This free online course explores how African cities can mobilise finance to provide essential infrastructure. Developed by IHS in collaboration with United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG-Africa), African Local Governments Academy (ALGA) and Erasmus University Rotterdam, it is part of a series of MOOCs on urban development in African cities.
Course trailer
Course description
Africa is urbanising rapidly. With more than half of the world’s population already living in cities, local governments face immense pressure to provide sanitation, schools, hospitals, and clean water.
Many cities struggle to finance infrastructure because governments lack resources or knowledge of effective mechanisms. This MOOC brings financial experts to your desk, guiding you through practical solutions to mobilise funds for urban infrastructure.
Over five weeks, the course covers:
- The financial decision-making environment in urban systems
- Mechanisms for mobilising local revenues
- Innovative mechanisms for financing infrastructure projects through partnerships
- Financial decision-making under uncertainties and risks
- Interactive discussions, quizzes, and carefully selected literature to enhance learning
Who is this course for?
The course is designed for urban planners, local government officials, finance officers, and practitioners involved in urban infrastructure and development in African cities.
What will you achieve?
By completing this course, you will be able to:
- Identify the significance and role of Urban Local Bodies in your city
- Determine main sources of income for an Urban Local Body and optimise local revenues
- Explore different mechanisms for financing urban infrastructure
- Apply decision-making tools such as cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and multi-criteria analysis (MCA)
- Implement lessons learned in the context of your own city or country
Lecturers
- Jaap Spronk, Former staff, Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Meine Pieter van Dijk, Professor of Entrepreneurship, Maastricht School of Management
- Somesh Sharma, Specialist in Environment and Sustainable Development Planning, Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Bernadette Ssanyu, Sessional Instructor, University of Calgary
How to join this course
The course is available on Coursera. Registration is free, and you will need to create a Coursera account to participate.
Photo credit: FCG