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< Back Des projets d’espaces publics à l’écoute de leurs usagers: retours d’expériences des Pépinières urbaines en Afrique Fatou-Maty DIOUF; Virginie RACHMUHL Sur le continent africain, l’urbanisation dépasse souvent la planification, portée par des dynamiques locales que les approches institutionnelles peinent à intégrer. C’est dans ce contexte que l’Agence Française de Développement a lancé en 2018 les Pépinières urbaines (PU), inspirées de l’urbanisme tactique et transitoire. Adossées à de grands projets urbains, elles visent à concilier rapidité et participation, en réalisant des aménagements visibles à l’échelle des quartiers (placettes, aires de jeux, allées, équipements sociaux et sportifs) et en testant de nouvelles formes de gouvernance urbaine. Accompagnées par le Programme d’animation des pépinières urbaines (PAPU) géré par Gret, UrbaMonde et Cabanon Vertical, trois générations de PU se sont succédé. La première, menée en Tunisie, à Ouagadougou, Abidjan et Dakar, est aujourd’hui achevée. La deuxième se déploie actuellement à Nairobi, Antananarivo, Kigali et Monrovia tandis que la troisième est en préparation. Chaque aménagement et espace public conçu dans le cadre des PU suit une méthode commune: diagnostic, co-conception, production participative, animation et gestion. Alliant ambition pragmatique et dimension politique, elles se heurtent toutefois aux rigidités des grands projets et aux ambiguïtés de leur propre mise en œuvre. La capitalisation du programme , synthétisée dans cet article, met en lumière les acquis, tensions et contradictions. Revaloriser l’espace public Inauguration festive des sites aménagés à Béja, PU Tunisie © Humanités et Inclusion Partout où elles ont été mises en œuvre, les Pépinières urbaines ont contribué à transformer des terrains disponibles, délaissés ou sous-utilisés en espaces publics fréquentés. Les usages diversifiés — sportifs, récréatifs, culturels, économiques — ont non seulement amélioré le quotidien des habitant·es mais aussi renforcé la cohésion sociale et créé des opportunités économiques locales. En Tunisie ou à Côte d’Ivoire, elles ont modifié le regard des maîtres d’ouvrage sur le foncier vacant: d’espace réservé à des projets immobiliers, il est devenu un bien collectif au service de l’intérêt général. Cette revalorisation de l’espace public constitue l’un des apports majeurs du dispositif, en sensibilisant les institutions à sa fonction sociale et politique. « Grâce à la pépinière, un certain nombre d’acteur·rices ne considèrent plus ces espaces comme des espaces à construire, au service d’intérêts privés. Ils les voient aussi comme des espaces publics potentiels, des espaces communs déployés au service de l’intérêt général. La pépinière nous permet ici de renouer avec notre histoire et notre culture des espaces publics » Membre de la Maitrise d’Ouvrage de la pépinière de Tunisie. Terrain multisports extérieur à Béja, PU Tunisie © Humanités et Inclusion Des espaces de dialogue féconds mais fragiles En réunissant autorités publiques, citoyen·nes, professionnel·les de l’urbanisme, associations et organisations communautaires, les PU ont permis de créer des arènes de concertation inédites. Leur dimension pédagogique, autour de la co-construction et du « faire les villes ensemble », la diffusion d’outils et de méthodes ont contribué à renforcer le dialogue entre pouvoirs publics et société civile. Elles ont aussi essaimé : recours au vote citoyen à Métouia (Tunisie), adoption d’une méthodologie participative par la commune d’Abobo (Côte d’Ivoire), organisation de consultations par la mairie de Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). A Madagascar, l’intérêt suscité a même conduit au lancement de Pépinières dans de nouvelles villes. Ces dynamiques, bien que prometteuses, restent fragiles. Que restera-t-il des démarches participatives après le passage des Pépinières ? Leur pérennité dépend de leur ancrage institutionnel et de l’appropriation active par les acteur·rices techniques, encore peu habitué·es aux pratiques de co-construction. Participation communautaire autour des projets prévus dans le quartier d’Andraisoro, PU Antananarivo © Cabanon Vertical Atelier de co-conception communautaire à City Carton, PU Nairobi © Bantu Studio. Souples, adaptables, protéiformes : des dispositifs agiles face à la rigidité des grands projets Chaque pépinière s’est construite en ajustant ses objectifs et ses modes opératoires à son contexte, notamment au grand projet auquel elle est attachée. À Ouagadougou, elles ont servi d’outil de préfiguration d’aménagements futurs. En Tunisie, à Dakar ou Abidjan, elles ont fonctionné comme des projets complémentaires aux opérations principales. À Nairobi, elles ont soutenu des initiatives locales via des appels à projets. Contrairement aux grands projets urbains, aux cadres normatifs et figés, les PU se caractérisent par leur plasticité opérationnelle, leur capacité à contourner les contraintes foncières ou administratives et à ouvrir des marges de manœuvre. Cette souplesse, loin de fragiliser le dispositif, en constitue la force. Tribunes pour les rassemblements communautaires lors des matchs de quartier, PU Abidjan © Cabanon Vertical Co-concevoir les équipements avec les usager·ères : promesses et limites de la participation citoyenne Les équipes des Pépinières ont déployé un large éventail de méthodes participatives — diagnostics communautaires, marches exploratoires, ateliers collaboratifs — pour associer directement les usager·ères à la définition des aménagements. À Ouagadougou, des observations menées sur les sites sportifs et culturels ont permis d’identifier des usages très divers et les barrières d’accès aux sites pour les personnes à mobilité réduite. À Dakar, un «observatoire de rue itinérant» a invité les passants à porter un regard nouveau sur leur quartier, tandis que le jeu vidéo Minecraft a été utilisé par des jeunes pour concevoir des espaces publics liés au Bus Rapid Transit. Ces démarches de co-conception ont mis en évidence des besoins souvent ignorés dans les études classiques et renforcé l’appropriation des projets par les habitant·es. Néanmoins elles nécessitent un accompagnement soutenu. Par ailleurs, les propositions citoyennes n’ont pas toujours été intégrées dans les arbitrages finaux pour des raisons budgétaires, techniques ou politiques, transformant parfois la co-conception en simple consultation et générant des déceptions. Atelier de co-conception avec les habitants de Pikine, réalisé avec le Penc, un outil mobile conçu pour faciliter le dialogue et la conception participative avec les habitants et les usagers locaux, PU Dakar © Studio Baïnem Construire ensemble : des chantiers comme lieux d’apprentissage et d’inclusion économique Certaines PU ont misé sur des formes d’apprentissages collectifs et innové sur le plan socio-économique. À Ouagadougou, des chantiers participatifs ont mobilisé les habitant·es sur la base du bénévolat pour du nettoyage, l’installation de clôtures en pneu, des panneaux et des bancs, renforçant l’appropriation du site par les usagers. À Dakar, certains lots de travaux se sont transformés en chantiers-écoles pour les artisans locaux et la conception a été adaptée aux outils et moyens disponibles. À Nairobi et Antananarivo, des clauses sociales ont favorisé l’emploi local et la parité. Cependant, les procédures de passation de marchés et les normes administratives imposées par les maitrises d’ouvrages et les bailleurs, restent souvent inadaptées pour les entrepreneurs locaux 5 . Chantier de la PU Dakar © Studio Baïnem Des aménagements entre transitoire et durable La demande de rapidité, frugalité et pérennité reste ainsi l’une des contradictions centrales du dispositif. Dans les projets de première génération, les structures légères et démontables, inspirées de l’urbanisme transitoire, ont permis de livrer rapidement des espaces et de tester des usages, répondant à des impératifs de frugalité, de couverture géographique et de réversibilité. Les équipements ont parfois été perçus comme « jetables » voire du gaspillage, surtout dans des contextes de sous-équipement chronique. En pratique, de nombreux aménagements sont restés du fait de leur succès et de l’absence d’offre alternative et ils se sont dégradés rapidement. Les PU de deuxième et troisième génération privilégient désormais des réalisations plus durables, mises en œuvre soit en complément des grands projets (Kigali, Nairobi, Antananarivo), soit comme première étape d’un processus incrémental de consolidation (Monrovia), avec une meilleure coordination avec les collectivités pour assurer la gestion et l’entretien. Cette orientation vers la durabilité allonge cependant les délais de mises en œuvre : les projets des PU restent plus rapides à livrer que les grands programmes, mais nécessitent souvent plus d’un an pour se concrétiser. Gare routière interurbaine PNR de Rufisque : construction d’un hall avec sièges pour l’attente et le repos, stands de restauration pour les vendeuses, et une atmosphère agréable grâce à la végétation et à la toiture en typha. PU Dakar © Studio Baïnem Les défis de la gestion des sites : inventer des modèles partagés et durables Au fil des générations de PU, la gestion des espaces s’est imposée comme un défi central. La mise en place de comités de gestion (CoGes) a permis de tester des modèles associant habitant·es, associations locales et institutions publiques. Les comités ont joué un rôle dans l’entretien, l’organisation d’activités et l’ancrage des projets dans la vie quotidienne des quartiers. Il n’existe pas de modèle unique de gestion et chaque contexte appelle une solution spécifique, qu’il s’agisse d’autogestion communautaire, de délégation à des organisations communautaires ou à des opérateurs privés, ou de cogestion institutionnalisée. À Ouagadougou, l’implication de la Mairie dans le CoGes s’est traduite par la création de statuts municipaux et d’un fonds dédié à l’entretien, consolidant la pérennité du dispositif. À Abidjan, quatre comités sur cinq fonctionnaient encore deux ans après la fin du projet sans soutien public, illustrant la robustesse de certains modèles communautaires. À Dakar, en revanche, le retrait municipal a fragilisé les CoGes, montrant la dépendance au cadre institutionnel. Certaines Pépinières testent des modèles de gestion hybrides. À Nairobi, l’intégration d’activités économiques (kiosques, laveries, cafés internet) contribue au financement partiel des frais de gestion. Ces approches soulignent l’importance de modèles économiques viables. L’expérience a toutefois montré que l’implication des autorités locales reste essentielle pour les réparations majeures et la préservation du caractère public des équipements. Des tensions structurelles persistantes Les collectivités