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El Hadji Diouf de Bakel évoque la participation citoyenne, défis en eau et assainissement, et vise la modernisation de sa ville. < Back Vers une Modernisation Participative: Défis et Aspirations de la Commune de Bakel EL Hadji Diouf Dans cette vidéo El Hadji Diouf, premier adjoint au maire de Bakel, décrit l'implication citoyenne dans la conception du budget communal et les défis principaux de la commune, notamment la gestion de l'eau, la mobilité urbaine, et l'assainissement. Il mentionne les progrès réalisés grâce au soutien de l'État et de la diaspora, mais souligne la nécessité d'améliorer le traitement des déchets et la gestion des inondations. El Hadji Diouf aspire à transformer Bakel en une commune moderne qui répond aux besoins fondamentaux des citoyens. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV4Q3Z9jtr8

< Back Comment les drones facilitent l’obtention de titres fonciers en RDC Cities Alliance Kasangulu, une petite ville en République Démocratique du Congo, fait face à des défis dus au manque de droits fonciers formalisés et à l'absence de données précises. Le gouvernement de la RDC met en œuvre un projet pilote utilisant des drones pour faciliter la clarification foncière et autonomiser les femmes, visant à moderniser la gouvernance foncière et à promouvoir un développement économique inclusif basé sur des droits fonciers sécurisés. L'initiative a impliqué la cartographie des conflits, des ateliers participatifs, et l'utilisation de drones topographiques et de logiciels de cartographie pour aider l'administration du registre foncier à passer de la documentation papier à la documentation numérique. Le projet a également fourni une formation technique aux jeunes et aux agents fonciers pour l'opération des drones. L'introduction de drones civils a facilité la collecte de données en temps réel et modernisé les outils de gestion. Le projet a également contribué à sécuriser les droits des communautés locales et à augmenter leur résilience, particulièrement pour les ménages dirigés par des femmes. L'initiative a aussi le potentiel pour la durabilité et la résilience environnementale en fournissant des données géographiques précises pour surveiller l'expansion de la ville et protéger les zones vertes. Kasangulu est une petite ville de la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), située à seulement 35 km au sud-est de Kinshasa, une mégalopole en rapide expansion comptant près de 15 millions d'habitants. L'expansion urbaine de Kinshasa exerce une pression sur le Kasangulu rural, car les riches habitants de Kinshasa cherchent à acquérir des terrains en périphérie de la mégapole. En revanche, la communauté de Kasangulu est principalement composée de pauvres agriculteurs, dont beaucoup de femmes qui sont les principales soutiens de famille pour leurs nombreuses familles. La plupart des habitants de Kasangulu n'ont pas de droits formalisés sur leurs terres. Par tradition coutumière, les familles de Kasangulu ont historiquement reçu des allocations de terres et "possèdent" les mêmes parcelles depuis des générations – mais sans aucun document légal ou officiel prouvant leur propriété. Cette dualité a créé une insécurité puisque ces terres ne sont protégées ni sécurisées par des documents officiels, laissant les résidents vulnérables aux conflits fonciers, y compris les menaces d'accaparement de terres et d'expulsion. Les efforts pour produire des titres fonciers officiels ont été entravés par l'absence de données précises, des systèmes de gestion foncière obsolètes et le manque d'espaces de dialogue entre les membres de la communauté, les parties prenantes foncières et les autorités locales. En conséquence, le gouvernement de la RDC entreprend des réformes d'aménagement régional pour résoudre, entre autres, la dualité et les conflits qu'elle entraîne entre la loi des chefs coutumiers et les autorités législatives foncières. « Dans la situation actuelle, il y a un manque sévère de données et d'outils modernes, ce qui crée du désordre et affecte la vie des communautés locales pauvres, » explique Barthelemy Boika, directeur technique de l'IRDAC, une organisation de développement travaillant aux côtés des autorités locales et des communautés pour aborder les problèmes de tenure foncière. Dans le cadre de cet effort, l'IRDAC a mis en œuvre le projet pilote Drones pour la Clarification Foncière et l'Autonomisation des Femmes - Moderniser la gouvernance foncière en République Démocratique du Congo, à Kasangulu, avec le soutien financier de Cities Alliance. Le pilote est un projet multipartite qui inclut