IHS joined the ongoing ‘African Urban Futures’ partnership between the African Centre for Cities (ACC) at the University of Cape Town, the Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST) at Stellenbosch University and the Urban Futures Studio (UFS) at Utrecht University, which aims to open up possibilities for more just and sustainable cities in Africa. One of the main outputs of this partnership is the infrahub.africa a platform that facilitates peer-to-peer learning about various approaches to urban infrastructure and service provision taking place in Africa.
Development visions for African cities are typically oriented toward replicating the gleaming skylines of Dubai or Singapore. These approaches are not well-suited to African contexts, often resulting in urban developments that worsen inequality, deepen dependence on unsustainable resources, and accelerate emissions. Africa’s cities are amongst the fastest growing in the world, and have enormous potential to pioneer more just and sustainable forms of urban development. Doing things differently is particularly important in the face of climate change, where natural disasters and temperature changes increase the vulnerability of those living in slum conditions – almost half of Africa’s urban population.
This year, IHS joined the ongoing ‘African Urban Futures’ partnership between the African Centre for Cities (ACC) at the University of Cape Town, the Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST) at Stellenbosch University and the Urban Futures Studio (UFS) at Utrecht University, which aims to open up possibilities for more just and sustainable cities in Africa. One of the main outputs of this partnership is the infrahub.africa platform, which facilitates peer-to-peer learning about interesting approaches to urban infrastructure and service provision taking place in Africa. By showcasing existing examples, the site aims to demonstrate what is possible, share ideas across the continent, and accelerate the delivery of universal basic services.
To date, over 70 case studies have been written up by experts and researchers at various universities in Africa, showcasing infrastructure initiatives that benefit people experiencing poverty, create local jobs and have a reduced or positive ecological impact. These cover a range of innovative approaches, from rentable solar-powered batteries to waterless sanitation-as-a-service and weigh-and-pay food outlets.
We invite you to visit www.infrahub.africa (available also on mobile and in five languages), and explore initiatives relating to the themes and regions you work with. If there are any additional initiatives you think meet the website’s three criteria and that you have a connection with, please suggest them via the online form. If you have any ideas for how the website could be useful in Africa or elsewhere, or for potential partnerships or funding to grow this work, please reach out to Blake Robinson.