locales jouent un rôle important dans la gouvernance des PU et des grands projets auxquels elles sont adossées. En effet, elles détiennent le plus souvent des compétences en matière de gestion du foncier, de démarche participative et de gestion des espaces publics. L’ancrage institutionnel local de la PU est donc décisif pour sa réussite. Les maîtrises d’ouvrage de proximité (communes, intercommunalités) sont plus efficaces que celles qui sont nationales ou sectorielles, grâce à leur connaissance du terrain et leur capacité d’action rapide. Dans le cas de Pépinières nationales un modèle hybride reste à inventer. L’intégration du pépiniériste dans les instances de pilotage du grand projet est également un levier clé pour assurer la légitimité et le transfert d’enseignements. Pensées comme des espaces d’expérimentation, les Pépinières permettent de tester aménagements, usages et modes de gestion. Leur capacité à influencer les grands projets reste toutefois inégale, largement tributaire de l’intérêt et de l’engagement des maîtres d’ouvrage. A Kigali, pour légitimer et faciliter la remontée d’enseignements de la PU au grand projet, le pépiniériste a été intégré au comité de pilotage de ce dernier. Dans d’autre cas, la prise en compte des enseignements tirés des PU est restée limitée, faute de relais institutionnels structurés en amont et freinée par un écosystème peu aculturé aux démarches participatives. Entretien et nettoyage du site assurés par les communautés du Burkina Faso, PU Ouagadougou © Gret Un programme laboratoire... Depuis leur lancement, les Pépinières urbaines ont fonctionné comme un laboratoire d’expérimentation. Les premières générations ont révélé des limites liées à l’articulation avec les grands projets, à la disponibilité du foncier et à l’implication institutionnelle. Les échanges organisés par le programme d’animation ont incité les acteurs à prendre du recul, à modifier leurs pratiques et à ajuster le dispositif pour les générations suivantes. À Kigali, la Pépinière a testé des aménagements définitifs et des modalités de gestion ; à Monrovia, elle a alimenté les réflexions sur le drainage et les espaces publics ; à Nairobi, elle a participé à des concertations municipales et internationales. La question reste toutefois ouverte : les grands projets intégreront-ils ces enseignements ou les PU resteront-elles périphériques? ...et un équilibre à trouver entre expérimentation et pérennitée Les Pépinières urbaines ont démontré leur potentiel comme leviers d’apprentissage collectif et catalyseurs de transformation. Elles ont permis de répondre aux besoins, revaloriser l’espace public, ouvrir des marges de participation et expérimenter de nouveaux modèles de gestion, tout en sensibilisant institutions et habitant·es au « faire ensemble ». Leur avenir repose sur un équilibre délicat : consolider l’ancrage institutionnel et la pérennité des aménagements tout en préservant l’expérimentation, le droit à l’erreur et l’innovation citoyenne. Dans des contextes où les gouvernements disposent rarement des moyens nécessaires, renforcer la collaboration avec les maîtrises d’ouvrage et les collectivités locales est une condition indispensable mais ces dernières ne peuvent garantir seules l’entretien et la durabilité des espaces. L’implication active des habitant·es, la reconnaissance de leurs pratiques et de leur capacité à s’organiser, constitue le socle le plus fiable pour ancrer socialement et durablement les aménagements. Plus qu’un simple outil technique, les Pépinières urbaines ouvrent la voie à un urbanisme du quotidien négocié, partagé et inclusif, où l’innovation réside autant dans les processus collectifs que dans les infrastructures elles-mêmes. 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African Cities Insights is your go-to resource for understanding the latest trends and developments in urban studies in Africa. Our series features interviews with leading experts, innovative projects that are transforming cities, and thought-provoking think pieces that challenge conventional wisdom. We are committed to promoting inclusive and sustainable urban development across the continent. African Cities Insights African Cities Insights is your go-to resource for understanding the latest trends and developments in urban studies in Africa. Our series features interviews with leading experts, innovative projects that are transforming cities, and thought-provoking think pieces that challenge conventional wisdom. We are committed to promoting inclusive and sustainable urban development across the continent. Filter by Category Select Category Urban Planning Innovation Des projets d’espaces publics à l’écoute de leurs usagers: retours d’expériences des Pépinières urbaines en Afrique Concilier rapidité et participation, en réalisant des aménagements visibles à l’échelle des quartiers Urban Planning Innovation Faire ville ensemble : une plateforme pour réinventer la gouvernance urbaine au Cameroun Améliorer les politiques publiques pour des villes durables et inclusives Urban Planning Innovation Liaisons urbaines: Mettre en valeur des espaces publics de proximité dans des villes africaines Améliorer la qualité des espaces publics au moyen d’interventions concrètes, rapides et de coût raisonnable Urban Planning Innovation Planning for Africa’s urban expansion: insights from the Africapolis 2050 projections Insights into key urbanisation trends across the continent Architecture Innovation La Voie-x des femmes: Révéler l’économie informelle dans l’espace public Co-fabriquer des espaces de travail dignes pour faire ville autrement African Architecture and Urban Heritage Revitalizing Heritage: Strengthening Community Engagement through the Amu Fakhri Yangu - Kawanda la Ustawi Project Participatory design and traditional knowledge for sustainable urban heritage development Urban Planning Innovation La Pépinière urbaine d’Antananarivo: concevoir des aménagements de proximité avec les habitant.e.s Des approches participatives et expérimentales pour transformer durablement la fabrique des villes Gearing Up & Mainstreaming Public Space: The City of Cape Town’s Quality Public Places Programme Promoting accessibility, support microeconomic opportunities and positive sense of place Architecture Innovation Habitat semi-durable pour personnes déplacées internes Construction en sac de terre et de pierre African Architecture and Urban Heritage The implication of post-colonial urban growth in the development process of Zaria Urban area-Nigeria Contemporary urban expansion with the structured foundation of modern town planning established during the colonial period Urban Planning Innovation Improving urban water services in Rundu, Namibia with the Digital Job Card Enhance service delivery and water loss management by enabling accurate data collection, streamlined database integration, and real-time performance monitoring Urban Planning Innovation In Cape Town, South Africa, road and pedestrian safety remains a critical urban challenge Vibrant, colourful artwork that draws attention to the pedestrian crossing and adds joy to space. Interview Pan-African Architecture Biennale 2026 Interview with Omar Degan the curator of this inaugural edition and the founder of the Pan African Biennale as organization Cities Pixels and Colors Bakel et Kaédi: Des villes intermédiaires en première ligne des enjeux du développement urbain Focus sur Bakel et Kaédi dans la moyenne vallée du fleuve Sénégal. Architecture Innovation La ventilation naturelle : une arme invisible, mais tellement efficace ! Une alternative aux climatiseurs énergivores et mal intégrés African Architecture and Urban Heritage Learning from green African building Exploring the richness of sustainable construction in sub-Saharan Africa and creating a network of engaged actors and institutions. Urban Planning Innovation Une confédération d’habitants pour renforcer le pouvoir d’agir dans les quartiers vulnérables en Afrique de l’Ouest Pour le droit au logement et à un cadre de vie décent résilient face au changement climatique African Architecture and Urban Heritage Digitizing Aguda/Afro Brazilian architecture heritage of Porto-Novo Benin through LIDAR scanning & social participation Digital tools and local engagement to document and preserve endangered heritage sites in Porto-Novo, Benin. Urban Planning Innovation Abuja Urban Lab: collective action as a catalyst for transforming waste governance The Urban Lab facilitates collaborative solutions that incorporate local knowledge and innovative practices. Architecture Innovation A New Shift In Affordable Housing In Africa Local solutions for for sustainable urban development Urban Planning Innovation L’utilisation de l’outil numérique, pour des projets de développement plus justes en Afrique Comment les outils digitaux mobiles et en ligne nous aident à produire des données et à déterminer des dédommagements plus justes Architecture Innovation Start Somewhere: Urban Upgrading Through Innovative Architecture And Community Empowerment This method significantly reduces both construction time and material costs, enabling even unskilled community members to participate in building projects. Urban Planning Innovation La cartographie sensible, un outil puissant de participation citoyenne - récit d'un cours à l'EAMAU La création de médias permettant de restituer l'expérience du territoire Urban Planning Innovation Leveraging digital technologies for mapping deprived areas in eThekwini, South Africa Building & Establishment Automated Mapper, a machine learning tool for mapping informal structures African Architecture and Urban Heritage African Pre-colonial City-States: Why we need to look back to move forward African urban centers were dynamic, complex, diverse, and adapted to each era with different socioeconomic features and governance models. Urban Planning Innovation Le fonds rotatif : un outil communautaire de cofinancement pour le développement des villes Un mécanisme qui permet aux populations vulnérables de bénéficier de prêts pour la réhabilitation de leurs logements et de co-financer des aménagements urbains Architecture Innovation Digital Tools In Architecture: Opportunities For Afrocentric Architecture Discover how Afrocentric architecture is redefining African cities by blending cultural heritage, sustainability, and cutting-edge technologies Interview Une nouvelle vision du développement urbain au Sénégal à travers la ville intelligente Entretien avec Diop Dieynaba, Directrice du programme Ville Intelligente de Diamniadio Urban Planning Innovation Geo Sanitation - INSTAMAP: A geoportal to facilitate decision-making on urban water management in Antananarivo, Madagascar The platform aims to improve coordination, streamline project development, and reduce costs by replacing physical documents with