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< Back Une confédération d’habitants pour renforcer le pouvoir d’agir dans les quartiers vulnérables en Afrique de l’Ouest Pauline Leporcq, Olivier Moles, Aminata Baro Le projet de structuration de la confédération des habitants en Afrique de l’Ouest est porté par les associations de la société civile ouest-africaines et les organisations communautaires de base des quartiers précaires qui veulent renforcer leur pouvoir d’agir et faire entendre leur voix au sein des instances décisionnaires à l’échelle locale, nationale et internationale. Le projet est né de la réunion des groupements communautaires en fédérations d’habitants de chaque pays de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, sur inspiration du modèle d’appui du réseau Slum Dwellers International (SDI) majoritairement présent en Afrique de l’Est et du Sud. L’objectif de la confédération est de réunir au sein d’une même organisation sous régionale les habitants, acteurs du changement pour les quartiers précaires, afin de porter un plaidoyer d’envergure. Collectivement, ils défendent une vision commune structurée autour de différents axes : l’inclusion sociale pour renforcer la solidarité entre les habitant.es des quartiers et la capacité d’agir des jeunes et des femmes, le développement économique pour appuyer des initiatives économiques d’envergure dans les quartiers, mais aussi la résilience environnementale pour soutenir un développement urbain durable et résilient aux changements climatiques. Promouvoir le dialogue, partager des outils et responsabiliser les résidents grâce à une planification urbaine participative et à des initiatives communautaires Selon ONU Habitat, plus de 60% de la population urbaine du continent africain, soit environ 285 millions de personnes, dont 200 millions en Afrique subsaharienne, habite des bidonvilles ou des quartiers précaires. En 2018, l’espace UEMOA comptait 123 millions d’habitants, dont 39,8 % de citadins. Selon la déclaration de Alioune Badiane, ancien Directeur Exécutif d’ONU Habitat, au forum de Bamako en février 2017, le continent africain a vu l’amélioration des conditions de vie de 24 millions d’habitants des bidonvilles. Mais les besoins restent criants et grandissants. En Afrique Subsaharienne, la proportion totale de la population urbaine vivant dans les bidonvilles n’a diminué que de 5 %, soit 17 millions d’habitants sur la même période. Photographie drone banlieue de Dakar pendant les inondations Sénégal 2022 Crédit Photo Ismaila Seye Face à cette croissance démographique fulgurante dans un contexte de grande précarisation des populations urbaines, les autorités publiques ne parviennent pas à garantir l’accès au logement et à un cadre de vie décent aux populations les plus démunies. Parmi les outils dont disposent les autorités pour apporter une réponse à cette crise graduelle, figure la planification urbaine. Elle permet de mener une démarche globale dans une logique de projet urbain inclusif qui garantie l’implication de toutes les parties prenantes dans le projet d’aménagement et un cadre de vie durable où l’accès aux services de bases est garantie. Dans la pratique, la planification urbaine comme outil de fabrique de la ville est peu maîtrisée et utilisée. En réalité, les autorités publiques n’ont pas toujours les moyens financiers et l’expertise nécessaire pour mener à bien ces projets, ce qui conduit à une urbanisation anarchique, incontrôlée et à la naissance des quartiers précaires. L’enjeu de la confédération est d’encourager un changement de la vision et de la réalité des quartiers précaires, en encourageant le dialogue entre acteurs, en développant et partageant des outils et méthodes opérationnels inspirés des réalités, des traditions et des contextes de chaque pays ouest africain, qui permettent de renforcer les compétences et les capacités des habitants et de co-planifier les quartiers précaires de manière plus justes, pour améliorer concrètement l’habitat à différentes échelles. Point de situation de l’équipe technique urbaSEN chez un bénéficiaire au Sénégal, Bénédicte Hinschberger 2022 Parmi ces outils on peut citer les outils de collecte de données socio-économique et de vulnérabilités face au changement climatique et de cartographie par drone mis en œuvre par les habitants dans le cadre de la démarche “Know Your City” développée par le réseau Slum Dwellers International (SDI). Ils comprennent aussi les outils de financement solidaire par et pour les habitants développés sur le principe de la tontine, système d’épargne communautaire répandu dans la majorité des pays du continent africain, et dont certains sont suffisamment solides aujourd’hui pour soutenir la rénovation de l’habitat et la production de logements abordables. Enfin, les outils de gestion et d’organisation de groupements communautaires pour le renforcement global du pouvoir d’agir et les outils de formation pour la valorisation et la promotion des matériaux locaux et durables limitant l’impact environnemental dans la fabrication des villes africaines. Promouvoir le rôle de la communauté en tant qu’expert local des données et renforcer son influence dans la prise de décision publique L’approche portée par la confédération est basée sur la reconnaissance de l’habitant en tant qu’expert d’usage au cœur de la fabrique de la ville doté d’un pouvoir décisionnel. En tant qu’acteur clé de l’amélioration du cadre de vie, il doit être entendu et reconnu comme un maillon fondamental de la chaîne de décision dans la planification de la ville. L’habitant est une source de connaissances qu’il faut valoriser à l’aide d’un travail précis de collecte et de diffusion de données, alimentant le plaidoyer auprès des autorités locales et institutionnelles. Formation aux activités génératrices de revenus, Burkina Faso, Yaam Solidarity Media Team 2023 La collecte de données est un des plus gros défis des acteurs de l’urbanisation en Afrique de l’Ouest. En effet, il est primordial de collecter des données fines à l’échelle locale et de façon régulière qui reflètent la réalité du quotidien de l’ensemble de la population pour une planification de projets de qualité répondant aux réels besoins des populations. Or, en Afrique de l’Ouest, les acteurs institutionnels (instituts de statistiques, banques nationales, organisations internationales) constituent l’essentiel des collecteurs, détenteurs et diffuseurs de données sur l’accès au logement et aux services de base. Cependant, les données dont disposent ces acteurs restent le plus souvent analysées à une échelle trop institutionnelle pour saisir les subtilités locales et sont collectées à une faible fréquence, ce qui les rend rapidement obsolètes face aux contextes en évolution constante et rapide. L’enjeu est donc d’accompagner la confédération à s’inscrire comme un acteur de référence en matière de collecte de données locales et contextuelles représentatives des populations des quartiers précaires. Par cette collecte encadrée et structurée, les habitants renforcent leur pouvoir d’agir et peuvent défendre leurs droits dans les instances publiques décisionnaires. Les initiatives de renforcement des capacités de la confédération renforcent le développement urbain durable et autonomisent les habitants de toute l’Afrique de l’Ouest Les fédérations d’habitants membres de la confédération sont chacune à un stade de renforcement de capacités différents. Le projet “Habiter et Mieux vivre dans les non lotis à Boassa”, financé par l’Agence Française de Développement et la Fondation Abbé Pierre, porté par CRAterre, urbaMonde et Yaam Solidarité, a permis, à travers une dynamique intégrée multipays, de commencer le travail d’accompagnement des fédérations au Burkina Faso, au Sénégal et en Guinée Bissau. Ce noyau dur porté par urbaSEN, Yaam Solidarité et le Grdr, a fait émerger une dynamique plus large qui donne naissance aujourd’hui aux prémices de la confédération. Cet accompagnement a permis, au travers de plusieurs activités de formation et de sensibilisation, de conscientiser les acteurs locaux à la production d’architectures raisonnées, ayant des impacts positifs sur le confort dans l’habitat, la création d’emplois locaux et la réduction du réchauffement climatique au sens large dans les 3 pays. Il a aussi permis de renforcer 2 fonds de rénovation urbaine, aussi appelé fonds rotatif et d’en créer 1 nouveau, à travers une dotation pour appuyer le financement de l’amélioration de l’habitat et du cadre de vie par et pour les habitants. Guinea-Bissau savings group meeting, Grdr 2024 Des formations sur la cartographie par drone et la production de cartes thématiques ont aussi été réalisées. Il s’agit de faire exister ces quartiers, dont les contours sont souvent oubliés/inexistants sur les cartes dont disposent les pouvoirs publics. Et enfin, des activités de sensibilisation et communication animées par les fédérations habitantes pour la structuration des groupements membres des fédérations, la gestion de l’épargne communautaire