la facilitation de la communication entre toutes les parties prenantes foncières, l'introduction de nouveaux outils de gestion foncière et la promotion du développement économique inclusif basé sur des droits fonciers sécurisés. « Assurer la sécurité de la tenure, les droits fonciers et immobiliers dans les établissements urbains informels reste l'un des défis de développement les plus persistants et inextricables aujourd'hui. La situation est particulièrement aiguë en Afrique, qui connaît des taux de croissance démographique très élevés, notamment dans ses villes de taille petite et moyenne. À Kasangulu, en RDC, une organisation locale collecte des données avec des drones et travaille avec les communautés et les autorités locales pour sécuriser les titres fonciers. » Rassembler tous les acteurs Un objectif clé de l'initiative IRDAC était d'établir une réconciliation entre toutes les parties prenantes et d'ouvrir le dialogue entre les résidents, les chefs traditionnels, les autorités concernées et le secteur privé, afin que chaque partie impliquée dans les problèmes fonciers ait l'opportunité de discuter et de travailler ensemble pour répondre aux défis identifiés et proposer des solutions communes. Cela a été réalisé en menant des cartographies des parties prenantes et des conflits et en établissant des ateliers participatifs et des événements. Au cours du processus, il a été constaté que la plupart des résidents de Kasangulu ignoraient les risques associés à l'insécurité de la tenure foncière informelle. Ce manque d'information sur les raisons et les méthodes de formalisation des droits fonciers, combiné à la faible capacité d'achat des ménages, aide à expliquer le faible accès des communautés locales aux titres fonciers. Parmi les 116 membres de la communauté consultés durant le processus, seulement une personne possédait un certificat d'enregistrement officiel. Les ateliers participatifs ont offert un espace unique pour que tous les acteurs acquièrent une compréhension globale des problèmes fonciers en jeu à Kasangulu et des responsabilités et droits des différents intervenants. Multi-stakeholder dialogue La voie à suivre, convenue par les parties prenantes, impliquait l'intégration de nouvelles technologies avec la participation communautaire. Dans le cadre de ce processus, des drones topographiques et des logiciels de cartographie ont été utilisés pour aider l'administration du registre foncier à passer de la documentation papier au numérique. Comme première étape, l'IRDAC a fourni une formation technique aux jeunes et aux agents fonciers pour leur permettre d'opérer les drones. « Le projet a apporté de nouvelles technologies à une administration qui ne savait pas comment les utiliser. Conformément à notre engagement social et à l'objectif du projet, nous avons formé 14 jeunes hommes et femmes de la communauté locale, ainsi que 8 représentants des autorités locales intéressés par la manipulation des drones, la collecte de données et la formation aux enquêtes sur le terrain. » L'introduction de drones civils dans le système de gestion foncière a facilité la collecte de données précises en temps réel, mais a également aidé à attirer l'attention sur le sujet et a renforcé la nécessité d'un soutien public pour sécuriser les propriétés foncières. Une autre facette du pilote consistait à aider l'administration à moderniser ses outils de gestion et à établir une base de données cadastrale numérique et automatisée qui répond à des questions clés, par exemple, combien de parcelles y a-t-il à Kasangulu ? Quelles sont leurs superficies ? Où sont-elles situées ? Les données collectées par les drones et les outils SIG ont été vérifiées et complétées par des enquêtes sur le terrain. « Les images de données collectées par les drones sont des données silencieuses. Vous devez aller sur le terrain pour découvrir qui possède quelle terre. Ensuite, vous compilez les deux pour obtenir des données attributives. » Ce processus est essentiel pour la formalisation des droits fonciers et immobiliers, et l'octroi de titres fonciers. Construire une résilience sociale et une durabilité En leur fournissant une base légale, le projet a contribué à sécuriser les droits des communautés locales et à augmenter leur résilience. Les ménages possédant un titre foncier sécurisé peuvent accéder à des microcrédits, ce qui est particulièrement utile pour les ménages dirigés par des femmes - souvent les plus vulnérables à l'insécurité foncière. Selon Boika, le titre foncier devient un moyen de subsistance pour les familles et leurs enfants et crée un cercle vertueux. « Posséder des titres fonciers