digital versions Interview Combler la fracture numérique et autonomiser les jeunes au Niger Entretien avec Issaka Maman Lourwana, fondateur de Digital Niger Urban Planning Innovation A Sustainable and Resilient Urban Transformation in Africa: The Dakar REVE Project, Leveraging IMM Diagnostics The IMM urban diagnosis as a promising tool to address African cities's challenges and improve the sustainability and resilience of urban systems Interview The potential of Artificial Intelligence for Africa Interview with Rachel Adams PhD, the Founder and CEO of the Global Center on AI Governance Urban Planning Innovation Exploiter l'Internet des objets pour améliorer la qualité de l'air urbain à Douala Cameroun Des opportunités uniques pour surveiller la qualité de l'air en temps réel et en détail à l'échelle d'une ville dense et étendue comme Douala Interview A vision built from earth Portrait of Nzinga Biegueng Mboup, Architect and cofounder of Worofila Cities Pixels and Colors CPDI Africa EXPO 2022: Workshop & Excursion Develop and preserve African architectural languages, that are culturally and environmentally sustainable Urban Planning Innovation Faire la ville ensemble : co-construire la ville africaine par l'apprentissage Soutenir les acteurs de la ville dans la prise de conscience des changements de paradigme nécessaires Urban Planning Innovation Repenser Conakry à travers le prisme de la mobilité urbaine durable Une approche holistique et centrée sur les personnes en matière de mobilité urbaine peut aider à déclencher un modèle de développement urbain agile et inclusif pour Conakry. Architecture Innovation Les jardins de Ben M'sik : construits par la communauté, pour la communauté Des logements sociaux à Casablanca alliant accessibilité, durabilité et intégration communautaire. Urban Planning Innovation La géopolitique de la gouvernance urbaine – une approche innovante pour coproduire des connaissances Un réseau dense et multi-échelle d'acteurs, d'initiatives, de relations et de compétitions qui constituent et caractérisent la gouvernance urbaine Urban Planning Innovation Urban-Rural linkages at the center of urban policy agenda in Africa Leaving no space behind: strengthening urban-rural Linkages Interview Portrait d'une des architectes les plus inspirantes du Maroc: Aziza CHAOUNI Architecte principale chez Aziza Chaouni Projects et Professeure associée à l'Université de Toronto African Architecture and Urban Heritage What would the architecture of African cities look like without western influence? Reimagine an Africa built with a strong sense of heritage, with the aim of evoking emotions and a sense of joy Urban Planning Innovation Un (re)développement urbain accéléré pour des lieux habitables the Urban Fabric Initiative Expérimenter, promouvoir et développer des approches et des outils inclusifs, participatifs et agiles pour améliorer la qualité et l'appropriation locale des projets urbains. African Architecture and Urban Heritage Cameroon museums: The language of symbols for cosmo-architecture Cultural and tourist development of the territory through buildings and places imbued with an «African» scenography Interview Interview with Hayatte Ndiaye, President of the national order of architects of Chad Financing the urbanization of cities is crucial, as it promotes local economies, supports industrialization, and creates jobs locally Architecture Innovation Startup lions campus Innovative architecture to respond to the challenge of youth unemployment Cities Pixels and Colors The heritage wall Benin Connect every African to their culture and identity, and promote the importance of connecting with their heritage. Architecture Innovation Rural lessons for the city of the future an architect’s perspective Combining the rural and urban can create more liveable modern cities and attractive rural communities for future generations African Architecture and Urban Heritage Influence of religion and beliefs in architecture Religion and beliefs have shaped African societies, influencing the construction of monuments Architecture Innovation Innovation at the service of community projects in Africa Africa's architecture blends ancient traditions with sustainable designs, addressing community needs. Interview Education in architecture, planning and design in Africa: Challenges and vision for more sustainable and resilient African cities Architectural education in Africa needs a paradigm shift, integrating local social, cultural, and environmental considerations. Urban Planning Innovation Comment les drones facilitent l’obtention de titres fonciers en RDC Kasangulu, en RDC, utilise des drones pour les droits fonciers, l'autonomisation des femmes et la modernisation de la gestion foncière. African Architecture and Urban Heritage Talensi traditional houses in Ghana Talensi traditional houses in Ghana exemplify indigenous culture, social cohesion, and sustainable, low-cost construction using local materials. Urban Planning Innovation Innovative partnerships for inclusive mobility UN-Habitat partners with startups to innovate in e-mobility, advancing sustainable cities and gender-inclusive employment. Urban Planning Innovation The Pedestrian's Plight: Walking as an inconvenient mobility option in Abuja Abuja's car-centric design and policies hinder pedestrian mobility, especially for marginalized groups, necessitating prioritized mixed land use, enhanced streetscapes, and pedestrian-friendly policies. Urban Planning Innovation Reaping the Urban Dividend: Sustainable and Safe Urban Mobility in Africa Reclaiming Streets for Pedestrians and Cyclists in Africa to reduce road fatalities among vulnerable road users. Cities Pixels and Colors Urbanisme tactique : les artefacts urbains comme vecteur de mobilité durable pour une meilleure qualité de l’air dans la ville de Yaoundé Les artefacts urbains inspirés des symboles locaux pour favoriser la mobilité douce au Cameroun African Architecture and Urban Heritage Le Burkina Faso, une référence en matière d'architecture africaine authentique L'architecture africaine inspirante du Burkina Faso entre préservation de l'identité et modernité African Architecture and Urban Heritage Les territoires post-miniers Marocains : L'héritage minier de Jerada comme outil de régénération urbaine Jerada, ville post-minière marocaine, lutte pour éviter le déclin en explorant des stratégies intégrées de reconversion urbaine. Urban Planning Innovation Projet de Développement Urbain Intégré et de Résilience du Grand Antananarivo : Des impacts durables sur la capitale de Madagascar Le PRODUIR vise à améliorer les conditions de vie des personnes les plus vulnérables des zones régulièrement inondées d’Antananarivo Interview On the Move: How Local Startups Are Redefining Urban Mobility in Africa Interview with Judith ADEM, consultant smart and electric mobility at UN-Habitat Urban Planning Innovation L’African Cities Lab : une plateforme de cours en ligne au service de la transformation urbaine en Afrique Une plateforme révolutionnaire en éducation numérique pour façonner un développement urbain durable en Afrique. Interview Pedaling for Change: Cycling as a Catalyst for Sustainable Urban Mobility in Africa Interview with Cyprine Odada, Executive Director of Critical Mass Nairobi Interview Abidjan: Repenser la mobilité par la planification, l’inclusion et le dialogue Entretien avec Charlène Kouassi Directrice de Movin’On LAB Afrique Interview Le numérique: un terreau fertile à labourer pour la transformation durable de la mobilité Interview avec Antoine Chèvre Spécialiste Senior en Transport Cities Pixels and Colors When art comes to town: The murals that cover African cities African cities are experiencing a mural renaissance, with large-scale artworks revitalizing urban spaces, depicting culture, addressing issues, and fostering pride and unity among communities. Interview Interview with Mariam Issoufou Kamara: Founder and principal Architect at atelier masōmī In this interview, Mariam Kamara discusses her journey from software engineering to architecture, emphasizing the multidimensional impact of architecture on our environment and perception. Interview Charging Ahead: Africa's Bright Future in Electric Mobility Interview with Ariadne Baskin Sustainable Mobility Project Manager

Stay updated with the latest news and breaking stories. Discover a curated list of news articles covering a wide range of topics on our website. Latest News Jun 24, 2024 Nouvelle série de vidéos documentaires sur la question du logement au Cameroun Cette série aborde l'état actuel du marché, les défis de la pénurie de logements et les initiatives mises en place pour y remédier Read More Mar 6, 2024 Launch of the African Cities Magazine 5 Join us as we embark on this journey to uncover the transformative potential of digital technologies in shaping the future of African cities Read More Feb 26, 2024 Les lauréats du concours "visions urbaines africaines" de l'African Cities Lab sont connus Le webinaire, construire un nouveau paradigme autour des villes africaines, était l’occasion de révéler les grands gagnants du concours de photographie et de vidéo organisé par l'African Cities Lab. Read More Dec 18, 2023 Magazine des Villes Africaines éditions 4 La quatrième édition du African Cities Magazine est désormais en ligne en français et en anglais. Plongez dans l’univers de la mobilité urbaine, découvrez des idées inspirantes et terminez votre voyage avec une touche de couleurs. Read More Dec 18, 2023 "African Urban Visions" Contest Capture the best of urban innovation and transformation at the very heart of your city, through the prism of a photograph or short video. Read More Nov 24, 2023 AIN au forum, quelles trajectoires pour les villes du fleuve Sénégal ? Africa Innovation Network est ravi de participer au forum organisé par Le Grdr et ses partenaires sur les trajectoires des villes du fleuve Sénégal. Read More Nov 9, 2023 World Cities Day Talk edition 4 On November 9, 2023, the prestigious K Hotel in Douala was the vibrant scene of the fourth edition of the captivating World Cities Day Talk. Read More Read More

Africityshoot is a collection of photos of African cities to share the warmth, beauty, energy and vibrancy of cities on the continent. Discover the dynamics at work in African cities through unique shots of different cities taken by actors committed to the sustainable transformation of the continent's territories. Africityshoot Africityshoot is a collection of photos of African cities to share the warmth, beauty, energy and vibrancy of cities on the continent. Discover the dynamics at work in African cities through unique shots of different cities taken by actors committed to the sustainable transformation of the continent's territories. These images are to be used for non-commercial purposes.