et le renforcement du pouvoir d’agir et du plaidoyer auprès des autorités locales. L’ensemble de ces échanges pair à pair dans toute l’Afrique de l’Ouest, permettent la mise en œuvre de formations pour un renforcement des compétences horizontales-africaines par et pour les organisations de la société civile et les organisations communautaires de bases. Pour aller plus loin, plusieurs partenariats sont actuellement en cours de signature, appuyés par le Center For Affordable Housing Finance (CAHF) et Slum Dwellers International (SDI), en partenariat avec urbaMonde et urbaSEN, vainqueur du prix mondial de l’habitat décerné par ONU Habitat en 2023. Cette convention doit permettre d’appuyer sur plusieurs années le développement des outils et méthodes cités précédemment. Donner du pouvoir aux fédérations de résidents dans la planification urbaine offre une solution innovante aux défis du logement et du climat L’approche portée par ces organisations démontre sa pertinence et sa valeur ajoutée depuis plusieurs années. Les défis pour le droit au logement et au cadre de vie sont grandissants et le changement climatique accentue les besoins des populations, en particulier en matière d’adaptation. C’est pourquoi, il est crucial d’encourager le dialogue entre toutes les parties prenantes afin de trouver des solutions qui favorisent une action co-portée, co-financée, et co-résiliente. La considération de la confédération comme un acteur sérieux, pertinent et à grand potentiel est une nécessité pour aborder ces défis de façon innovantes. Les fédérations représentent une opportunité de combler les lacunes existantes dans la chaîne décisionnaire de la planification urbaine. La réelle redistribution d’une partie du pouvoir dans la fabrique de la ville à ceux qui la vivent est une solution innovante et pertinente face à ce contexte d’urgence climatique. Réunion Groupement d_épargne Sénégal FSH 2022 Crédit Equipe média urbaSEN Previous Next

Yaoundé, Cameroon's political capital is one of the two most important cities in the country and is experiencing rapid population growth and spatial expansion. With a population estimated at more than 3.5 million inhabitants, the city has a metropolitan dynamic reinforced by its status as a political capital. This series resorts the energy of Yaoundé, as well as its spatial configuration between modern and precarious housing. Yaoundé-Cameroon Yaoundé, Cameroon's political capital is one of the two most important cities in the country and is experiencing rapid population growth and spatial expansion. With a population estimated at more than 3.5 million inhabitants, the city has a metropolitan dynamic reinforced by its status as a political capital. This series resorts the energy of Yaoundé, as well as its spatial configuration between modern and precarious housing.

< Back African Cities Magazine 5 October 31, 2024 This issue of African Cities Magazine highlights the role of digital innovation and sustainable design in addressing Africa's urban challenges. In the Special Feature, Rachel Adams of the Global Center on AI Governance discusses AI’s ethical potential for tackling poverty and healthcare. Practical applications include South Africa's BEAM tool for mapping informal settlements, a water management geoportal in Antananarivo, IoT air quality sensors in Douala, and Senegal's Diamniadio Smart City Program. The Urban Planning Innovation section focuses on community-driven solutions, such as Senegal’s Urban Renewal Revolving Fund, which co-finances housing projects, and Nigeria’s Abuja Urban Lab, promoting collaborative waste management. In Architecture Innovation, architects like Nzinga Biegueng Mboup in Dakar and the TwistBlocks® initiative in Nairobi showcase affordable, culturally inspired designs. Across Africa, architects use tools like BIM and 3D printing to create sustainable, Afrocentric architecture. The African Architecture and Urban Heritage section celebrates heritage preservation, from Benin’s LIDAR-digitized Afro-Brazilian architecture to Goethe-Institut Senegal’s sustainable building archive. Lastly, Cities, Pixels, and Colors captures the roles of intermediate cities like Bakel and Kaédi, showcasing their efforts to balance growth with resource limitations, visually celebrated by Leandry Jieutsa and odysseesdarchitectures. Special feature: The potential of digital technologies for urban transformation in Africa Interviews with Rachel Adams, CEO of the Global Center on AI Governance, Diop Dieynaba, Head of Diamniadio’s Smart City Program, and Issaka Maman Lourwana, founder of Digital Niger Transformative projects harnessing digital innovation to address Africa's urban challenges A vision built from earth: Portrait of Nzinga Biegueng Mboup, Architect and cofounder of Worofila Our goal is really finding a way to democratize it and also teach people the very basic notion of good design principles Community-driven projects that empower residents, improve infrastructure, and promote sustainable, resilient development across African cities The Urban Planning Innovation section, community-led projects take center stage. Senegal’s Urban Renewal Revolving Fund offers a co-financing model inspired by traditional savings practices, empowering vulnerable communities in housing and infrastructure. Similarly, Nigeria’s Abuja Urban Lab engages stakeholders in creating sustainable waste management frameworks. Digital preservation with sustainable design to celebrate cultural resilience and timeless beauty of Africa's urban heritage The African Architecture and Urban Heritage section celebrates cultural heritage, from LIDAR digitization of Afro-Brazilian architecture in Benin to the preservation of pre-colonial city designs, bridging history and modern urbanism across Africa. English version Version française Previous Next

< Back Charging Ahead: Africa's Bright Future in Electric Mobility This interview explores the impact of electric mobility in Africa. As the vehicle fleet expands, Ariadne Baskin from TUMI highlights challenges such as charging infrastructure, electricity accessibility, and vehicle costs. Yet, Africa presents significant opportunities for the growth of electric mobility, boosting employment and local production. The transport sector in Africa accounts for approximately 10% of Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions Africa's vehicle fleet is expanding rapidly from about 25 million to 56 million by 2040 and this is largely because of growing urbanization as well as larger household incomes. This puts a strain on both the environment and public health. To tackle these challenges, the adoption of electric mobility has emerged as a potential solution. Electric vehicles (EVs) produce zero emissions enhancing air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Moreover, they offer greater efficiency and potential fuel cost savings compared to gasoline-powered vehicles. However, the widespread adoption of EVs in Africa faces several challenges. As Ariadne Baskin, a mobility expert at the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI), elaborates. "The lack of charging infrastructure, the need to scale electricity coverage, affordability and the lack of regulatory measures and favorable incentives are major challenges facing E-Mobility in Africa,” she says. Africa could become a dumping ground for used and damaged internal combustion engines from around the world “It's very pivotal that we start now so that we are able to leapfrog and join the global trend moving towards EVs and not become the world's dumping ground.” The lack of access to electricity is a major obstacle, with only 43% of Africans currently having access to reliable power, according to the World Bank. This limitation makes it challenging to charge EVs in many parts of the continent. Additionally, the high cost of EVs, averaging around $20,000, places them beyond the financial reach of many individuals. Furthermore, the scarcity of charging infrastructure in various African cities impedes EV ownership and operation. “In lots of Sub-Saharan African countries, access to electricity is a major obstacle. Huge populations do not have access to electricity, to carry out daily tasks and so forth so that is an obvious barrier to implementing large-scale charging infrastructure.” Ariadne adds. African cities present significant opportunities for the growth of electric mobility Nonetheless, governments and organizations such as TUMI have recognized this issue and are actively working on expanding the charging network to facilitate the growth of electric mobility. “In Kenya, 90% of its electricity is from renewable sources, such as geothermal or hydropower, and has huge surplus grid capacity,” says Ariadne. "Data plays a role in understanding the status quo and projecting what needs to be done to deploy the most sustainable solution. TUMI has collected large-scale data on usage and charging capacity needs," she adds. Despite these challenges, Africa presents significant