ensuite, la mise en place d'une infrastructure serveur solide est essentielle. La plateforme doit être capable de gérer un trafic en constante augmentation, tout en offrant un accès rapide et fluide aux cours et aux contenus. L'intégration de contenu multimédia, tels que des vidéos et des documents interactifs, est également une tâche complexe. Gérer ces éléments tout en maintenant une expérience utilisateur sans faille exige des compétences techniques avancées. La compression optimale pour un rendu de qualité a ainsi été l’objet de nombreuses questions. La sécurité des données est un défi omniprésent. La protection des informations personnelles des utilisateurs et de leurs progrès dans les cours est une priorité absolue. La plateforme doit donc mettre en place des mesures de sécurité robustes pour protéger ces données sensibles. Financé pour une première période de trois ans et demi par le Secrétariat d’État à l’économie en Suisse, le projet doit maintenant réfléchir à un modèle économique durable. Question d’autant plus difficile que les cours doivent rester libres d’accès et gratuit pour rester dans la philosophie de départ. Des pistes de solutions sont aujourd’hui à l’essai. Enfin, c’est un défi social. La création d’une communauté entre les apprenants, les professionnels de l’urbain et les partenaires qui animent et réalisent les cours sont au cœur du projet. Que ce soit dans l’évaluation des exercices entre pairs au sein même des cours en ligne, la prise de contact direct entre un professionnel et un partenaire pour obtenir un avis sur une question urbaine spécifique ou la mise en commun de force pour résoudre une problématique, la plateforme African Cities Lab développe différentes solutions gratuites pour faciliter la mise en relation. Une communauté sur Whatsapp existe par exemple pour les diplômés des MOOCs afin qu’ils puissent interagir et bénéficier d’un accès privilégié à des événements spécifiques. Groupe d'étudiants utilisant la plateforme sur un téléphone mobile Un éventail de contenus Des MOOCs axés sur la mobilité urbaine aux cours sur l'aménagement urbain, la gouvernance digitale ou encore l’éco construction, la plateforme African Cities Lab propose une variété de contenus conçus pour répondre aux défis complexes et spécifiques des villes africaines. Des experts de renommée mondiale partagent leur savoir-faire et leur expérience, offrant aux apprenants un accès direct aux dernières innovations dans le domaine du développement urbain et durable en Afrique. Quelques exemples de cours disponible sur la plateforme Un MOOC dans la lumière : La Gestion des données urbaines : clé du développement de villes africaines intelligentes », du Center of Urban Systems de l’UM6P Parmi les MOOCs offerts, celui-ci met un accent sur la collecte de données grâce à des moyens à bas coût tel que le crowdsourcing pour concevoir des solutions urbaines telles que des solutions de sécurité ou de mobilité urbaine. Vous découvrirez le rôle essentiel des données urbaines dans le développement des villes intelligentes et des moyens innovants de les collecter. En outre, vous aurez un aperçu approfondi des technologies de pointe telles que les systèmes d’information géographique, la télédétection et l’analyse des données massives, et apprendrez comment elles peuvent aider à créer des solutions pour les villes africaines. Ce MOOC m'a permis de me lancer dans le développement d'un projet qui permettra aux citoyens béninois d'avoir une vue claire des actions du gouvernement dans leur localité, en mettant en place une application mobile et web où chaque projet gouvernemental sera répertorié et où chaque citoyen contributeur pourra mettre à jour ces informations accessibles à tous. Ces données seront utiles non seulement pour le gouvernement, mais aussi pour les autorités locales et les citoyens. J'ai eu l'occasion de postuler pour un poste de chef de projet informatique sur le marché français très compétitif, et j'ai été sélectionné. À mon avis, ce qui a joué en ma faveur était la mention d'une certification en gestion des données urbaines. Aziz Vorrez, l'un des tout premiers « apprenants » de la plateforme Aziz Vorrez, l'un des tout premiers « apprenants » de la plateforme Les principales thématiques que nous couvrons dans ce MOOC sur la gestion des données urbaines répondent à un manque de connaissance dans l’utilisation des données. Nous avons abordé trois thématiques de façon chronologique à savoir : Les données urbaines massives c'est quoi? Comment collecter ces données à moindre coût à travers notamment le crowdsourcing ? Comment traiter et visualiser ces données pour une meilleure analyse. Le MOOC offre ainsi une meilleure compréhension de l'utilisation des données dans le contexte africian. Il offre les méthodes avancées d’apprentissage automatique telles que les classifications pour mieux sortir des connaissances des données. Ceci permettra de trouver des solutions aux problématiques urbaines en terme de mobilité, de gestion des déchets ou des infrastructures. Le MOOC offre aussi des études de cas pour appliquer ces données. El Bachir DIOP, l'un des initiateurs du MOOC sur la gestion des données urbaines El Bachir DIOP, l'un des initiateurs du MOOC sur la gestion des données urbaines Previous Next