This is a series of video podcasts that address the main key themes in building more inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities in Africa. Videos Podcast This is a series of video podcasts that address the main key themes in building more inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities in Africa. The themes addressed are various and include the place of secondary cities, economic models for more sustainable and resilient cities, the place of education and cultural identities, the role of technology and innovation, etc. The format is a short video published each month. Les enjeux de la promotion immobilière au Cameroun Financement, Foncier et Fiscalité sont pour lui au cœur de la production de logement au Cameroun Read More Comment combler le déficit de logement au Cameroun Résorber l'habitat informel par la restructuration-rénovation urbaine et création de nouvelles zones d’habitation Read More Vers une Modernisation Participative: Défis et Aspirations de la Commune de Bakel El Hadji Diouf de Bakel évoque la participation citoyenne, défis en eau et assainissement, et vise la modernisation de sa ville. Read More Les approches gouvernementales de résorption de l’habitat précaire au Cameroun Stratégie nationale de prévention et d’amélioration des bidonvilles au Cameroun Read More Réinventer les villes Sénégalaises au carrefour de l'urbanisme inclusif et des opportunités économiques Alé Badara SY promeut l'urbanisation adaptative au Sénégal, intégrant la communauté pour transformer les défis climatiques en opportunités économiques et créer des villes inclusives et durables. Read More Décentralisation et gouvernance locle au centre du développement de la ville de Bakel Dr. Abdou Azis discute de la nécessité d'actualiser l'urbanisation et de renforcer l'autonomie économique des communes pour le développement local, en mettant l'accent sur l'intercommunalité. Read More La place des matériaux locaux dans la production de logements abordables Enjeu des matériaux locaux pour le logement abordable Read More Kaédi face aux défis : Entre inondations et développement durable" Découvrons les défis de Kaédi, ville intermédiaire de Mauritanie, en compagnie d'Abou Cisse, premier adjoint au Maire. Explorerons son artisanat textile, les enjeux climatiques des inondations, les initiatives de la Mairie et la participation citoyenne. Read More Innovation et Tradition : La Vision Africaine de Taman Mhoumadi pour le Climat Taman Mouhadi, consultante et artiste, souligne l'importance de solutions locales et l'engagement de la jeunesse africaine face aux enjeux climatiques urgents. Read More Défis urbains en Mauritanie : urbanisation rapide et adaptation au changement climatique Dr. Issagha Diaganaexpose les défis du développement urbain en Mauritanie et l'importance de solutions innovantes face aux contraintes de ressources. Read More Capitaliser sur l'économie informelle pour un développement urbain durable en Afrique Luc Gnacadja, expert en développement urbain, met en avant le potentiel de l'économie informelle dans les villes africaines pour favoriser leur développement durable. Read More Urbanisation en Afrique: Défis et solutions Philippe Heinrigs aborde les défis de l'urbanisation en Afrique et les solutions potentielles. Read More

African Cities Magazine is a publication focused on urban innovation, culture, and development across African cities, showcasing architecture, sustainability, and social trends shaping the continent's rapidly growing urban landscapes. African Cities Magazine Welcome to our magazine, dedicated to addressing the critical issues related to the development of cities in Africa. It spotlights the dynamic evolution of urban spaces across Africa, highlighting innovations in sustainable development. The magazine serves as a platform for showcasing transformative projects and cultural narratives that shape the continent’s rapidly growing cities. It covers topics like smart city initiatives, environmental sustainability, urban planning, and economic development, providing insights into the challenges and opportunities unique to African urbanism. African Cities Magazine 6 This sixth edition explore how endogenous approaches can shape the future of African cities by reconciling forms, functions, and everyday uses. Dedicated to public spaces, it brings together reflections, research, and creative experiments that reveal how African urbanism thrives through local knowledge, collective practices, and cultural vitality. From Douala to Dakar, Cape Town, Bukavu, and Antananarivo, contributors explore how communities, planners, and artists co-create inclusive, resilient, and identity-driven spaces. By showcasing projects rooted in experience and innovation, this edition challenges presents African cities, as dynamic, inventive, and deeply human territories of transformation. Read more African Cities Magazine 5 The fifth edition explores the power of digital innovation, community engagement, and sustainable design in Africa's urban development. The Special Feature highlights AI’s potential to address urban challenges. Urban Planning Innovation emphasizes community-driven projects, including Senegal’s Urban Renewal Fund and Nigeria’s Abuja Urban Lab, promoting collaborative waste solutions. Architecture Innovation showcases eco-friendly designs using local materials, while African Architecture and Urban Heritage spotlights heritage preservation, emphasizing Africa’s cultural richness and historical depth. The Cities, Pixels, and Colors section highlights the unique challenges and roles of intermediate cities in West Africa. Read more African Cities Magazine 4 This Edition 4 focuses on urban mobility, an essential aspect of Africa's rapidly evolving cities. It examines electric mobility, digital public transport planning, and infrastructure for cycling and walking, presenting them as pillars of sustainable urban mobility. Interviews with experts reveal the potential for electric transport and digital tools in creating accessible, environmentally friendly transit systems. This edition also highlights Madagascar's innovations in urban mobility and profiles artists contributing to Africa’s urban aesthetic through murals and public art. Featuring reflections on African architecture and heritage, this edition illustrates how technological advancements and cultural identity converge in modern African cities Read more African Cities Magazine 3 In this Edition 3, the African Cities Magazine explores financing sustainable urban development, with insights from Jean-François Habeau of the Global Fund for Cities Development (FMDV). This edition spotlights innovative projects emphasizing participation and collective action, demonstrating how collaboration can enhance urban resilience. Through profiles of key figures like Aziza Chaouni, the magazine highlights how professionals are pushing boundaries in urban design. The issue also covers significant urban planning events across Africa, shedding light on best practices and inspiring young Africans to engage in sustainable urbanism. This edition aims to connect funding strategies with impactful urban projects that promote inclusive growth and sustainability. Read more African Cities Magazine 2 This issue centers on architecture education, urban resilience, and smart city initiatives, offering a deep dive into the educational approaches driving urban transformation in Africa. It opens with a special feature on the role of architecture and urban planning in fostering inclusive development. In-depth interviews with leading architects and urban planners reveal visions for the future of African cities, where public spaces, resilient infrastructure, and socio-economic inclusion are prioritized. This edition also examines how cultural and religious heritage influence architecture and urban planning, aiming to balance modern needs with traditional values. By incorporating diverse perspectives, this edition underscores Africa’s innovative potential in redefining urban landscapes. Read more African Cities Magazine 1 The first issue of African Cities Magazine dives into how innovative solutions are shaping resilient, sustainable cities across Africa. This edition covers a range of projects focused on urban planning, architecture, and design, introducing practitioners and innovators making strides in African urban development. A special emphasis is placed on the adaptability and resourcefulness of African cities, showcasing efforts to meet local challenges while promoting inclusivity and environmental stewardship. The edition also celebrates Africa’s cultural richness, highlighting urban diversity and envisioning a future of vibrant, adaptable cities that reflect the unique identity of the continent. Read more

Discover a diverse range of talks and events on cities in Africa. Stay informed about the latest happenings and engage with thought-provoking content. Talks and events World cities day talk 2024 Rethinking urban development through transport and inclusive mobility Read More World cities day talk 2022 Exploring New Approaches for Inclusive African Cities Read More African Cities Lab Summit 2023 Deployment of digital technologies in African cities: emerging issues and policy recommendations for local governments Read More Talk-apéro espaces publics Retour sur un moment d’échange autour des espaces publics en Afrique Read More

< Back Geo Sanitation - INSTAMAP: A geoportal to facilitate decision-making on urban water management in Antananarivo, Madagascar Lova Andriarimalala Antananarivo, Madagascar, faces recurring flooding and landslides, causing significant damage to agricultural land and buildings. The city faces challenges in implementing integrated urban water management plans due to topography, uncontrolled urban expansion, and climate change. A Sanitation Geoportal is proposed to centralize and democratize geographic data related to sanitation, streamline project development, and reduce costs. The platform aims to improve coordination, streamline project development, and reduce costs by replacing physical documents with digital versions. The Sanitation Geoportal for Antananarivo is a groundbreaking project that uses advanced geospatial technologies to address urban sanitation and environmental management challenges. The platform consolidates data from multiple sources, enabling coordinated planning across sectors. It uses predictive modeling to forecast potential risks, promoting proactive planning and intervention. The Geoportal's design eliminates redundancy, promotes efficient resource use, and encourages public participation. Its modern interface promotes widespread adoption and integration into everyday planning. Key impacts include improving health, promoting economic development, and promoting social inclusion. The project aims to enhance the well-being of target populations and promote environmental protection. The core challenge is implementing integrated and effective urban water management plans for Antananarivo Antananarivo's city faces recurrent flooding and landslides, affecting several neighborhoods annually. In January 2022, the town witnessed 12,000 displaced individuals (1), around 10 fatalities (1), and significant damage to 8,000 hectares of agricultural land and 4,500 buildings (2). These problems stem from challenging topography, uncontrolled urban