opportunities for the growth of electric mobility. The African Development Bank estimates that the electric vehicle market in Africa could reach a value of $100 billion by 2030, creating substantial job opportunities within the manufacturing and service sectors. Moreover, several African startups are actively developing and manufacturing electric vehicles, playing a vital role in making EVs more affordable and accessible to the African population. “Local production and supply chains are key to accelerating the market of electric vehicles on the continent. We already see a large number of private sector players in Africa especially in East Africa looking at Kenya, Roam, and BasiGo. In Uganda you have Kiira Motors producing buses and they're really looking at designing tailored electric vehicles for local needs and conditions,” adds Ariadne. Charging an electric motorbike in Kigali, Rwanda, by IMF Photo/Kim Haughton, January 2023 Electric buses present an opportunity to scale up bus rapid transit systems in African cities TUMI is working with cities in Africa to support this initiative as told by Ariadne, “We're working to deploy with the EU, electric buses on Kenya’s upcoming BRT system. We are working very closely with Roam and BasiGo as well as supporting the city to develop roadmaps on implementation. In Kampala and Durban, we’ve worked with the Kampala City Authority to understand the procurement and operating requirements for E-Buses.” By fostering local manufacturing, Africa can not only meet its mobility needs but also stimulate economic growth and create employment opportunities. She also suggests a focused transition to electric vehicles: "I think Africa should focus on transitioning straight to electric vehicles and putting out the charging infrastructure networks that are conducive to that." By strategically developing charging infrastructure alongside EV adoption, Africa can avoid the intermediate step of hybrid vehicles and leapfrog directly to electric mobility. "In the meantime, there are more hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles in the used vehicle global marketplace. Governments could create subsidized or tax incentives to bring in those vehicles such as in Egypt and Rwanda" Ariadne adds, highlighting the need for regulatory and fiscal measures to accelerate the adoption of electric mobility. Electric two-wheelers, represent a significant opportunity for electrifying the continent According to Ariadne, "Electric two-wheelers are known to be the low-hanging fruit to electric mobility. The easiest way to electrify the continent, and the market has great potential in Africa maybe mimic the upward trend in Asia ." She notes that there are already over 6,000 electric two-wheelers on Africa's roads, and their small batteries allow for off-grid and battery-swapping systems. "The battery swap model is being thought of in many countries, and basically what that is is when, say, an electric two-wheeler depletes its battery, one can replace it with a fully charged battery at a swap station," Ariadne explains, shedding light on an innovative approach to address charging challenges. She also adds that the batteries can be charged by off-grids like solar panels in addition to battery swapping which also creates green jobs. Ariadne further highlights the economic benefits of electric two-wheelers: "Even with the higher upfront cost of an electric two-wheeler, the overall cost is cheaper because of the low cost of fuel and maintenance. So the total cost of ownership is very favorable." Several African countries have already put in place regulatory measures for electric vehicle adoption, such as reduced electricity costs and tax exemptions like Rwanda, Kenya, and Togo. Rwanda, for example, has set an ambitious goal of having 100,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2024. Such policies are instrumental in creating a favorable environment for the widespread adoption of EVs in Africa. "With the right policies and investments, Africa could become a major player in the global electric vehicle market," Ariadne concludes, highlighting the transformative potential of electric mobility in Africa. Her insights and expertise emphasize the importance of seizing the opportunities at hand to build a greener, more sustainable, and prosperous future for the continent. SAFI E Motorcycle Company, Inside the SAFI E-motorbike company which manufactures electric motorbikes and runs an e- rideshare and delivery company in Kigali, Rwanda, by IMF Photo/Kim Haughton, January 2023 Previous Next

< Back Startup lions campus Yoel Mukalay Start-up Lions Campus, located on Lake Turkana in Kenya, is an ICT center designed to provide high-level training and international job opportunities to young entrepreneurs. The project, completed in 2021, is built on 1,416m2 and celebrates the unique morphology and natural beauty of the site. The campus is built from locally sourced quarry stone with a plaster finish, incorporating ventilation towers to cool workspaces and create a landmark in the area. Located in Kenya and home to Lake Turkana, the country’s largest landlocked body of water and the biggest desert lake in the world, Turkana county is well-known to be a large expanse of beautiful yet arid land with low bushes and occasional trees. Termite mounds, buzzing with activity and up to several metres high, are dotted around the region’s gently undulating landscape. These structures built by terminates are what captivated and inspired Francis Kéré, the Berlin-based architect born in Burkina Faso, when I was researching the area of a sustainable education campus on the lake’s banks. During the Global Africa Forum organised by the Munich Technical University in 2019, Francis Kéré met Ludwig Bayern, founder and CEO of Learning Lions, a non-profit organisation that works to empower young adults in impoverished rural areas of Eastern Africa. The pair then decided to build a higher education facility by Lake Turkana, that would offer valuable IT knowledge to the country’s youth. Start-up Lions Campus is an information and communication technology (ICT) centre, located on the shores of Lake Turkana, Kenya. The project was designed on an area of 1 416m2. Completed in 2021, the project responds to the urgent challenge of youth in the face of unemployment facing the region, as it offers high-level training and access to international jobs, allowing young entrepreneurs to prosper professionally without having to leave their place of origin. The campus will provide 100 new workstations and is the first step in an ambitious spread of ICT networks in remote areas. The project celebrates the unique morphology and natural beauty of its site. It is built on two levels, which follow the natural slope and have spacious roof terraces that offer panoramic views over Lake Turkana. The roof terraces are shaded by creeping vegetation, providing a pleasant exterior and gathering spaces where opportunities for informal exchange of ideas are provided. The campus is built out of locally sourced quarry stone with a plaster finish. In choosing which materials and construction techniques to use, ecological sustainability, cost, and availability factors were weighed to arrive at the best compromise. Collaboration with the local community was key in this decision-making process, drawing from their experience and expertise. The building is inspired by the towering mounds built by termite colonies in the region. Ventilation towers create a stack effect to naturally cool main workspaces by drawing heat upwards, while cool air is drawn in through specially designed low-level vents. This system allows the campus to withstand high temperatures and is especially suitable, since it avoids dust that can damage the equipment. In addition to their functional role, the towers create a landmark in the surroundings. The campus is built from locally sourced quarry stone with a plaster finish. Materials were carefully chosen, and construction techniques could be used, and levels of ecological sustainability, cost factors and availability were weighed. Collaboration with the local community was key in this decision-making process. 