9th Africities Summit: spotlight on intermediary cities, foundation of African development
The Africities 9 Summit will be held from May 17 to 21, 2022 in Kenya’s largest city Kisumu. This large meeting of African cities will highlight the first level of the continent’s urban structure, made up of some 1,500 intermediate cities, and take stock of its development potential.
By Bylkiss Mentari
The theme of the 9th edition of the Africities Summit, the flagship pan-African event of the organization United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) is “The Role of Intermediary Cities of Africa in the Implementation of Agenda 2030 of the United Nations and the African Union Agenda 2063”.
« The intermediate city is the foundation for the development of local economies that frame the relationships between rural and urban populations »
Africities 9 will, for the first time ever, highlight the first level of the continent’s urban structure, consisting of approximately 1,500 intermediate cities with populations between 50,000 and 500,000. This layer of the continent’s urban landscape is currently home to just over 30% of the urban population. It is the foundation for the development of local economies that frame the relationships between rural and urban populations.
« These cities will double in population and size in next 10 to 15 years. They are therefore at the heart of Africa’s urban future, and are the laboratory for the emergence of a truly African urbanity »
Intermediate cities hold a strategic position in Africa’s urbanization. Current and future trends indicate that the majority of new urban dwellers will settle in cities with populations of less than 500,000. These cities are expected to absorb nearly two out of every three new city dwellers. As a result, they will double in population and size over the next 10 to 15 years. Intermediate cities are therefore at the heart of Africa’s urban future, and represent the laboratory for the emergence of an authentically African urbanity. It is therefore understandable why these cities should be considered strategic in the implementation of global agendas and sustainability strategies for the planet.
« The Africities Summit aims to strengthen the role of local and regional governments in the development of the continent and to help build the integration and unity of Africa from its territories »
Kisumu is the first intermediate city to host the Africities Summit.
Organized every three years for the past 20 years, this summit has been held since 2006 under the banner of UCLG Africa, the African section of the world organization UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments), alternating in each of the five regions of the continent. Its aim is to strengthen the role of local and regional governments in the development of the continent and to help build the integration and unity of Africa from its territories.
The Africities Summit is the largest democratic gathering organized in Africa. It is the main platform for dialogue on decentralization and local governance that brings together every three years, African ministers; mayors, leaders and elected officials of local and regional governments; civil society organizations; traditional authorities; representatives of the African diaspora; economic actors; experts, researchers and academics; financial institutions; and development partners.
The previous 8th Africities edition, held in Marrakesh from November 20 to 24, 2018 in Morocco, saw a record attendance of 8,300 participants.
Find out more about the Africities Summit: https://africities.org/fr/