expansion, and reactive rather than preventive measures, exacerbated by climate change. This context highlights the need for an integrated approach to sustainable urban development. Key issues include difficulties accessing geographic data, as obtaining data requires navigating multiple entities and platforms. Additionally, data fragmentation leads to non-standardized, specific datasets, complicating their usage. An example is the disjointed relationship between administrative boundaries and census results. A street in the Malagasy capital Antananarivo after torrential rains on January 8, 2020 (MAMYRAEL / AFP), Furthermore, no unified geospatial platform for managing stormwater and wastewater data is slowing project implementation and decision-making in urban sanitation and development. The proposed solution is a Sanitation Geoportal, aimed at enhancing the coordination of planning tools and stakeholder actions. This platform will centralize and democratize geographic data related to sanitation and cross-cutting themes, streamline project development by enabling online data consultation, and reduce costs, such as reprography expenses, by replacing physical documents with digital versions. The urbanization of Antananarivo has evolved haphazardly since Madagascar's independence, significantly encroaching on the wetlands of the Betsimitatatra plain. Driven by its economic allure, this urban sprawl has surged without the support of large-scale infrastructure projects since the 67 Ha development. Consequently, most of the city's neighborhoods now face severe sanitation issues. Flooding and poor sanitation characterize these challenges. Floods are common during the wet season, largely due to obstructed drainage systems clogged with solid waste and vegetation. Additionally, inadequate wastewater systems force residents to connect to stormwater drains, creating environmental and health hazards. Institutionally, multiple actors, including two key ministries, are involved in the city's sanitation efforts. However, coordination and organizational problems are prominent, compounded by financial and technical constraints. Funding is deficient, and there is a pressing need to enhance staff capacity. On the user level, strategic behavioral changes are essential, as sectoral degradation fosters further non-compliance. In late January 2022, the four main rivers crossing the city experienced severe flooding. This was particularly evident along the left bank of the Ikopa River, where flood zones extended beyond the usual boundaries. Analysis via GIS revealed that approximately 4,500 buildings, mainly residential and housing around 58,000 people, were directly affected, inundating 165 hectares of residential areas. The economic repercussions were severe, especially for agriculture. Over 8,000 hectares of farmland, predominantly rice fields, were impacted. Additionally, about 337 km of roads were submerged, affecting transportation, commerce, and daily mobility. The floods of the week of January 17 covered 120 km², or 15% of the urban area, excluding water bodies. In the southwest, flooding was exacerbated by a breach in the left bank of the Sisaony River at Ampitatafika. This led to the inundation of low-lying areas, primarily rice fields. By January 2023, the breach remained unrepaired, causing ongoing flooding during the cyclone season. The resulting devastation formed a large lake, submerging extensive agricultural parcels in the Fokontany of Anjanamaintso and Ambohidava. The Sanitation Geoportal for Antananarivo presents a pioneering approach to addressing the city’s pressing sanitation and environmental management challenges. Geosanitation Instamap a module to visualise and spatially share the impacts of heavy rains, Lova A 2023 This innovative project leverages advanced geospatial technologies to create a sustainable, resilient, and smart solution, uniquely suited to the complexities of urban management in the African context. Below is a detailed explanation of the project’s approach and innovations: 1. Addressing Key Sanitation and Environmental Management Challenges The Geoportal will consolidate data from multiple sources into a single, accessible platform. This integration facilitates comprehensive analysis and coordinated planning across different sectors, overcoming the current fragmentation of data and responsibilities among various entities. By incorporating real-time data capabilities, the Geoportal will offer dynamic monitoring of stormwater and wastewater systems. This functionality enables quick responses to emergencies like floods and pollution incidents, significantly enhancing urban resilience. The platform fosters improved coordination among governmental bodies, NGOs, private sector participants, and local communities. By providing a shared, transparent data interface, it promotes a holistic approach to urban planning and sanitation management, ensuring that diverse interests and insights are integrated into decision-making processes. 2. Innovations in Resilience The Geoportal will utilize predictive modeling to forecast potential sanitation and environmental risks. This capability allows for proactive planning and intervention, reducing the impact of natural hazards such as floods. For example, it will predict areas at risk of flooding and suggest preventive measures based on historical data and real-time inputs. A dedicated module within the Geoportal will focus on environmental risk management, offering real-time alerts for hazards like flooding and landslides. This system ensures timely dissemination of critical information, enabling authorities and communities to act swiftly and effectively. The platform will support scenario-based planning, allowing users to simulate various intervention strategies and assess their outcomes. This flexibility is crucial for adapting to changing environmental conditions and urban growth patterns. 3. Sustainability Innovations The Geoportal’s design as a centralized hub for geospatial data eliminates redundancy and promotes the efficient use of resources. It simplifies access to critical information, reducing the time and cost associated with data collection and analysis. By providing open access to data and planning documents, the Geoportal encourages public participation and transparency. This inclusivity not only educates communities about sanitation issues but also fosters a culture of accountability and collaborative problem-solving. The Geoportal’s capability to streamline project planning and resource allocation enhances the efficiency of sanitation infrastructure investments. It reduces wastage and ensures that financial and material resources are deployed where they are most needed, aligning with principles of sustainable development. Geosanitation spatial data visualisation, Lova A 2023 4. Smart Innovations The Geoportal will feature a modern, intuitive interface designed to be accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise. This ease of use promotes widespread adoption and integration into everyday planning and management activities. The platform’s ability to automatically process and update data ensures that users have access to the latest information without the need for manual intervention. This automation reduces administrative burdens and enhances operational efficiency. Designed with interoperability in mind, the Geoportal can integrate with other systems and platforms, allowing for future expansions and adaptations. This scalability ensures that the platform remains relevant as urban management needs evolve. The Sanitation Geoportal for Antananarivo is set to significantly enhance the well-being of target populations, foster economic development, promote social inclusion, and advance environmental protection in Antananarivo. The Geoportal will centralize and visualize data related to stormwater and wastewater management, addressing critical sanitation issues. Enhancing coordination among stakeholders and providing real-time data, will streamline interventions in sanitation infrastructure, reducing the frequency and severity of flooding and landslides. This will directly mitigate health and human security risks associated with poor sanitation and lack of rainwater management. Improved infrastructure planning facilitated by the Geoportal will lead to cleaner neighborhoods, particularly in flood-prone areas. This will enhance overall public health by reducing exposure to unsanitary conditions. The Geoportal will aid in safeguarding agricultural lands from flooding, preserving the productivity of about 8,000 hectares of farmland affected by past inundations. This is crucial for local rice farmers, ensuring economic stability and contributing to food security. By providing a unified platform for data, the Geoportal will enhance the efficiency of resource allocation in sanitation and infrastructure projects. It will enable precise and timely interventions, minimizing costs associated with emergency responses and improving planning efficiency. Reduced flooding and improved sanitation will enhance the reliability of transport networks, facilitating smoother movement of goods and people. This will bolster commercial activities and economic transactions, especially in areas previously disrupted by poor infrastructure. The Geoportal will democratize access to sanitation and environmental data, empowering communities to participate in planning processes. By making data and planning documents available online, citizens can better advocate for improvements in their neighborhoods. The platform will improve communication among government agencies, NGOs, and local communities. Providing a common data interface and clarifying roles will foster more inclusive and collaborative planning efforts, ensuring diverse community needs are met. By offering open access to sanitation and urban planning data, the Geoportal will enhance transparency in decision-making processes. This will build trust between citizens and authorities, improving public engagement and accountability. The Geoportal will support better management of wastewater and stormwater, minimizing pollution of water bodies and soils. Effective planning will prevent sewage system overflows and illegal waste disposal, leading to cleaner urban environments. By integrating data on urban planning and environmental management, the Geoportal will promote sustainable development practices. It will ensure new developments consider ecological impacts and contribute to urban resilience against climate-related challenges. The platform will include modules for assessing and alerting environmental risks like flooding. This capability will enhance the city’s responsiveness to environmental threats, mitigating potential impacts on ecosystems and human settlements. The Geoportal will enable adaptive planning through real-time data and predictive modelling, allowing Antananarivo to proactively respond to environmental changes and urban growth, thus ensuring long-term resilience. The project will stimulate the development of geospatial and geomatic skills locally, fostering technical expertise and innovation in geospatial professions, crucial for sustainable urban management. The Sanitation Geoportal for Antananarivo exemplifies a groundbreaking solution to urban sanitation and environmental management challenges in the city. Through the integration of diverse geospatial datasets, real-time monitoring, and predictive analytics, the Geoportal offers a comprehensive decision-support tool. It consolidates fragmented data, enhancing coordination among stakeholders and promoting efficient resource allocation. Our methodology involved extensive data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and the integration of existing geospatial platforms. By developing an intuitive and accessible user interface, the Geoportal fosters transparency and community participation. The platform's ability to adapt to changing conditions through scenario-based planning and real-time data integration enhances the city's resilience against environmental hazards. Key findings highlight the Geoportal’s potential to streamline urban planning, optimize infrastructure investments, and improve emergency response. The platform's centralized data hub and automated processing capabilities reduce administrative burdens and enhance operational efficiency. Additionally, by incorporating local insights and providing open access to data, the Geoportal promotes sustainable development and empowers communities. This project not only addresses immediate sanitation needs but also lays the foundation for ongoing improvements in urban management practices. However, an open question remains: How can we further enhance the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict and mitigate urban environmental challenges more effectively? Previous Next

