Africa is urbanizing faster than any other continent. Though the number of people living in urban areas in Europe, North and South America has stabilized at about 75 percent, Africa and Asia, which are still predominantly rural, are in for a major demographic shift. In fact, the UN predicts that there will be a major demographic shift in these regions as people move from rural areas to urban areas in search of opportunity.

Already with urban growth at about 4.58 percent, Africa is urbanizing faster than any other continent. It is predicted that by 2030, the continent will cease to be rural. It is estimated that with 748m urban residents, the urban population on the continent will be larger than the projected population of Europe! Despite such startling statistics, few people have realized the full implications of the urbanization of Africa.

Rapid urbanization
 
Africa is on the move and many of our cities and towns are doubling their populations every 10 to 15 years. Much of this migration is being fuelled by the failure of agricultural policy and innumerable conflicts on the continent. Local authorities have not been able to cope with the influx. They have minimal resources and institutional structures to manage the process. Consequently, most of our cities and towns are surrounded with slums and squatter settlements.

Recent evidence shows that, on average, a staggering 72 percent of the African urban population lives in what is defined as a slum. They experience scarcity of: decently built housing, sufficient space, water, sanitation and security of tenure.

While most people live under such appalling circumstances, it is important to understand that cities and towns are centers of cultural creativity and economic growth. In fact, much of the national Gross Domestic Product is derived from well-managed cities. If Africa is to develop to its full potential, and let us not forget, that in terms of resources, Africa is one of the richest continents in the world, it must take urban development seriously. Successful rural development also needs well-managed cities with excellent infrastructure to bring produce to the local and international markets.

It is absolutely critical that policy makers and planners at the international, national and local level begin to understand the importance of investing in infrastructure and urban development. They also need to understand the critical role played by local authorities in managing their urban areas.

Millennium Development Goals

One of the depressing facts coming out of much recent research on the state of the MDGs is that Africa is seriously behind on meeting the targets set. Whereas many countries and Asia and Latin America are beginning to make major in-roads into alleviating poverty, unfortunately, African countries are way behind.

Municipalities in partnership with various stakeholders can improve the living conditions of the poor everywhere, especially in our slums and squatter settlements. The big questions are: how can the private sector help create innovate pro-poor financing mechanisms? What examples exist of successful slum upgrading projects that have provided security of tenure for the urban poor? How can we improve municipal governance so that it is more inclusive and participatory?

Though we all live in cities which have large slums like Kibera, we must recognize that once upon a time all the large cities of Europe and America once had huge slums. Quite simply, urbanization is part of the process of modernization and industrialization. They industrialized and urbanized about a century ago; now it is our turn.

Let us not forget, urban renewal is a cooperative project that requires partnership between all Habitat Agenda partners: governments, local authorities, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and ordinary individuals. Together we can meet the challenge of African urbanization.

Dr. Anna Tibaijuka

Executive Director, I’ONU- Habitat