sécurisés leur permet d'obtenir des microcrédits, de démarrer des activités génératrices de revenus et d'améliorer leurs conditions de vie et leur bien-être. Les femmes à Kasangulu ont été très impliquées dans ce projet : 40 à 50 % d'entre elles possèdent une parcelle de terrain que ce projet aide à formaliser et à numériser. » Cependant, bien que les femmes aient été au centre des activités de développement économique et qu'elles devaient bénéficier considérablement des prêts microcrédits potentiels, en raison de la pandémie de Covid-19, de nombreux projets sont actuellement en suspens. L'initiative pilote a également un fort potentiel pour favoriser la durabilité et la résilience environnementale en fournissant aux autorités de Kasangulu des données géographiques précises et actualisées. Cela leur permettra de surveiller et de gérer l'expansion de la ville pour protéger les zones vertes environnantes contre l'expansion urbaine. « Kasangulu est bordée de forêts. Et quand une ville s'étend, elle empiète sur les forêts et leur environnement environnant car les informations correspondantes ne sont ni disponibles ni sécurisées. » Néanmoins, l'initiative n'aurait pas d'avenir si les leçons apprises ne sont pas portées à un niveau légal, surtout dans le contexte des réformes du gouvernement de la RDC. « Les innovations et les leçons apprises à Kasangulu ont été transmises à l'autorité de certification foncière du gouvernement afin qu'elles puissent traduire ces expériences en cadres légaux et les intégrer dans la politique nationale d'aménagement du territoire, pour permettre aux provinces de numériser le cadastre foncier, plus tard, à l'échelle nationale lorsque les ressources seront disponibles » Il est également nécessaire de renforcer les capacités de l'administration et d'intégrer l'innovation dans les systèmes de gestion foncière, et un programme interactif sur mesure pour la gestion du registre foncier devrait être introduit. La technologie seule ne suffit pas. Un dialogue participatif est requis L'initiative IRDAC est conforme à la politique foncière actuelle en RDC, en termes d'intégration de l'innovation technologique et des systèmes de gestion foncière efficaces. Le projet pilote montre comment la numérisation peut être utilisée pour légaliser les actes fonciers coutumiers et sécuriser les parcelles de terre des communautés mais, surtout, il montre qu'un système inclusif ne peut être atteint qu'en maintenant des canaux efficaces et participatifs avec toutes les parties prenantes impliquées. Avec son impact social et environnemental, l'initiative démontre également l'importance des titres fonciers dans la poursuite d'un développement inclusif. « Ce projet a montré comment la technologie seule n'est pas suffisante. Ses principales innovations étaient l'établissement d'un espace pour le dialogue participatif multi-acteurs, conjointement avec l'utilisation des drones. C'est pourquoi ce projet ouvre de nouvelles opportunités pour nous de travailler avec d'autres partenaires et institutions. » L'accès à la terre avec une tenure sécurisée est désormais reconnu dans les agendas de développement mondial, donnant un élan considérable à cette question. Bien que cet intérêt mondial soit encourageant, le changement ne doit pas se produire exclusivement au niveau de la politique nationale. Les individus et les communautés urbains pauvres sont des acteurs essentiels dans le renforcement de la sécurité de la tenure, et des solutions incrémentielles à petite échelle et à court terme peuvent être clés pour améliorer la sécurité de la tenure, les conditions de logement et la construction de la ville. À travers l'initiative « Tenure sécurisée dans les villes africaines : Microfonds pour l'innovation communautaire », Cities Alliance a attribué des subventions à des organisations qui, comme l'IRDAC, innovent pour améliorer la sécurité de la tenure, les droits fonciers et immobiliers dans les villes africaines au niveau local. L'initiative a été financée par le réseau Omidyar, avec le soutien de PLACE. A propos de Cities Alliance Cities Alliance est un partenariat mondial qui lutte contre la pauvreté urbaine et soutient les villes dans la réalisation d'un développement durable. Hébergée par l'UNOPS, l'organisation compte 23 membres, incluant des institutions multilatérales, des agences des Nations Unies, des gouvernements, des organisations non gouvernementales, des gouvernements locaux et des réseaux de villes. Nos principaux domaines de travail incluent l'égalité des genres, la migration, la résilience climatique et l'innovation, avec un accent sur l'informalité. Previous Next