< Back Projet de Développement Urbain Intégré et de Résilience du Grand Antananarivo : Des impacts durables sur la capitale de Madagascar Antananarivo, la capitale de Madagascar, avec ses 1,5 million d'habitants intra-muros et près de 2,5 millions en périphérie, est un paradoxe géographique. Le Projet de Développement Urbain Intégré et de Résilience du Grand Antananarivo (PRODUIR), financé par la Banque Mondiale, vise à améliorer les conditions de vie dans les quartiers défavorisés. La réhabilitation du Canal C3, crucial pour la protection contre les inondations, est en cours, avec des travaux d'aménagement et d'assainissement. La réhabilitation des digues de l'Ikopa et de la Sisaony est proche de l'achèvement. Le projet englobe également des interventions à l'échelle des quartiers, des travaux urbains, et un appui institutionnel pour renforcer la gouvernance urbaine. Ces actions intégrées visent des impacts durables sur la vie des habitants d'Antananarivo. Antananarivo, la capitale de Madagascar, une ville historique et pleine de paradoxes. Située à une altitude moyenne de 1 280 m dans la région des hauts plateaux, l’agglomération est aujourd’hui la plus grande ville de Madagascar, dont le développement s’étend au-delà de sa limite administrative. Avec ses quelque 1,5 million d’habitants, Antananarivo intra-muros concentre plus d’un tiers de la population urbaine du pays, accusant ainsi une forte domination dans le réseau urbain. Avec sa périphérie, la capitale malgache compte près de 2,5 millions de personnes qui y vivent ou qui y travaillent au quotidien. Elle produit à elle seule près de la moitié du PIB du pays. La singularité d’Antananarivo vient aussi de sa géographie particulière. La ville est dominée par une colline de direction méridienne où se trouve le palais du Rova, ancienne résidence royale, qui domine à l’ouest la plaine du Betsimitatatra avec un escarpement abrupt de plus de deux cents mètres. Antananarivo entre la colline et la plaine A ces quartiers collinaires ou centraux, s’opposent ceux de la plaine, situés à l’ouest, dont la vaste zone aménagée dans les années soixante sur d’anciennes rizières abritant des bâtiments administratifs et la grande cité planifiée des 67 hectares. Cependant, avec la pression démographique conjuguée au poids important de l’exode rural les anciennes plaines rizicoles marquées de quelques noyaux d’habitations, sont rapidement devenues des quartiers très denses développés anarchiquement, et caractérisés par différentes formes de précarités (Anatihazo, Andavamamba, Ankasina…). C’est dans ces quartiers inondables et majoritairement précaires qu’œuvre le Projet de Développement Urbain Intégré et de Résilience du Grand Antananarivo (PRODUIR). Sur sollicitation du Gouvernement Malagasy, la Banque Mondiale s’est engagée à appuyer le développement urbain intégré du Grand Antananarivo sur le long terme, dans le cadre d’une série de projets. PRODUIR étant le premier projet de la série, a bénéficié d’un financement IDA de 125 millions de dollars, dont l’exécution s’étalera jusqu’en 2025. Mis en œuvre sous tutelle du Ministère de l’Aménagement du Territoire et des Services Fonciers (MATSF), le projet vise de manière générale à améliorer les conditions de vie en milieu urbain et la résilience aux inondations des populations dans certains quartiers défavorisés du Grand Antananarivo. Le projet vise de manière générale à améliorer les conditions de vie en milieu urbain et la résilience aux inondations des populations dans certains quartiers défavorisés du Grand Antananarivo. Protéger Antananarivo et ses environs contre l’inondation Le Canal C3, comme principale axe d’intervention La réhabilitation du Canal C3 est une priorité pour la protection de la plaine d’Antananarivo contre les inondations pluviales. Celui-ci fait partie des trois principaux canaux de drainage des eaux pluviales de la plaine urbanisée d’Antananarivo. 48% des fonds sont destinés à la remise en état de fonctionnement des infrastructures hydrauliques, dont le canal C3 qui s’étale sur 12 km. Près de 115 000 m3 de boue de curage sont prévues être enlevées durant les travaux qui consistent également à la remise en état de cet ouvrage de drainage dans son état initial théorique à travers des curages et des renforcements de berges. L’aménagement d’un site de confinement des boues de curage ainsi que l’aménagement d’un site de réinstallation des populations affectées par le projet viendront aussi accompagner cet axe majeur du projet. L’assainissement et le curage du canal C3 sur une longueur de 12 km seront effectués à partir de février 2024 pour permettre aux eaux de pluies de s’écouler plus facilement et rapidement. En outre, le projet améliorera les quartiers traversés par le canal C3 avec la création de routes, de cheminements piétons le long du canal et de passerelles, l’installation d’équipements sanitaires, de lavoirs et de bornes fontaines ainsi que les emplacements pour bac de collecte des ordures ménagères. Ces travaux d’intérêts généraux réduiront sensiblement les inondations qui s’aggravent tous les ans dans les zones basses et auront des retombées multiples sur la santé, la mobilité et les activités économiques de la population concernée. La réhabilitation des digues, un avancement à grand pas Aujourd’hui, l’un des grands chantiers de PRODUIR est en passe d’être terminé : la réhabilitation de la digue de l’Ikopa et de la Sisaony, parmi les ouvrages majeurs de la protection de la plaine d’Antananarivo face aux inondations. En plus de ces actions, des travaux de confortement et de réhabilitation de quelques tronçons de digues d’une longueur totale de 1,3 km seront réalisées. Il s’agit notamment des digues endommagées durant les épisodes climatiques successifs de 2022, présentant un risque élevé pour l’ensemble de l’agglomération d’Antananarivo. L’ensemble de ces travaux, permettront de réduire considérablement les expositions des quartiers vulnérables et de la population urbaine, aux risques d’inondation récurrentes que subit la capitale de Madagascar. Les travaux de confortement de digues pour protéger la ville contre l’inondation 2023 Des interventions à l’échelle de quartier, pour transformer la vie de la communauté Le projet se focalise également à la structuration de divers quartiers de la capitale et de ses environs à travers des travaux urbains relatifs à l’amélioration de la mobilité et de l’accessibilité, de l’accès aux services d’assainissement de base, et de renforcement de la résilience (ruelles, bibliothèques, marchés, passerelles…). Ce, dans le but d’améliorer les conditions de vie des habitants de la Ville des Mille (l’un des surnoms de la capitale), et d’insuffler une transformation et une restructuration du paysage urbain. Près de 500 infrastructures devraient être construites d’ici la fin du projet qui bénéficieront à un peu plus de 650 000 personnes. D’autres travaux de restructuration et de rénovation urbaine seront aussi identifiés et réalisés dans les prochaines phases du projet. Toutes ces infrastructures ont des finalités communes : contribuer au bien-être de la communauté, au désenclavement des quartiers et à l’amélioration des quartiers bien souvent précaires avec une très forte densité de population. Appuyer les institutions pour une gouvernance urbaine résiliente Dans une de ses sous-composantes, le PRODUIR appui le MATSF et les Communes concernées pour la réalisation d’une étude urbaine et sociale visant à doter la zone d’intervention d’un plan d’urbanisme de détail, qui sera l’outil de référence pour la définition des investissements dans la rénovation urbaine. Sur le plan institutionnel, plusieurs activités de renforcement de capacité sont également lancées pour améliorer la gouvernance urbaine, la gestion municipale et l’internalisation des recommandations des outils de planification, mais aussi pour améliorer les capacités des acteurs à répondre rapidement et efficacement à une situation d’urgence/crise notamment les cas de catastrophes. A travers ces interventions multiples et intégrées, le projet veut induire des impacts durables sur la capitale de Madagascar et ses habitants. 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

< Back Exploiter l'Internet des objets pour améliorer la qualité de l'air urbain à Douala Cameroun Dr OLINGA OLINGA Joseph Magloire La ville de Douala, en tant que capitale économique du Cameroun, fait face à des défis environnementaux majeurs, notamment dans la gestion de la qualité de l'air. Une urbanisation rapide, une croissance démographique, un parc de véhicules vieillissant et une augmentation des activités industrielles contribuent à la détérioration de la qualité de l'air, posant de sérieux risques pour la santé et l'environnement. Le projet "Clean Air for All African Cities", en collaboration avec la mairie de Douala et l'Université de Douala, a lancé le déploiement de capteurs IoT à faible coût à travers la ville pour surveiller en temps réel les principaux polluants. Ce projet pilote vise à fournir des données essentielles pour orienter les stratégies d'atténuation, sensibiliser le public et éclairer les décisions politiques. Bien que Douala ne dispose pas encore d'un plan d'action spécifique pour la gestion de la qualité de l'air, cette initiative représente une étape cruciale vers l'amélioration de la qualité de l'air et la préservation du bien-être de sa population urbaine. L'étude souligne la nécessité d'un plan global de gestion de la qualité de l'air, aligné sur les meilleures pratiques internationales, pour faire face aux défis environnementaux croissants de Douala. Le coût du développement industriel de la principale ville du Cameroun En raison de son statut privilégié de capitale économique, la ville de Douala est en quelque sorte victime de son propre potentiel économique. D’un point de vue environnemental, les principaux défis auxquels Douala est confrontée sont la gestion des