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 Pan-African Architecture Biennale 2026 The Pan-African Architecture Biennale (PAAB), launching in Nairobi in 2026, is a groundbreaking event redefining how Africa’s built environment is imagined and discussed. In this interview with the African Innovation Network for The African Cities Magazine, curator Omar Degan, Somali-Italian architect and founder of the Biennale, explains how PAAB rejects Eurocentric notions of “modernity” and architectural value, calling instead for architectural sovereignty by Africans for Africa. Rather than showcasing spectacle, the Biennale will foster debate, collaboration, and radical self-definition across disciplines like architecture, art, urbanism, literature, and policy. Structured around decolonization, democratization, and reconnection, it aims to dismantle inherited hierarchies, revive erased knowledge, and promote education rooted in African contexts. Rotating biennially across African cities and mirrored by an open-access digital archive, PAAB ensures inclusivity and continuity. For Degan, it’s not just an event but an infrastructural and cultural movement—a collective act to reclaim authorship and reimagine African futures on African terms. In 2026, Nairobi will become the stage for a historic first: the Pan-African Architecture Biennale (PAAB). It’s not just a new event, it’s a turning point. For the first time, architects, urbanists, designers, academics, artists, writers, and policy thinkers from across the African continent and its diaspora will gather to explore, question, and rewrite the architectural narratives that have too long been defined by others. But don’t expect sleek models of futuristic towers or polite panel discussions about “development.” This Biennale isn’t selling architectural spectacle. It’s demanding architectural sovereignty. Curated by Somali-Italian architect and educator Omar Degan, the PAAB is being shaped as a radical act of self-definition. A public space where African voices lead the conversation about African spaces. It’s a break from the legacy of Eurocentric frameworks that have long dictated what counts as “good design,” “progress,” or “modernity” on the continent. Africa has always been the center of life, of resources, of knowledge. This Biennale is about reclaiming that center. It’s about shifting the architectural discourse from one imposed on Africa to one authored by Africa. Degan doesn’t mince words. He’s not trying to imitate Venice or align with global design trends. His vision is rooted in the belief that architecture is not neutral, it is cultural, political, and deeply historic. And in a continent of over 1.4 billion people, 54 countries, and thousands of traditions, the idea of a single ‘African architecture’ is both problematic and powerful. The Biennale, in his hands, becomes a platform to deconstruct clichés, surface erased knowledge, and reimagine the future of African cities on Africa’s terms. This isn’t about chasing global relevance, It’s about recognizing that what’s happening here on this continent is already shaping the future. We just need to stop asking permission to say so. At the heart of the Pan-African Architecture Biennale is a bold provocation. Indeed what if everything we’ve been taught about African architecture is wrong? For too long, the architectural identity of the continent has been boxed into two shallow extremes. On one side, there’s the romanticized image of vernacular mud huts, frequently used in travel brochures and academic footnotes, rarely treated as serious architecture. On the other, the glass-and-steel mimicry of Western cities, where so-called “modernity” is measured by height, cost, and how closely a building resembles something seen in Dubai or Shanghai. There’s this dangerous idea that architecture in Africa doesn’t exist unless it’s a safari lodge or a luxury resort designed by someone from the West. That’s the result of decades of colonial framing and academic neglect. This false binary has done real damage. It erases the rich diversity of architectural practices on the continent, flattens cultural expression, and undermines local knowledge systems that have evolved over centuries to respond to specific environments, climates, and ways of living. But Degan isn’t advocating a nostalgic return to tradition, nor is he interested in simply adding African flair to Western templates. His call is for a contemporary African architecture that emerges from the continent’s own logic, one that speaks to its ecological conditions, cultural pluralities, and social dynamics. Architecture is not about style, it’s about relationships to land, to people, to heritage. He points to the double standard embedded in global design culture. In Europe, the stone-and-wood chalets of the Alps are hailed as iconic examples of regional architecture, proof of cultural continuity and environmental wisdom. But when similar values appear in African architecture, natural materials, passive cooling, climate sensitivity they’re often dismissed as backward or undeveloped. Why are our vernacular buildings seen as primitive?” They’re no less architectural. They just haven’t been celebrated through the same lens. Degan believes this lens needs to be shattered and the Biennale aims to do just that. By gathering a wide range of voices and projects from across Africa, it seeks to expand the architectural imagination of the continent and show that African architecture is not a style, but a living, evolving system of knowledge. This is not about aesthetics. It’s about power. It’s about who gets to define what counts as architecture, and who is left out of that definition. The PAAB is not just an event, it’s a challenge to the architecture world itself. Set to debut in Nairobi in 2026, and designed to roam from city to city across the continent every two years, the Biennale aims to spark nothing short of a continental reckoning. It’s a deliberate move away from static, elitist formats and toward something fluid, collective, and rooted in African realities. We’re not trying to copy Venice. We’re not interested in replicating Western models. This is something that needs to feel African, function African, and speak African. At its core, the Biennale is a manifesto for reclaiming authorship, framed around three guiding principles: decolonization, democratization, and reconnection. The Biennale is a direct response to centuries of colonial and neocolonial control over the architectural narrative of Africa. From the design of public spaces to the curriculum in architecture schools, much of what defines “good architecture” on the continent still comes from outside. This event is about taking back the pen about giving African architects, academics, communities, and creatives the space to define, critique, and project their own visions of the built environment. The Biennale seeks to dismantle inherited hierarchies of value, style, and legitimacy. I want real conversations. Hard conversations. Like, why are local architects left out of humanitarian projects? Why does African architecture only get recognition when it’s filtered through a Western lens? The physical event in Nairobi will feature exhibitions showcasing both built and speculative projects, documentation of vernacular practices, and design research rooted in African contexts. But this isn’t just about presentation, it’s about dialogue. Instead of the usual polished panel discussions, the Biennale will host open debates where friction is welcomed and difficult questions are confronted head-on. Workshops will engage not only professionals but also students and families, making space for intergenerational exchange and grassroots participation. Across the city, installations and pop-up events will decentralize the experience, taking the Biennale out of formal institutions and into public spaces. It welcomes not just architects, but sociologists, anthropologists, planners, artists, historians, community activists, writers, and even sci-fi authors. Because building the future of African cities isn’t just a technical task, it’s a cultural, social, and political one. I want to hear from sci-fi writers. They’re imagining futures. And architects need to be in conversation with that. With dreamers, storytellers, and community builders. Workshops will engage families, students, and citizens not just professionals. Discussions will be multilingual, and spaces will be physically and digitally decentralized. It’s a vision of architecture as something collaborative, public, and alive. I don’t care about cute exhibitions where people take selfies at the vernissage. I want debates. I want friction. I want uncomfortable questions. Most global architecture events cater to the few elite institutions, jet-setting practitioners, and media-friendly “starchitects.” The PAAB is designed to do the opposite. The Biennale is preparing a fully digitized, open-access version that mirrors its physical counterpart. Every exhibition, talk, and research project will be documented, archived, and made freely available online. The reality is 90% of the people who would benefit from this Biennale won’t be able to travel to Nairobi. So we’re bringing the Biennale to them. That’s not a compromise. That’s the point. This is not an afterthought or a supplement, it’s a core component of the Biennale’s vision. The digital platform is being designed as a long-term knowledge infrastructure, a living archive that grows with each edition and remains accessible to anyone, anywhere. For students in Kisangani, researchers in Accra, or architects in the diaspora, the Biennale will be just a few clicks away. The goal is to redistribute access to architectural discourse, to break the cycle where African architects must go through Western publications or