Enjeu des matériaux locaux pour le logement abordable < Back La place des matériaux locaux dans la production de logements abordables Pierre-Marie BISSEK L’accès au logement abordable reste encore une difficulté dans plusieurs villes du Cameroun. Le coût du logement est largement fonction du coût des matériaux de construction. Pierre-Marie BISSEK II LOA nous parle de la question des matériaux locaux et de ses avantages pour le logement abordable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H95N0TKv0YM

< 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

Saint Louis, often referred to as Ndar in Wolof, is one of Senegal's most historically significant cities, located in the northwest part of the country near the mouth of the Senegal River. Founded in 1659 by French colonialists, it was the first French settlement in Africa and served as the capital of French West Africa before Dakar. Renowned for its distinctive colonial architecture and vibrant cultural scene, Saint Louis is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is famous for its annual Jazz Festival, attracting music enthusiasts globally. Its economy primarily revolves around fishing, tourism, and education, with a rich cultural heritage deeply embedded in its society. Saint Louis Saint Louis, often referred to as Ndar in Wolof, is one of Senegal's most historically significant cities, located in the northwest part of the country near the mouth of the Senegal River. Founded in 1659 by French colonialists, it was the first French settlement in Africa and served as the capital of French West Africa before Dakar. Renowned for its distinctive colonial architecture and vibrant cultural scene, Saint Louis is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is famous for its annual Jazz Festival, attracting music enthusiasts globally. Its economy primarily revolves around fishing, tourism, and education, with a rich cultural heritage deeply embedded in its society.

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

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. < Back Décentralisation et gouvernance locle au centre du développement de la ville de Bakel Dr. Abdou Azis Dr. Abdou Azis, directeur de l'agence régionale de développement de Tambacounda et ancien maire de Bakel, aborde les défis d'urbanisation et de développement économique. Bakel, limitée par sa géographie, doit actualiser son plan d'urbanisation pour étendre son périmètre communal, confrontée à la rigidité des structures administratives et à l'insuffisance des ressources budgétaires. La solution envisagée inclut l'intercommunalité, favorisant une gestion partagée des espaces et des ressources. Ce processus est soutenu par des réformes législatives récentes, visant à renforcer l'autonomie financière et administrative des communes, cruciale pour le développement économique local et la valorisation des entreprises locales, en particulier celles dirigées par les jeunes et les femmes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXMfDr6JZY4

Dr. Issagha Diaganaexpose les défis du développement urbain en Mauritanie et l'importance de solutions innovantes face aux contraintes de ressources. < Back Défis urbains en Mauritanie : urbanisation rapide et adaptation au changement climatique Issagha Diagana Cet épisode avec le de Dr. Issagha Diagana, de Mauritanie, souligne les défis de développement urbain dans un pays caractérisé par une urbanisation rapide et concentrée dans la capitale. Il aborde la nécessité de solutions innovantes et créatives pour résoudre les problèmes liés à l'habitat, à l'emploi, et à l'accès aux services, en tenant compte des contraintes de ressources et des effets du changement climatique. Enfin il appel à une modernisation progressive des villes et à une approche participative pour surmonter ces défis persistants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGwC57aIPOk

Tangier is a major city in northern Morocco with a population of about 1,850,000, and the city is currently undergoing rapid development and modernization. Stroll through the meanders of this beautiful city through this series to discover its colors, its magnificent medina and its port. Tangier-Morocco Tangier is a major city in northern Morocco with a population of about 1,850,000, and the city is currently undergoing rapid development and modernization. Stroll through the meanders of this beautiful city through this series to discover its colors, its magnificent medina and its port.

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. < Back Kaédi face aux défis : Entre inondations et développement durable" Abou Cisse Abou Cisse, premier maire adjoint de Kaédi en Mauritanie, décrit sa ville comme agro-pastorale et un centre de l'industrie de peinture. Kaédi fait face à de graves problèmes d'inondations, d'assainissement et d'aménagement territorial. Les inondations récentes ont causé d'importants dégâts, déplaçant des populations et détruisant des habitations. La commune, incapable de résoudre ces problèmes avec ses propres ressources, a sollicité l'aide de partenaires techniques et financiers ainsi que de l'État, qui a répondu en envoyant le génie militaire. La stratégie actuelle inclut une approche participative, écoutant et intégrant les solutions des citoyens et experts pour développer une politique d'urbanisation durable, visant un développement intégré et solidaire de Kaédi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1F7E0aKca0