< Back Faire la ville ensemble : co-construire la ville africaine par l'apprentissage Stéphanie Wattrelos Rutily, Insaf Ben Othmane La tendance mondiale à l'urbanisation s'accélère, avec plus de la moitié de la population mondiale vivant en ville, une proportion qui devrait atteindre 70 % d'ici 2050. Cependant, 90 % de cette croissance se produit en Asie et en Afrique, avec 75 % concentrée dans les villes intermédiaires de moins d'un million d'habitants. Les gouvernements africains sont confrontés à d'énormes défis pour améliorer les conditions de vie et répondre aux besoins des nouveaux citadins. L'urbanisme participatif représente un changement de paradigme qui appelle à des arrangements coopératifs où les habitants et les acteurs de la ville participent au processus de planification, de conception et de gestion. Le Campus AFD, Oecumene Spaces For Dignity et Africa Innovation Network ont co-construit « Faire La Ville Ensemble » pour soutenir les acteurs de la ville dans la prise de conscience des changements de paradigme nécessaires. La structure pédagogique numérique alterne entre apprentissage en ligne et temps collaboratifs dans un atelier numérique, fondée sur des principes pédagogiques innovants. Nous vivons dans un monde en rupture, où tout change, tout s'accélère, tout devient plus complexe, plus fragile et incertain. La planète s'urbanise à un rythme sans précédent. Déjà, plus de la moitié de la population mondiale vit en ville ; cette proportion atteindra 70 % d'ici 2050. Toutefois, bien que cette tendance soit mondiale, elle n'est pas uniforme : 90 % de la croissance urbaine mondiale se produit en Asie et en Afrique, avec des caractéristiques variées d'un pays à l'autre en termes de vitesse, d'échelle, de structure du tissu urbain et de couverture territoriale ; la croissance urbaine se déroule dans des mégapoles, mais 75 % de cette croissance se produit et continuera de se produire dans les villes intermédiaires de moins d'un million d'habitants. Les gouvernements africains, tant nationaux que locaux, sont confrontés à d'immenses défis pour améliorer les conditions de vie de leurs habitants et répondre aux besoins des nouveaux citadins. L'ampleur, la force et la vitesse de ces changements nous obligent à agir rapidement, à réinventer nos façons de penser et de vivre dans le monde, et surtout à replacer les habitants et les utilisateurs au cœur de la construction des villes et des territoires. « L'urbanisme participatif est un paradigme de planification qui appelle à des arrangements coopératifs dans lesquels les habitants et les acteurs de la ville sont impliqués dans le processus de planification, de conception et de gestion. Il promeut le dialogue ouvert et la collaboration fructueuse entre les parties prenantes : habitants, utilisateurs, experts, décideurs et investisseurs, permettant de renforcer la cohésion sociale et une meilleure gestion des ressources avec un engagement toujours plus grand des communautés, des institutions locales et des acteurs locaux. Cependant, l'urbanisme participatif n'est pas intuitif. Il nécessite un fort engagement des maîtres d'ouvrage et, par conséquent, des élus locaux ainsi que la participation d'une vaste gamme d'acteurs prêts à s'investir. Il requiert un investissement important en temps et en ressources, une méthodologie structurée et des efforts ciblés pour assurer le succès. Qui dit urbanisme participatif dit participation. De nouvelles compétences doivent être acquises pour mobiliser et fédérer les acteurs locaux, collaborer et co-construire. » Insaf Ben Othmane Hamrouni, Fondatrice et Directrice exécutive, Œcumene Spaces For Dignity. La construction de la ville, en Afrique comme dans le monde, ne peut plus se faire sans les habitants, les utilisateurs, les acteurs économiques, les associations, les experts et les opérateurs. Cela doit être présent à toutes les étapes du projet (de sa conception à sa mise en œuvre). Ce changement de paradigme dans la manière de penser l'urbanisme et cette reconfiguration des rôles impliquent de nouveaux « modes de faire » : « faire avec » et, surtout, « faire ensemble ». Le continent africain bénéficie de certains atouts, tels que : La puissance de l'innovation africaine combinant à la fois l'esprit du jugaad (faire mieux ou aussi bien avec moins de ressources) et le leapfrogging (capacité à faire un bond qualitatif) ; Une culture du collectif et de la fabrication informelle de la ville (une culture de l'apprentissage communautaire) ; L'émergence des communs urbains, qui prennent la forme de « lieux, publics ou privés, partagés par les habitants qui développent des usages pluriels, impliquant ainsi une multitude d'acteurs différents dans une gouvernance ouverte et mobilisant les ressources variées du territoire, matérielles et immatérielles, pour des usages destinés à différents cercles d'utilisateurs » (Françoise et al., 2022). Ces communs urbains se concrétisent de manière plus tangible par le développement de tiers-lieux culturels, de terrains de sport, de jardins partagés, de Fab labs, d'espaces de marché et de communautés d'apprentissage. En Afrique, des initiatives