institutions to gain visibility on their own continent. The structure of the Biennale also reflects its pan-African ambition. After its inaugural edition in Nairobi, the Biennale will rotate every two years, landing in a different African city each time. This mobility is more than symbolic. Each host city will shape the identity, themes, and content of its edition, ensuring that the Biennale remains rooted in local realities and reflective of the continent’s vast diversity. What it looks like in Dakar will not be what it looks like in Addis Ababa, and that’s the point. One of the most urgent battles the Pan-African Architecture Biennale hopes to ignite is not about buildings, it’s about education. For Degan, the crisis in African architecture starts in the classroom, where outdated syllabi continue to shape how the next generation of architects think, design, and imagine. We’re still teaching Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe like they’re gods. But how many students know about Demas Nwoko, Hassan Fathy, or even someone like Laurie Baker, who worked in India for decades ? This is not a call to erase Western architectural history, but a demand for relevance and balance. Why are African architecture students still learning about 20th-century European masters in isolation without grounding in their own contexts, their own histories, their own climates and communities? The result, Degan warns, is a profession that continues to design for ideals imported from elsewhere, instead of from the ground up. But he’s quick to point out that fixing this is not as simple as swapping out a few textbooks. The deeper issue is a systemic absence of African documentation. Generations of African architects have worked often under challenging conditions, but left little behind in the way of drawings, essays, case studies, or critical reflections. Without archives, without records, without publications, the knowledge vanishes. If practitioners don’t write, if they don’t publish, then the next generation has nothing to learn from. We need to build a culture of documentation, archiving, and knowledge-sharing. Otherwise, we’re just repeating the same mistakes in silence. The Biennale, then, is not just an event or a showcase, it’s a call to action for a more self-reflective, self-sustaining architectural culture. Through its digital archive, its cross-generational dialogue, and its continent-wide network of contributors, it hopes to create a new reference library for African architectural education, one written from within. For Degan, the Biennale is also a political intervention, a way to build momentum behind local agency and push back against a top-down, imported vision of urban development. He believes African architects should have a stronger voice not just in the profession, but in policymaking, planning, and governance. We need to stop asking for a seat at the table. We need to build the table ourselves, and make it strong enough that no one can ignore it. The most radical ambition behind the Pan-African Architecture Biennale may not lie in what it presents, but in how it exists. From the start, Omar Degan has been clear: this is not another iteration of Venice in warmer weather, nor a tribute act to Chicago or Lisbon. It’s not about adapting a Euro-American model to African soil, it’s about a strory rooted in African realities, complexities, and contradictions. This has never been done before. That’s why it’s hard. But if we don’t create an African model for architectural discourse now, then when? What Degan and his team are attempting is not just a cultural event it’s an infrastructural shift. One that questions the frameworks of prestige, the flows of funding, the language of validation. One that builds its own platforms, its own archive, its own vocabulary. And crucially, one that does not wait for approval. Each one of us has a role to play. Students, practitioners. the moms bringing their kids to see what the future could be. This is not a passive event, this is a collective act. Participation doesn’t require a plane ticket. If you can’t be in Nairobi, the Biennale will meet you where you are digitally, openly, in your language and on your terms. Through its digital platform, open access archive, and decentralized philosophy, the PAAB is actively dismantling the idea that meaningful architectural discourse only happens in the room where power gathers. What’s being launched in 2026 is not a culmination, it’s a beginning. A beginning of new networks, new pedagogies, new alliances across borders and disciplines. A beginning that insists African cities are not blank slates for imported visions, but living systems of memory, struggle, creativity, and resilience. Get the full African Cities Magazine 6 Download the full article here degan-article-african_cities_magazine_6_english-20250826 .pdf Download PDF • 4.12MB Previous Next

< Back Innovation at the service of community projects in Africa Yoel Mukalay Africa's rich architectural heritage is reflected in its ancient architecture, which has served African societies in various ways throughout history. However, the continent is also home to breathtaking sustainable designs, incorporating local culture and materials. Innovative architecture is being implemented throughout Africa to provide immediate solutions to communities, such as education, health, and water. For example, the "Women's Opportunity Centre" in Rwanda empowers women by reviving a lost Rwandan design tradition with circular forms. Education is also a key focus, with architects using traditional building techniques with modern engineering methods to create more structurally robust structures. The HIkma religious and secular complex in Niger uses Compressed Earth Bricks (CEB) made with laterite soil for a culture and education hub. Health is another area where innovative architecture is being implemented. The Emergency NGO Children's Surgical Hospital in Lake Victoria uses resources from earth, water, and the sun, with a photovoltaic roof that provides shade and uncovered walkways. The African continent is human to the human race and civilization, a civilization reflected in its ancient architecture. From the Pyradis in Egypt to the Nubian pyramids at Meroe to The ruin of the temple at Yeha, Ethiopia. Architecture has served African societies in multiple ways throughout history. In recent years, Africa is well known and depicted mainly on the humanitarian side by the mainstream media, blurring the rich architectural heritage the continent has brought to the world. However; the continent is home to breathtaking sustainable designs. The uniqueness of some buildings currently designed in Africa by various local as well as foreign architects, is the sustainable aspect of the building and the impact they have on local communities. Challenges Africa presents vary from a climate with an intense hit to acquiring necessary materials, yet the know-how of some remarkable architects have helped to design sustainable buildings which do respond directly to the local climate, the site, and make usage of local materials in including the local culture in the design. Taking inspiration and re-interpreting traditional and ancient local architecture, with contemporary methods and structure, the innovative architecture being implemented throughout the continent is providing immediate solutions to communities in Africa with easy access to basic services, such as education, health, water. “Empower local communities…” To illustrate the impact of the innovative architecture has on local women communities, the “Women’s Opportunity Centre’’ was designed by Sharon Davis Design, located in Katonza, Rwanda to empower one small community of women that dedicate their days to small subsistence farms, fetching freshwater, and scavenging wood for fuel. In the architect’s words, the design “revives a lost Rwandan design tradition with deep spatial and social layers. Its circular forms radiate outward, from intimate classrooms at the center of the site to a community space, farmer’s market, and the civic realm beyond. Women’s Opportunity Center_administration_buildings_2013_© Elizabeth Felicella The center’s circular structures are modeled after the historic King’s Palace in southern Rwanda, whose woven-reed dwellings were part of an indigenous tradition that the region had all but lost. The design draws on the delicacy of this vernacular Rwandan construction method with rounded, perforated brick walls that allow for passive cooling and solar shading, while maintaining a sense of privacy. Architects, in partnership with local companies, have been able to create water purification, biogas, and other sustainable systems that can be produced and maintained by the locals themselves. “Education for everyone…” The innovative architecture has not left behind the importance of education. On education, Nelson Mandela could say “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. The parallel between what Mandela said and