< Back African Cities Magazine 1 October 31, 2020 With a series of innovations, initiatives, and projects on urban planning, architecture, or design, this first edition showcases how innovative ideas and solutions shape urban systems into more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable human settlements in Africa. Through different portraits and interviews of practitioners, innovators, and change-makers in architecture and urban development, we hope to share experiences, examples, best practices, and tools for a more sustainable future. We also hope to showcase the beauty, diversity, challenges, and opportunities in African cities of today, as well as paint a picture of what the cities of tomorrow will look like. Interview with Romarick ATOKE. Architect HMONP Head of Architecture & Urban Design, at Sèmè City Development Agency I keep a fairly optimistic vision of the African city by 2050. Through the ambition and commitment of our leaders combined with the determination, expertise and know-how of the actors of the city that we are, this African city will be resilient and sustainable Architecture Innovation The Warka Village aspires to transform the landscape of comprehensive human development by utilizing low-cost, sustainable, community-driven, high-impact multisector development interventions tailored to the village’s specific needs. Smart city projects in Africa Diamniadio in Senegal emphasizes connectivity with fiber networks and IoT-driven services, aiming to transform urban planning. Semecity in Benin fosters a knowledge-based economy, integrating smart tech in education and entrepreneurship. Morocco’s Benguerir Green City prioritizes eco-friendly design, with solar energy and sustainable infrastructure leading its development. Akon City , also in Senegal, envisions a blockchain-based hub for tourism and technology, although still in its initial phases. Cities Pixels and colors English version Version française Previous Next