déchets, les inondations récurrentes et, de plus en plus, la pollution de l'air. La qualité de l'air à Douala est un problème majeur, car la ville connaît une urbanisation rapide et une croissance démographique, combinées à l'augmentation du parc de véhicules vieillissants, à l'absence d'un système de transport urbain de masse et à la hausse des activités industrielles. En effet, la ville abrite les deux zones industrielles les plus importantes du pays, les zones industrielles de Bassa’a et de Bonabéri, qui représentent à elles seules près de 70% du tissu industriel national. En plus de ces sites, la Mission d'Aménagement et de Gestion des Zones Industrielles prévoit la création d'autres zones industrielles, notamment à Yassa sur 400 hectares et à Dibombari sur 300 hectares. La mise en opération prochaine de ces zones industrielles contribuera sans aucun doute à la détérioration de la qualité de l'air dans la ville. Il va sans dire que la qualité de l'air est désormais un facteur à prendre en compte dans l'évaluation de l'exposition de la population aux risques sanitaires. Vue sur la ville de Douala au Cameroun, Leandry Jieutsa 2023 Internet des objets pour des villes à l'air pur La dernière étude sur la qualité de l'air à Douala remonte à 2003. Actuellement, sous la supervision du Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Protection de la Nature et du Développement Durable, une étude est en cours pour identifier les principales sources de pollution atmosphérique à Douala, dans le but de les atténuer. De plus, la collaboration entre la Communauté Urbaine de Douala (CUD) et l'Équipe Pluridisciplinaire de Recherche sur les Changements Climatiques (EPR-CC) de l'Université de Douala, dans le cadre du projet "Clean Air for All African Cities", a permis l'installation de huit (08) capteurs pilotes dans certains quartiers de la ville. Sur la base de ces sources d'information, il peut être conclu que les principales sources de pollution atmosphérique à Douala sont les émissions du trafic automobile, les activités industrielles, la poussière soulevée par le trafic, et dans une certaine mesure, la combustion des déchets. Vue sur la ville de Douala au Cameroun, Leandry Jieutsa 2023 L'Internet des objets (IoT) offre des opportunités uniques pour surveiller la qualité de l'air en temps réel et en détail à l'échelle d'une ville dense et étendue comme Douala. Il a été choisi dans le cadre du projet "Clean Air for All African Cities" car cette technologie de capteurs à faible coût développée par AIRQO permet un suivi de la qualité de l'air en temps réel, à moindre coût et de manière peu intrusive, en déployant un réseau de capteurs connectés. Les informations collectées sont essentielles pour orienter les décisions, les actions, et la mobilisation collective pour une meilleure qualité de l'air en milieu urbain. À ce jour, huit (08) capteurs pilotes ont été installés dans certains quartiers de la ville. Le déploiement de ces capteurs a été effectué dans les zones les plus polluées de la ville, notamment le long des grands axes routiers, dans les quartiers industriels, et dans les zones densément peuplées suivant une grille prédéfinie. Le défi est de densifier ce réseau pour disposer d'un maillage suffisamment fin des données collectées afin d'informer les décideurs sur les mesures d'atténuation à prendre. Les données collectées à ce jour portent sur les principaux polluants atmosphériques (particules fines, oxydes d'azote, ozone, dioxyde de soufre, etc.), ainsi que sur les paramètres météorologiques (température, humidité, vent, etc.). Il ressort des données actuelles qu'à moyen terme, la pollution atmosphérique aura un impact négatif majeur sur la santé de la population urbaine à Douala, augmentant les risques de maladies respiratoires, de maladies cardiovasculaires et de cancers. Elle a également des conséquences sur l'environnement et les bâtiments, dégrade la qualité des écosystèmes, et contribue au changement climatique. La réglementation camerounaise ne recommande pas encore ce type de document ; cependant, les meilleures pratiques internationales en la matière, notamment l'Accord de Paris de 2015, recommandent que les États élaborent une Contribution Déterminée au niveau National (CDN) qui présente les engagements nationaux en matière de réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre, et donc, des polluants atmosphériques. Au niveau local, le Plan d’Action pour l’Énergie Durable et le Climat sert de cadre d’action pragmatique. Dans le contexte camerounais, un plan d'action pour la réduction des émissions et la gestion de la qualité de l'air pourrait inclure l'amélioration des connaissances locales sur les sources de pollution grâce à l'installation d'un réseau de capteurs connectés, y compris le renforcement des capacités des acteurs locaux dans la collecte, le traitement, et l'analyse des données, la mise en place de zones vertes à faibles émissions (hôpitaux, écoles, espaces sportifs, etc.), la promotion des modes de transport propres et de la mobilité douce (marche et vélo), comme recommandé dans le Plan de Mobilité Urbaine Durable de Douala (PMUS), ainsi que le renforcement des réglementations sur les émissions industrielles, et la sensibilisation aux problématiques de pollution de l'air. Cependant, à ce jour, la Ville de Douala n'a pas encore mis en œuvre de plan d'action spécifique sur la qualité de l'air, mais ce projet pilote réalisé avec l'Équipe Pluridisciplinaire de Recherche sur les Changements Climatiques (EPR-CC) de l'Université de Douala, dans le cadre du projet "Clean Air for All African Cities", pourrait constituer une première étape importante. Previous Next

< Back Gearing Up & Mainstreaming Public Space: The City of Cape Town’s Quality Public Places Programme Bobby Gould-Pratt This article will discuss plans to gear up the delivery of public places within the Quality Public Places (QPP) Programme which started approximately 25 years ago by the City of Cape Town’s Urban Planning and Design Department. While just over 105 spaces across Cape Town have been implemented via the programme to date, its success has been varied, with many obstacles to the implementation of public space being encountered which includes like many other African cities, limited budgets to plan and build as well as poorly aligned governance structures to ensure adequate maintenance and management of public space. In response to a critical review of the QPP programme, a range of proposals have been identified to initiate the shift to mainstream public space within the city administration. Two of these focus areas will be discussed in this article to demonstrate the approach being taken to gear up public space delivery within a continuing context of limited budgets, constrained resources and great community need. Introducing the Quality Public Places Programme Cape Town, located on the southern tip of Africa, is South Africa’s second largest economic node and is its second most populous city. The city is currently undergoing rapid growth and urbanisation which is intensifying a range of existing challenges including poverty, high unemployment and violent crime, as well as reinforcing its extreme levels of spatial inequality- a legacy of the former apartheid system. As Cape Town moves towards overcoming these pressing challenges and realising its vision to build a City of Hope, which is defined in its various policy documents, as ‘a city that is prosperous, inclusive and healthy, where every resident can envision and realise a better future for themselves, their families and their communities,’ a focus on the performance of the public realm and the implementation of public space has an important role to play in achieving this vison. As confirmed by UN Habitat in Place Making and the Future of Cities; ‘Building inclusive, healthy, functional, and productive cities is perhaps the greatest challenge facing humanity today. There are no easy solutions and yet a key part of the puzzle lies right in the heart of the world’s urban areas: the public spaces.’ The City of Cape Town’s Quality Public Places Programme, began in response to South Africa’s democratic transition in the late 1990’s with its founding ethos related to an imperative to contribute to a more just, dignified and liveable city as well as the need to address issues of inequality, spatial fragmentation and environmental degradation. Quality of Public Places Programme: Workstreams (Source: Urban Planning and Design Department; City of Cape Town) Targeted public realm interventions were identified and focused in locations of greatest social and economic deprivation, with these public spaces being purposely different from others previously developed in the city, in that they were positioned in structurally and symbolically significant locations while having the potential to integrate different communities, promote accessibility, support microeconomic opportunities or establish a new and positive sense of place. All of the spaces intentionally adopted a holistic understanding of space that did not differentiate between municipal zoning designations. They were multifunctional in nature as well as being minimalist, generative and catalytic. Typical public spaces projects included: urban squares or forecourts at public transport or community buildings with amongst others, opportunities created for social and economic exchange as well as cultural commemoration; multifunctional community spaces with street trading, markets, play courts and food gardens; and street upgrades with a focus on improving pedestrian accessibility, safety and linkages between community facility clusters and public nodes. Examples of a variety of QPP project implemented across Cape Town in the early 2000’s (Source: Author and Urban Planning and Design Department; City of Cape Town, archives) While there have been many noteworthy achievements within the Programme including creating a greater awareness of public space, to promoting interdisciplinary collaboration on infrastructure projects as well as the receipt of several international awards in its early years, its overall impact has been varied. This in part relates to the reprioritisation of limited funding away from public realm improvement to address other competing demands in a rapidly growing city. The transversal nature of the QPP public spaces has also created blurred governance responsibilities between City departments that are predominantly arranged in silos. The complexity of requiring different departments to co-ordinate various activities within a single space has been a contributing factor to the neglect and poor maintenance of many public spaces implemented within the programme. Further challenges have been to convince City departments to take on the asset owner function of many of the proposed QPP spaces leading to a slowdown of public space delivery within the programme from 2010 onwards. High crime and a lack of personal security in Cape Town has also had a profound impact on public life and perceptions of public space across the city. Both public and private buildings are taking an inward focus, leading to blank walls and poor surveillance onto streets and public spaces. High walls and fencing as the favoured solution to secure facilities and spaces from vandalism further erodes public life by inconveniencing pedestrians as well as creating a