the poverty of many communities in Africa brings about crucial questions, such as how can architecture truly modify places and give children schools better conditions? Is it possible to give an architectural answer to very poor societies around the African Continent? Architects need to think about using architecture as a tool, even in places that lack money and building technologies, and Diébédo Francis Kéré is doing exactly that in Africa. Primary School in Gando_perspective_2001_© Siméon Duchoud In his home country, Burkina Faso, Diébédo Francis Kéré designed a primary school in Gando, in 2001, with a design reflecting an architectural style that combines traditional building techniques with modern engineering methods. The design for the Primary School has developed from a lengthy list of parameters including cost, climate, resource availability, and construction feasibility. In order to maximize results with the minimal resources available, a clay/mud hybrid construction was primarily used. These traditional clay-building techniques were modified and modernized in order to create a more structurally robust construction in the form of bricks. The clay bricks have the added advantage of being cheap, easy to produce, and also provide thermal protection against the hot climate. The roof of the Primary School has been pulled away from the learning space of the interior though, and a perforated clay ceiling with ample ventilation was introduced. This dry-stacked brick ceiling allows for maximum ventilation, pulling cool air in from the interior windows and releasing hot air out through the perforated ceiling. Startup_lion_campus_exterior_view01_2021_©kere_architecture In turn, the ecological footprint of the school is vastly reduced by alleviating the need for air-conditioning. The contribution of the entire community to build the school has been a step in the future with more possibilities, both for those who now have a decent building in which to learn (the school) and for those who now know how to build this building. “Architecture for culture and religion…” One of the well-known aspects of Africa is its religious diversity. Religious facilities can be used for more than spiritual purposes, but rather to pursue knowledge alongside religious practice. One living example is the HIkma, religious and secular complex. Designed by atelier Masomi + studio Chahar, the building complex is located Masomi in Dandaji, a village in the arid Western Niger with a young population of around 3000. HIKMA - A Religious and Secular Complex_Facade_2018_© James Wang The project is a culture and education hub where the secular and religious peacefully coexist to cultivate minds and strengthen the community. The new library provides books, a computer lab, and quiet study spaces to improve reading and vocabulary skills for the community and to increase graduation rates of a population with low literacy rates and high economic vulnerability. By involving women groups in the project, additional spaces for literacy, accounting courses, and workshops have been added. The new mosque engages women and the youth positively in addition to other spaces, as productive members of the community. The project introduces Compressed Earth Bricks (CEB) made with laterite soil found on-site; a new material in the area with the advantage of being lower maintenance than adobe, with similar thermal benefits. Most of the project materials are sourced from less than a 5km radius distance to the site, while the use of concrete is limited to structural elements such as columns and lintels. The thermal mass of the CEBs and natural ventilation keep indoor temperatures comfortable and remove the need for mechanical cooling. The effect is amplified with extensive planting throughout the site, using a drip irrigation system to help the vegetation thrive. The system dramatically lowers water consumption and will use an underground water reservoir that captures the rainy season’s downpours. “Architecture for health…” Women’s empowerment centers, better schools, culture, and education hubs, and many other facilities would have not served a sick and unhealthy society. “To be able to achieve the laudable goals (of preventing and treating HIV/AIDS), especially for us in sub-Saharan Africa, there is the need for us to invest in improving our weak health systems. The inadequate number of healthcare facilities in many of our countries is a major issue of concern.”John Dramani Mahama. To face the inadequate number of healthcare facilities, The Emergency NGO Children’s Surgical Hospital was designed by TAMassociati with Renzo Piano Building Workshop for Pediatric Surgery, at Lake Victoria, 35 Kilometers from Kampala. The Hospital is built by using resources of the earth, water, and the sun. A strong sustainable approach in design choices: load bearing walls with the rammed earth technique and a roof made from a suspended canopy structure supporting 3,700 square meters of photovoltaic panels. Children’s Surgical Hospital_Bird view_2021_©EMERGENCY_NGO Responding to the site’s topographical curves towards a nearby lake, the scheme’s walls and pathways form terraces on which the hospital itself stands. Stacked walls break the distinction between various zones to create a unity between the lake, park, and internal hospital environment, leading to “a spatial continuum between interior and exterior.” Born from the earth, the hospital gets its energy from the sun, with 9,800 square meters of photovoltaic panels ensuring the hospital has an autonomous electricity supply during the day. The photovoltaic roof “floats” above the building, also guaranteeing shade for the hospital and uncovered walkways. Africa has not only brought to the world a rich architectural heritage, the innovative architecture being implemented on the continent continues to pursue solutions to provide a better service to local communities by inspiring itself from the cultural history of the continent through sustainable and vernacular ways to truly modify places and give people better-living conditions and also answer to poor societies, not only in Africa, but all around the world. Previous Next

< Back Le fonds rotatif : un outil communautaire de cofinancement pour le développement des villes Pauline Leporcq, Bénédicte Hinschberger, Bea Varnai Le fonds rotatif pour la rénovation urbaine est un mécanisme de financement solidaire et inclusif, créé dans l’objectif d’apporter des réponses à un double défi : les revenus limités et l’exclusion bancaire des populations vulnérables des villes sénégalaises d’une part, et d’autre part le déficit d’infrastructures urbaines résilientes, d’habitat digne et d’accès aux services essentiels auquel elles sont confrontées. Cet outil de financement - porté par la FSH et son ONG d’appui technique, urbaSEN - s’inspire de la tontine, caisse d’épargne solidaire traditionnelle, dans laquelle cotise un groupe de personnes issues le plus souvent du même quartier. Les montants épargnés sont confiés à tour de rôle à chacun des membres du groupe, permettant d’améliorer l’économie familiale ou de réaliser des projets spécifiques. Le remboursement des moyens financiers mis à disposition se fait selon les modalités accordés par le groupe. En focalisant ce mécanisme sur les besoins liés à l’habitat et au cadre de vie, le fonds rotatif permet depuis 2015 aux populations vulnérables de bénéficier de prêts pour la réhabilitation de leurs logements et de co-financer des aménagements urbains. Le fonds est géré par la Fédération Sénégalaise des Habitants (FSH), réunissant des groupements d’épargne communautaire qui portent des projets de sensibilisation, de communication et de formation sur le droit au logement et à l’amélioration du cadre de vie depuis 2014. Aujourd’hui, la FSH se déploie dans toute la banlieue de Dakar, dans les régions de Thiès (2019), Louga (2019), Ziguinchor (2022) et de Fatick (2024) et réunit près de 18 000 membres. Le fonds rotatif autonomise les municipalités et les habitants du Sénégal, favorise la collaboration et améliore l'accès au financement pour le développement local La commune de Djiddah Thiaroye Kao située dans la banlieue de Dakar est composée majoritairement de quartiers spontanés et abrite plus de 160 000 habitants. L’habitat y est principalement auto-construit de manière incrémentale, le plus souvent avec des matériaux de faible qualité et une absence d’encadrement de professionnels qualifiés. Étant l’une des plus densément peuplée du pays, la commune fait face à de nombreux défis sociaux, économiques et environnementaux. Le déficit d’infrastructures d’eau et d’assainissement conduit à des problèmes de santé, aggravés par de fortes inondations. Sensibilisation avec un groupe sénégalais, Bénédicte Hinschberger 2022 Dans le contexte d’inondations particulièrement dévastatrices de la fin des années 2000, les habitants s’organisent pour apporter des solutions aux problématiques liées à l’habitat et au cadre de vie. Cette dynamique, appuyée