< Back African Pre-colonial City-States: Why we need to look back to move forward Heba Elhanafy The African cities we live in today are a result of many years of development, progress, and sometimes distortions. They are a product of colonial powers, poor policies, and ill-capacitated institutions. However, African cities are also shaped by people, cultures, and traditions. The stories of African cities are as old as Africans and their civilizations. For a long time, literature on African cities has concentrated on the post-colonial and colonial periods. It has deprived the world of essential knowledge and understanding of African cities. The lack of research on pre-colonial African cities has created a blind spot in understanding the intricate organizational and governance structure. Those structures resulted in cities that were trade, learning, and culture centers. They had sophisticated urban planning and impressive architecture. Those stories are often overlooked, while the stories of how things went wrong in African cities are frequently highlighted. City-states rose in both West and East Africa. Some evolved into great empires like the Ashanti Empire in West Africa, some controlled trade routes like Zanzibar and Kilwa, and others managed to maintain their anonymity under strong empires like Lagos under the Benin Empire. They also emerged for different reasons. While fertile land and iron mining attracted people to Kano, it was the Indian Ocean trade that shaped most of the East African city-states. Food surplus that was sold and taxed helped form Lagos. While every city-state had its own economic and governance models, which helped in the evolution of those cities, they all have a shared legacy of being indigenous creations sustained by trade, urban agriculture, and a strong connection with rural villages. Those African urban centers were dynamic, complex, diverse, and adapted to each era with different socioeconomic features and governance models. Pre-colonial African City-States were complex, sustainable, and diverse in their structures. City-states in pre-colonial Africa were quite diverse in their formation For instance, cities like Timbuktu and Gao in the Mali Empire grew to serve Saharan trade routes. Timbuktu was divided into different quarters, each serving distinct functions such as trade, education, and residential purposes. The city often established and maintained public routes that facilitated the movement of traders and goods and encouraged more trade. Similarly, the Hausa city-states, such as Kano and Katsina, featured fortified walls and gates, which provided security and controlled access to the city. They included specialized zones for craft production, trade, and residential quarters. Some of those specialized divisions can be seen to this day. On the Swahili east coast, city-states like Kilwa and Mombasa were built with narrow, winding streets that helped to mitigate the coastal heat. Large public spaces and markets facilitated social interaction and trade. The cities used local coral stones in their construction, forming durable and beautiful architectural designs. City growth responded to various purposes: trade, defense, and governance. It reflected a high degree of social and economic organization. Pre-colonial African City-States were centers of trade and economic hubs. Pre-colonial African city-states were vibrant economic hubs. They were often located along trade routes Their location facilitated the exchange of goods, and trade. Cities like Timbuktu and Gao were located along the trans-Saharan trade route. They connected West Africa with North Africa and the Mediterranean. Tax money went into building institutions, mosques, and libraries. The Swahili city-states played a major part in the Indian Ocean trading network. They traded ivory, gold, spices, fabrics, and even slaves. For example, Zanzibar and Kilwa controlled trade between the interior of Africa and the other parts of the Indian Ocean basin. These city-states also did business with Persia, India, China, and the Arabian Peninsula. Immigrants from the Arab Peninsula and Persian merchants went to those cities, thus creating a mixture of cultures between them and native people, leading to the development of the unique Swahili culture. View of Benin City as depicted in the 17th century publication by the Dutch writer Olfert Dapper (2020 © Trustees of the British Museum) Pre-colonial city-states were independent and sovereign Pre-colonial African city-states exhibited a diversity of governance structures. Authorities often governed on the city level, not the nation or the kingdom level. For example, the Yoruba city-states of Ife and Oyo in present-day Nigeria were ruled by their own Oba (king). The Oba governed with the support of councils of chiefs and other titled officials, each responsible for specific administrative functions such as finance, justice, and defense. Government officials collected taxes, regulated trade, and kept security. The Swahili city-states along the East African coast were governed by sultans or sheiks who controlled trade monopolies and diplomatic relations. While the governance systems varied across the city-states, they all maintained independence, were well-governed, and were well-supported by these local indigenous governing structures. Pre-colonial African urban settlements have a long and proud past; some still maintain some pre-colonial structures and organizational patterns till this day A number of those city-states, such as Benin City and Kumasi, were destroyed or absorbed by colonization, but many managed to survive. Lagos survived and expanded and is now the largest city in Africa. Some governance structures managed to survive as well. For example, many Nigerian cities still retain their monarchical rulership in addition to democratically elected leaders. Lagos still recognizes the «Oba» (king) as a monarchical ruler. Benin also has an «Oba», Kano has an «Emir», and Sokoto has a «Sultan». Some of the elements of pre-colonial economies can also be seen in former city-states like the Kurmi Market in Kano. If we skip forward to 2024, the state of African cities is deteriorating. Seventy percent of cities are informal, with limited water, sanitation, and electricity access. While, in general, cities have better access to labor markets than rural areas, most jobs remain unproductive, and wages remain insufficient to meet basic living standards. So, how did African cities go from independent, self-sufficient, and productive cities to the cities we have now? Yes, you guessed it right. European civilization uprooted our urban development progress. European colonization was a shock to African systems in general, but it was even a greater shock to our governance and urban systems. New cities, such as Nairobi and Lusaka, were built from the ground up to serve the newly incoming white population. Those cities were designed around segregation (e.g., till 1947, the native population in Lusaka could not access cities without special passports/ permits). They were also designed around control; colonial governments often took seats in major cities, and those cities were entirely under the control of national-level colonial governments. Colonialism also brought a set of building and design regulations, often copied from European laws. The cities were governed, occupied, and designed for European settler populations. Post-colonial leadership did not change much to the governance systems of African cities. In the fifties and sixties, national governments started gaining independence. Native populations flooded the city, searching for better work opportunities and access to services. But colonial approaches towards cities haven’t changed. The newly rising African elite replaced the white settlers. The poor remained in compounds and increased many folds on top of that. The laws remained unchanged; building regulations and impossible permits kept most newcomers from entering the formal market. Most importantly, in an attempt for the newly found independent national governments to form a tighter grip on their countries, they tightened the grip on cities, and local municipalities remained underfunded and incapacitated. As they stand, African cities need significant policy changes to transform into sustainable, productive human settlements. They also need infrastructure, jobs, and capacity building. The needs of African cities are covered well in all the literature, the press releases, the political statements, and the meetings. The United Nations (UN) projects that the world’s urban population will increase by over 2 billion people by 2050. 90% of Urbanization will happen in African and Asian Cities There are tons of new cities in Africa to absorb that urban growth in conception or under construction. Those projects often lack the knowledge of how our cities used to work. They also lack the idea of what our cities can be like.The best way to move forward is by looking at the past and realizing how sustainable, pragmatic, productive, and independent pre-colonial city-states were. If there is a clear lesson from reading into the history of these city-states, it is how a certain level of autonomy over the economics and governance gave room for them to rise and be self-sustaining. View of Benin City as depicted in the 17th century publication by the Dutch writer Olfert Dapper (2020 © Trustees of the British Museum) Previous Next