d'urbanisme participatif ont émergé dans le processus de fabrication du tissu urbain et prennent des formes multiples, telles que l'urbanisme tactique, l'urbanisme éphémère, l'urbanisme temporaire, l'urbanisme transitoire, etc. Véritable levier de transformation des territoires par la co-construction, le partage, la participation et l'innovation, l'urbanisme participatif offre de nombreuses opportunités pour construire des territoires plus inclusifs, résilients et durables, répondant aux besoins de leurs habitants. Pour Luc Gnacadja, la gestion et la gouvernance urbaine doivent se hisser à la hauteur des défis. Le premier facteur requis est le leadership et la qualité managériale des acteurs clés de la gouvernance publique. « Nous ne sommes pas équipés pour sortir de nos schémas mentaux et inventer de nouvelles manières de faire ; nous devons collectivement apprendre à libérer nos imaginaires et à nous affranchir de nos préjugés, à penser systématiquement et à connecter plutôt que séparer. Il ne s'agit pas d'éclipser le savoir-faire technique, mais de renforcer la capacité à identifier, mobiliser et synergiser les initiatives sur le terrain pour activer des collaborations qui mettent en valeur l'intelligence collective et partagent la connaissance, la créativité et la co-construction de solutions propres à chaque territoire. Et cela doit être appris, vécu et expérimenté plutôt que décrété. » Stéphanie Wattrelos Rutily, Urbaniste, chargée de projets pédagogiques, Campus AFD. La ville africaine durable doit être plus inclusive, libérant la créativité de chacun pour construire des solutions durables. Pour relever le défi de la ville pour tous et soutenir les acteurs de la ville dans la sensibilisation aux changements de paradigme nécessaires, le Campus AFD, Oecumene Spaces For Dignity et Africa Innovation Network ont co-construit, avec et pour ces acteurs, « Faire La Ville Ensemble » un nouveau parcours d'apprentissage immersif et collaboratif. Ses objectifs : comprendre les dynamiques complexes à l'œuvre dans les territoires urbains ; identifier les notions de participation et co-définir ensemble les concepts clés pour une participation ouverte et partagée en Afrique ; sensibiliser et initier les acteurs de la ville en Afrique aux approches et outils pour co-construire des projets urbains en s'appuyant sur l'intelligence collective et la créativité. Cette formation vise à transformer les postures et à accompagner le changement pour passer du rôle traditionnel de chef de projet à celui de facilitateur au sein de son territoire. « Ce que je retiens de mon parcours sur “Faire la ville ensemble”, ce sont ces moments intenses qui ponctuent les différentes phases de mise en œuvre de la participation comme outil essentiel à la fabrication de la ville. Cet exercice complexe et instructif nous a permis, en tant que participants, de faire face aux défis de nos villes, notamment en Afrique, où l'anarchie, la précarité et l'absence de planification stratégique en constituent le trait central. Mais à mesure que nous apprenions ces méthodes de participation, nous avons réalisé qu'il est possible de rêver de villes africaines inclusives et durables qui se construisent différemment, avec de nouvelles approches impliquant les différents acteurs dans la création d'une vision partagée de leur ville. Cela permet aux autres parties prenantes de planifier ensemble et de travailler vers un objectif commun. Ces méthodes bénéficient à l'Agence d'urbanisme du Grand Tunis, qui intervient principalement pour assister les autorités locales dans l'élaboration de leurs outils d'urbanisme, constituant une opportunité de mettre ces approches en pratique. » Jihene Ghiloufi Dahmeni, Ingénieur, Directrice de la gestion de l'information urbaine, Tunisie. La structure pédagogique numérique « Faire la Ville Ensemble », co-construite avec les acteurs locaux, alternera apprentissage en ligne et temps collaboratifs dans un atelier numérique, en s'appuyant sur des principes pédagogiques innovants, à savoir : Conçue comme un commun numérique, la plateforme « Faire la Ville Ensemble » propose du contenu éducatif dynamique et interactif (expériences de terrain, vidéos, infographies, boîtes à outils, quiz...) à découvrir à son propre rythme et en autonomie ; Et pour explorer, inventer, se mettre à la place de… et apprendre par le jeu, l'intelligence collective et la créativité, des ateliers numériques collaboratifs ponctuent tout le parcours pour ceux qui disposent de plus de temps. Plus qu'une simple formation, « Faire la Ville Ensemble » est une véritable expérience d'apprentissage qui s'appuie sur l'innovation, l'intelligence collective et la puissance du partage d'expériences. C'est avant tout une communauté d'acteurs de la ville engagés dans la volonté de replacer l'humain au cœur de la construction de la ville. Previous Next

Want to work with us, join the network and just say hello? then contact us without further delay Say Hello Want to work with us, join the network or just say hello? then contact us without further delay Africa Innovation Network Email contact@africinno.com First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting! Facebook Twitter Linkedin Instagram