par des professionnels issus de l'aménagement, la mobilisation sociale et la planification urbaine, permet d’engager le processus de restructuration urbaine de la commune, et donne naissance à la Fédération Sénégalaise des Habitants en 2014. Dès le début, une attention particulière est portée à l’accès au financement pour réaliser des aménagements, ouvrages et activités de renforcement pour les membres de la Fédération. C’est ce qui amènera à la création du fonds rotatif. A la même période (2013), l’Etat sénégalais lance l’Acte III de la décentralisation, qui délègue aux communes la gestion, l’organisation et la planification de leurs territoires. Mais ce transfert de compétences ne s’accompagne pas des moyens nécessaires pour organiser techniquement et financièrement la structuration des services communaux. Déjà en grandes difficultés, les communes peinent à mettre en œuvre l’Acte III, et donc à offrir aux habitants des services et des infrastructures de qualité dont ils ont grandement besoin pour améliorer leur cadre de vie. Les ressources financières des communes proviennent principalement des fonds de l’Etat (fonds d’équipement des collectivités locales, et fonds de dotation) disponibles auprès du Trésor Public. Cependant, leur gestion est collective pour l’ensemble des communes, ce qui rend très inégale l'accès aux ressources et complique le processus de décaissement des sommes préalablement budgétisées par les communes. De fait, la réactivité et la capacité d'agir des communes pour répondre aux besoins des populations locales sont limitées. Les ressources communales sont également alimentées par différentes taxes, mais ceci reste de l’ordre du résiduel et ne permet pas d’assurer une bonne gestion organisationnelle interne de la commune avec un budget prévisionnel annuel structuré et le recrutement de ressources humaines sur le long terme. Ainsi, le développement du fonds rotatif s’inscrit dans le contexte général de précarité financière des communes sénégalaises et du difficile accès des populations vulnérables aux outils de financement traditionnels. Il démontre la pertinence d’outils de financement citoyen accessibles au plus grand nombre, pour pallier la difficulté à mobiliser des ressources publiques locales, résultat d’un cadre juridique et institutionnel inadapté aux besoins réels des autorités locales et de leurs habitants. Le fonds constitue ainsi un vecteur de collaboration entre les habitants et les communes à travers la mobilisation d'un apport financier des habitants aux projets locaux. Il contribue ainsi à légitimer leur place dans la définition et la mise en œuvre de projets d'aménagements et de quartiers. Le fonds rotatif au Sénégal permet la réhabilitation des logements et des infrastructures par la communauté, améliorant la collaboration locale et les projets de développement cofinancés Le mécanisme du fonds rotatif est adossé à un dispositif d’accompagnement technique qui garantit la qualité des travaux et sa bonne utilisation : des technicien.nes réalisent un diagnostic du logement/du quartier/des ouvrages à rénover et accompagnent le ménage dans le choix des artisans et le suivi des travaux à l’échelle de la parcelle et du quartier. En effet, le fonds permet de financer la réhabilitation de l’habitat, le développement d’activités génératrices de revenus (AGR) par les groupes d’habitant.es, et la co-conception et co-construction d’ouvrages semi-collectifs d’eau et d’assainissement (puisards partagés entre quelques familles, branchements AEP) et d’aménagements publics de plus grande ampleur (drains, regards, pavages drainants, bassins, tampons, espaces verts et d'infiltration des eaux de pluie, etc.) A l’échelle de la commune de DTK qui compte plus de 100 groupements membres de la FSH, soit environ 3 000 personnes fédérées, ce dispositif a permis la réhabilitation de 408 maisons et une cinquantaine de chantiers sont encore en cours auprès de différents bénéficiaires. De plus, à l’échelle du quartier, plusieurs ouvrages ont été réalisés dans une approche de co-conception entre les différentes parties prenantes (élus, points focaux de la commune, Office National de l’Assainissement (ONAS), techniciens, habitants). Au total - 3 arrêtoirs d’eau, 6 déversoirs raccordés au réseau existant, 445 mètres de canalisation, 6 regards circulaires, un caniveau superficiel muni d’un pavage drainant raccordé au système de drainage existant - ont été réalisés. Le total du budget des travaux de 35 605 962 CFA a été cofinancé par la commune (50 %), les habitants (5 %) et subventionné par le projet (45 %). Dans tout le Sénégal, ce sont plus de 1 000 maisons qui ont été réhabilitées, et près de 300 ouvrages communautaires. Le fonds rotatif autonomise les résidents, favorise le développement urbain participatif et inspire des initiatives similaires à travers l'Afrique de l'Ouest, renforçant la résilience et la collaboration Les ouvrages collectifs co-conçus et co-financés par les habitant.es traduisent concrètement dans l’espace public la portée du fonds rotatif en tant qu’outil de renforcement du pouvoir d’agir des habitant.es . Grâce à leur apport financier, ces dernier.es ne sont plus seulement bénéficiaires d’infrastructures réalisées par d’autres groupes d’acteurs, mais au cœur des processus de décision qui les définissent et les produisent. Les habitants participent au dialogue territorial qui permet de faire évoluer positivement et durablement la situation locale et les conditions de vie par un meilleur niveau d’équipement. De plus, la participation financière des habitant.es motive leur contribution à la bonne gestion et à la maintenance des ouvrages. Des modalités de gestion spécifiques sont ainsi définies pour chaque type d’ouvrage, impliquant les groupes d’habitants de la zone et visant à garantir leur pérennité. Bénéficiaire de la FSH Sénégal 2022 Crédit Equipe média urbaSEN Ces ouvrages mis en œuvre de manière participative sont le résultat d’une démarche intégrée - sociale, environnementale et financière - qui garantit leur réplicabilité à long terme. Celle-ci est accentuée par les activités de formation des artisans locaux qui sont mises en œuvre en lien avec les projets. Ces formations contribuent à une meilleure structuration du tissu économique local et à une amélioration de la qualité des ouvrages et des logements réalisés. Articulées à d’autres moyens de lutte contre les inondations (sensibilisation, messages d’information avant les pluies, réalisation d’ouvrages structurants de drainage par les acteurs publics), elles contribuent à augmenter effectivement la résilience des quartiers face au risque climatique. Récemment, cet outil de financement a inspiré d’autres fédérations d’habitants organisées dans la sous-région ouest-africaine. Des mécanismes similaires ont été développés au Burkina Faso (2021) et en Guinée Bissau (2023) et se déclinent selon les besoins et réalités locales. Actuellement, les représentants des fédérations de ces différents pays portent la volonté de se réunir en confédération sous-régionale avec leurs voisins afin de partager des savoirs, des outils et des méthodes innovantes de construction et de financement de la ville. Le fonds rotatif améliore les conditions de vie au Sénégal, en favorisant la finance communautaire et en favorisant la transparence entre les résidents et les autorités locales Par l’amélioration des conditions de vie d’environ 150 000 habitants du Sénégal, et 1 milliards de francs CFA de prêts accordés depuis 2015, le fonds rotatif a démontré sa pertinence en tant qu’outil financier pour l’amélioration du cadre de vie des populations défavorisées. Le portage “habitant” de l’outil et sa reconnaissance par les autorités locales assurent une appropriation forte et une démultiplication de son envergure grâce à la sensibilisation des habitants et la formation des communes dans l’élaboration de budgets participatifs pour appuyer ces dynamiques. L’ensemble de ces innovations renforcent la transparence et la confiance entre les acteurs publics locaux et les populations. Ainsi, le fonds rotatif s’inscrit comme un outil stratégique de plaidoyer pour la reconnaissance de la finance communautaire par les acteurs publics et les bailleurs internationaux et le renforcement de l’inclusion financière des populations. Previous Next

Philippe Heinrigs aborde les défis de l'urbanisation en Afrique et les solutions potentielles. < Back Urbanisation en Afrique: Défis et solutions Philippe Heinrigs Dans cette intervention, Philippe Heinrigs de l'OCDE aborde les défis de l'urbanisation en Afrique, notamment dans les villes intermédiaires. Il souligne la croissance rapide de la population urbaine et l'attraction des villes pour les opportunités. Il met en lumière la nécessité de produire des données pour mieux comprendre cette dynamique et plaide pour une intégration de l'urbanisation dans les politiques de développement. Enfin, il appelle à une collaboration entre différents acteurs pour une gestion efficace et durable de l'urbanisation en Afrique.

