African Cities

Communities are experts in their own lives. They understand the challenges, opportunities and political realities they face every day in ways that outside researchers might struggle to uncover. So how can communities work with academics and harness that knowledge to drive meaningful change? In this episode, Chris Jordan is joined by Beth Chitekwe-Biti and Diana Mitlin for a conversation about the role of community knowledge within ACRC and beyond – including what it is, how it works and how i...

“When we talk about exchanges, we are not saying one city go to another city to learn. It is one city going to another city to participate in something that is happening there. So there's no workshop style learning. It is just come and experience with us and it provides you opportunity to reflect on your own scenario, maybe adopt it or find reasons why it doesn't work for you.” This episode is a conversation originally recorded for Urban Radar, hosted by ACRC’s incoming CEO, Tom Goodfellow, a...

“Sustainability for us would mean leaving behind capability and capacities, not dependency.” In the informal settlement of Okerube in Lagos, the community faces significant challenges in accessing clean water and sanitation, which disproportionately impact women and children. An ACRC action research project is aiming to address these issues through establishing a sustainable, community-driven social enterprise model. In this podcast episode, Deji Akinpelu is joined by guests Temilade Sesan, A...

“I think one of the most important aspects that has come out of this space is creating that enabling environment where communities can interact with the state without necessarily throwing accusations at each other.” In this episode, Chris Jordan and co-host Rosebella Apollo are joined by Harare-based practitioners George Masimba and Shiela Muganyi, from Dialogue on Shelter and Zimbabwe Homeless People’s Federation respectively, to explore what inclusive urban reform looks like in practice. Th...

The housing challenge in African cities is far from consistent. With differing historical, sociopolitical and economic contexts, cities are seeing urbanisation play out along differing trajectories – impacting issues around housing demand, supply and justice. ACRC’s housing domain co-leads Alexandre Apsan Frediani and Ola Uduku join Diana Mitlin for a conversation around housing in African cities, drawing on insights from the seven cities studied in their report: Accra, Addis Ababa, Dar es Sa...