disjointed public realm. Material choices are also not only motivated by limited funding but also the need to be extremely robust to vandalism and theft leading to a lack of comfort and joy within the public realm. Today, building on its founding ethos- which is still as relevant, the Quality Public Places Programme has expanded its focus to not only enable the implementation of place-making projects within the department but to also place emphasis on enabling and supporting all public realm partners in developing an integrated and sustainable public environment. Moving forward particular emphasis is being placed on pilot projects to demonstrate practical as well as innovative place-making solutions that others can be easily replicate. A range of separate but linked workstreams have been identified that will direct future work within the Programme with the specific objective of integrating and concentrating efforts towards promoting quality public realm outcomes. In starting to gear up for increased public space delivery, a strategic approach has been adopted which acknowledges upfront that not all the solutions to existing challenges within the programme can be solved at once. Current emphasis is being placed on both top-down and bottom-up initiatives. Vision and Direction: Establishing a Citywide Public Space System A key area of focus in building a case for increased public space delivery is to establish existing and future public space needs. Empirical data and facts are required to convince decision makers which is particularly challenging when people have different perceptions of public space- including practitioners of the built environment! While public space is generally accepted as “places which are publicly owned or of public use, accessible and enjoyed by all for free and without a profit motive,” it can take many spatial forms as well as being a social construct that is shaped by differing users values, beliefs and requirements, making it particularly difficult to define as well as quantify. It is critical to move away from reactive to proactive planning for public space provision that recognises the overlapping, fluid and multifunctional dimension of public space as well as its structural function. Emerging Integrated Public Realm Framework (Source: Urban Planning and Design Department; City of Cape Town) Building on the recommendations in the Global Public Space Toolkit prepared by UN-Habitat, a ‘public space system’ is being developed for Cape Town as part of its Metropolitan and District Planning Review process. This layer will allow public space, including open space, streets, markets and public facilities to be purposely conceptualised as a separate and independent system, while also showing its linkages and dependencies to the other functional networks within the city. Historically public space has been indicated within other various traditional mapping layers like the green infrastructure network, access system and public facilities network, which although correct has meant that it gets ‘lost’ and not properly accounted for. Giving the public space system status within formally recognised planning instruments will start to institutionalise public space with the City administration, which is critical for it to be properly funded and accounted for. Defining the public realm and the range of public spaces within it, is also becoming increasing critical as City of Cape Town policies continue to promote densification and infill development to support greater urban efficiencies. A clear vision on the location, character and quality of the public realm and its network of public spaces is required to give guidance for both green-field and brown-field development to ensure liveable neighbourhoods. A fundamental shift of the ‘public space system’ approach will be for all the typologies of public space within an area to be holistically considered and the opportunities of the collective to emerge in identifying potential place-making opportunities, particularly when vacant open land is limited and creative solutions are needed. Demonstrate: Prioritisation of Living Streets as a public space typology for Implementation Existing street condition on Ingulube Street, Philippi, Cape Town. Source: Bobby Gould-Pratt The second area of focus relates to the prioritisation of street regeneration projects. These projects are termed ‘living streets’ and are being specifically targeted as there is limited vacant public land available to provide functional public open space, particularly in existing poorly resourced parts of the city where current intensification is predominantly occurring. It is critical that existing roads which can take up to 30% of the total developable land area for a neighbourhood are better planned to serve community needs. In many cases, streets now present the only opportunity to provide social and recreational space as well as opportunities to support emerging micro economic activity. These projects are also being targeted as bulk infrastructure in many parts of the city is failing due to age or is inadequate for the growing demand created by intensification. In these locations, the infrastructure which predominantly lies under streets, needs to be replaced. This presents an opportunity to optimise limited public investment to influence more interdisciplinary and multifunctional approaches to street design and ensure potential place-making opportunities are not lost. A focus on street upgrade projects is also a precursor for supporting community stabilisation in neighbourhoods with greatest crime and social dysfunction. Ensuring that streets are clean, safe and attractive will bring dignity and hope. Typically, street improvement projects within the programme have focussed on the area within the street reserve (public land) and do not include the spaces and properties abutting the reserve, which are also integral to supporting safe, walkable and active environments. A more holistic approach to undertaking street improvement projects is required, where equal focus is given to enabling changes adjacent to the street reserve as well as within it. In many cases the solution to creating liveable streets lies in a partnership between the public and private, that begins with a broader contextual understanding and is expressed in a holistic street vision that outlines the required range of sequenced actions from both public and private actors. This approach has been explored in several projects, with the Ingulube High Street project being a good case study. Located in Philippi, with one of the highest crime rates and greatest socio-economic deprivation in the city, the street forms a key link between a large public transport interchange and a key metropolitan activity corridor making it an intense hive of activity. The street struggles to perform adequately for a range of reasons with a dominant factor being its original layout, which prioritises cars above people. Sidewalks widths are inadequate for both street trading and pedestrian use, leading to unsafe and unhygienic conditions for its users. In some sections, access to properties lining the street is taken from behind, leading to blank facades and an inability for property owners to easily optimise the economic opportunity occurring on their boundary. A holistic review of the street has been explored that proposes not only changes within the street reserve but consideration of the abutting properties on the street edge. Rezoning and other town planning mechanisms to allow property owners to easily respond to economic opportunity as well assist with making an active street interface are identified, while proposals to allow the street to better serve all user needs including vehicular, pedestrian, trading and recreational in a healthy, safe and dignified manner are proposed. This includes converting the street into a one-way route to create sufficient space for trading and pedestrians as well as much needed place-making opportunities. Existing public spaces at key intersections along the route have also been identified for upgrades which were originally constructed in the Programme in the early 2000’s. Realising this Living Street vision will take time, buy-in and trust from communities. Current initiatives are focused on community stabilisation and capacity building as well as a focus on addressing inadequate municipal services before public realm improvements can commence. A range of other street regeneration initiatives, located in differing contexts across the city are in various stages of planning and conceptualisation from St Georges Mall within the city’s historical centre, to Spine Road in Khayelitsha- a township on the outskirts of the city. All of these projects are being conceptualised and planned with external partners and stakeholders which is an essential element to ensuring their long-term sustainability and success. The intention is to entrench and mainstream this more holistic approach to street improvement to realise a network of active, safe, green and memorable streets across the city. Next steps and Lessons for the Future The QPP programme was founded on a recognition that public space needs to be planned and managed in a transversal and collaborative manner which in turn invites complexity and the delivery of successful spaces a challenge. This in many ways was an ‘achilles heel’ of the Programme which led to a slow down of public space delivery when they were not properly maintained and managed. The examples discussed in this article to support the mainstreaming of public space within Cape Town and to kick start increased public space delivery in the QPP programme, are still transversal in nature as it is a core element of public space. The key difference 25 years on, is that although there is appreciation for public space, there is a recognition that the city administration must also be ready and structured to receive them. Significant focus is therefore being given to ensuring that public space is treated like other infrastructure services to ensure it is adequately accounted and planned for. A reflection on the lifespan of the QPP programme demonstrates that there are no simple solutions to place making. The spaces that have endured are the ones that had both institutional structures in place to support them as well as communities to receive and value them. Moving forward the selection of public space projects for implementation needs to be strategic and targeted to optimise limited resources as well as to show case the value of public space within the programme. It can be argued that any type of well-planned public space project will make a difference, however in Cape Town, or any country in the Global South there isn’t this luxury. Living street projects have the ability to maximise limited resources as well as having the potential to make profound changes to improving the liveability of neighbourhoods and the lives of ordinary citizens, if they are not planned as infrastructure or engineering projects but conceptualised as places of social and economic enablers of change. Freedom Square, Bonteheuwel, Cape Town. Completed in 2023 (source: SouthLand Photography, David Savage) Get the full African Cities Magazine 6 Download the full article here bobby-article-african_cities_magazine_6_english-20250826 .pdf Download PDF • 5.15MB Previous Next