< Back Talensi traditional houses in Ghana Talensi traditional houses in Ghana are centered on the design and construction of homesteads, promoting their indigenous cultural identity and demonstrating the value of social ties. The construction process involves men constructing and roofing structures, with women covering them. The Talensi community combines innovation, local knowledge, and resources to create low-cost, sustainable communities. The standardized construction schedule ensures transparency and reliability, promoting sustainability and reusability of traditional materials. The traditional building of Talensi is principally centered on the design and construction of homesteads. The architectural circular form of these traditional buildings, its homogenous layout, choice of construction materials, and process promotes their indigenous cultural identity, stands as an embodiment of the value of social ties, represents a substantial projection of hierarchical relations that make up a family or clan. Talensi is an area in the Upper East region of Ghana in West Africa, culturally and administratively termed Talensis. House Building among Talensi is guided by a solid sense of kinship, characterized by a cooperative effort by the clan to which a person belongs. Tengzug village, Nothern Ghana photo by imb.org Traditionally, the homestead is identified as a Talensi man’s focus, source of interests, prime initiatives, deepest emotional connections, values, shelter, and esteem of life. Talensi’s view on house construction is that men put up structures and roof them while women cover the structures for habitation, but the contribution of women is not counted, though the entire construction process involves members of varied ages, social standing, skills, and genders. The fusion of innovation, local knowledge, and resources promotes low-cost and sustainable communities tailored to their specifications. The traditional houses of the Talensi are circular with flat roofs although in recent years there has been the introduction of rectangular forms. The buildings are constructed with mud. Wall construction usually includes hand-molding kneaded laterite into standard spherical sizes and using the balls to construct the wall layer by layer. Finishing also involves a standardized process of plastering the wall surfaces with a mixture of mud, cow dung, and juice from boiled empty locust bean tree pods. The juice acts as a stabilizer, hardener, and waterproofing. As a standard schedule, traditional Talensi construction normally happens in the dry season between December and April. This period is without rainfall and the entire construction process, from site preparation to wall and floor finishing, is planned in this period. The need to standardize the construction schedule within this period is further strengthened by the fact that most traditional construction participants are farmers and would be engaged in farming in the rainy season. The standardized scheduling in the dry season is transparent and understood by all participants, thereby enhancing the reliability of the commitment of the entire team to planned activities for projects. This tends to stabilize the flow of construction activities within the planned duration. Sustainability through the indigenous building culture of Talensi is environmentally friendly associated with less generation of waste. This fundamentally stems from the recyclability and reusability of traditional materials. Another dimension focuses on the ability of the traditional building materials to merge back into the natural environment when they are not in use. Previous Next

< Back Learning from green African building Caroline Geffriaud, Goethe-Institut Sénégal The «Learning from green African building» project was launched by the Goethe-Institut Senegal in 2021 with the aim of exploring the richness of sustainable construction in sub-Saharan Africa and creating a network of engaged actors and institutions. The project is divided into two parts: One part is the creation of activities enabling the development and animation of a network of stakeholders and interested parties in the development of sustainable architecture on the continent. The second part is a web platform organized into three sections. The first is an interactive and participatory map that lists the various initiatives on the continent, from vernacular heritage to contemporary buildings, including the involved actors, research projects, resources, and more. The second section is a series of videos produced by the Goethe-Institut, showcasing particularly interesting projects and actors across the continent. The final aspect is a collection of essays written by engaged personalities that offer a definition of sustainable architecture in sub-Saharan Africa today. The African continent is rich in diversity, creativity, and architectural wealth, yet it is underrepresented and under-referenced. This project aims to be a source of information, inspiration, and connection for anyone interested, both on the continent and beyond. The website is accessible at: https://lfgab.com/ Sustainable architecture in Africa relies on frugal, low-tech solutions using local materials to reduce carbon emissions It is now a well-established fact that the construction sector, along with transportation, is one of the most polluting industries in the world. By itself, it accounts for 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This staggering percentage also indicates a significant margin for reduction that can be explored. This reduction is particularly achieved through the development of sustainable architecture, meaning architecture that is functional, comfortable, resilient, resource-efficient, and environmentally friendly in the broadest sense. The African continent is experiencing a boom, with a population growth rate of around 5% and the prospect of reaching 50% urbanization by 2030. These indicators are logically accompanied by a construction boom, involving the widespread adoption of foreign architectural models and the massive use of concrete, already the most consumed material in the world and responsible for 4 to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Champ de typha Sénégal - Seydina Ousmane Boye - 2021 While in Europe, active «high-tech» techniques have long been favored to limit the environmental impact of buildings, this approach now seems unreasonable. With the acceleration of the climate crisis and the depletion of fossil fuels, voices are being raised around the world advocating for degrowth. Fortunately, in all climates, there are many examples of the «low-tech» approach, which limits the need for resources and maintenance and implements passive, sustainable, and stable systems. In Africa, due to the technological and energy context, frugality has always been a preferred approach when it comes to sustainable architecture. In a world with limited resources, innovation no longer lies in the race for new technologies but in the reinvention, reinterpretation, combination, and fusion of traditional techniques derived from local cultures, climates, and materials. The use of local resources is one of the keys to reducing the carbon emissions of the construction sector. Reducing the distance traveled by materials, creating local skilled jobs, and limiting the processing of products—these actions all contribute to reducing the energy used in building construction. Additionally, these local resources are often bio- or geo-sourced materials with a high carbon storage capacity, which positively impacts the overall environmental balance of buildings. The Learning from green African building platform highlights sustainable architecture in sub-Saharan Africa, connecting stakeholders through mapped resources and videos The climatic and social conditions, as well as access to resources, being unique, the sustainable approach in sub-Saharan Africa is particularly interesting and inspiring. However, today, the data related to this approach is often not easily accessible to the public. To highlight sustainable construction initiatives and bring together a network of stakeholders engaged in eco-friendly building practices, the Goethe-Institut Senegal has created a web platform that provides access to the wide array of resources on sustainable architecture in sub-Saharan Africa. Carte interractive Learning from green African building - Goethe-Institut - 2024 The platform is presented as a regional map, allowing users to locate the data within its geographical context. Resources are displayed as «points» with different shapes or colors depending on their association with the following themes: Vernacular heritage, Contemporary buildings committed to sustainable development, Renovated buildings, Available natural resources and material experimentation, Private and public actors involved in creating a sustainable construction sector, Places of education and dissemination of sustainable architectural and urban thought, Theoretical or practical research projects and publications, and Occasional events or initiatives. Navigation sur la carte - Goethe-Institut Sénégal - 2021 The map background emphasizes climatic data and available resources, rather than strictly administrative boundaries. This way, the territory is viewed through the lens of natural context, rather than administrative divisions, encouraging technology exchanges between practices operating in similar climates. In certain countries, particularly in Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana, Angola, South Africa, Rwanda, and, of course, Senegal, video teams were engaged to meet with stakeholders and showcase the richness and diversity of sustainable approaches on the continent. Thanks to this effort, around fifteen videos have already been uploaded, with more in preparation. Additionally, with the aim of offering a body of theoretical reflections in dialogue with the mapped data and videos, the platform features original essays written by key figures on the continent, focused on defining sustainable architecture in Africa today. Exhibitions, roundtables, and presentations across Africa, to promote sustainable architecture through public engagement and local collaboration Since its inception, the project has been the focus of numerous public events, notably the «Learning from Green African Building» exhibition in December 2022, Dakar (Senegal), a roundtable at WITS University in Johannesburg (South Africa), March 2023, and the Learning from green African building Africa Tour inFebruary 2024 where the project was presented at four public events in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), Lagos (Nigeria), Accra (Ghana), and Nairobi (Kenya). These events included numerous conferences and debates led by local stakeholders, showcasing the platform, the traveling exhibition, and engaging the public in open discussions. Research is ongoing and is regularly published on the site. The map is participatory, allowing the public to propose new resources to expand the content while ensuring local relevance. Lancement du site projet - Goethe-Institut Sénégal - 2021 Echanges avec le public Accra - Willie Schuman - 2024 Promote sustainable architecture by showcasing local resources and overcoming cultural resistance to eco-friendly building practices Architecture is a reflection of the cultural and environmental context from which it emerges. The Goethe-Institut Senegal is taking advantage of the construction of its future institute in Dakar, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Francis Kéré, to highlight this theme in its cultural program. Rather than importing knowledge, typologies, and materials, how can we make the best use of local resources and knowledge to develop architecture that is adapted to the climate and the expectations of the communities involved? The obstacles limiting the democratization of sustainable construction are no longer technical. The knowledge exists, the tests have been conducted, and in some countries, the regulatory context is evolving in favor of using eco-sourced materials. Today, the resistance is generally cultural, as natural and traditional materials are often seen as outdated and synonymous with poverty, while concrete and glass are associated with wealth, modernity, and the future. The project’s ambition is to show stakeholders, decision-makers, and the general public that an appealing and contemporary ecological alternative is possible in the building sector. LFGAB highlights a wide range of alternative proposals while helping to increase the visibility of the actors, research, and institutions involved. Previous Next