Africa's cities of the future - Interview: Joan Clos, UN-Habitat Bamboo: Africa's untapped potential
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April 2016 www.un.org/africarenewal
Africa’s cities
of the future
ccccc
Interview:
Joan Clos, UN-Habitat
Bamboo: Africa’s
untapped potential
CONTENTS April 2016 | Vol. 30 No. 1
4 SPECIAL FEATURE
COVER STORY
Africa’s cities of the future
6 Kigali sparkles on the hills
8 Lagos wears a new look
10 Joan Clos: Urbanization is a tool for development UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (in orange tie)
12 Abidjan regains it glamour at the closing of the Climate Summit in Paris last
December. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
14 David Nabarro: No one will be left behind
16 Africa looks to its entrepreneurs
18 Mbeki panel ramps up war against illicit financial flows Editor-in-Chief
20 Boost in Japan-Africa ties Masimba Tafirenyika
22 Bamboo: Africa’s untapped potential
Managing Editor
26 The Paris climate deal and Africa Zipporah Musau
28 Solar: Harvesting the sun
30 A new Burkina Faso in the making? Sub-editor
Kingsley Ighobor
32 Terrorism overshadows internal conflicts
36 Somalia rising from the ashes Staff Writer
41 Speaking SDGs in African languages Franck Kuwonu
Research & Media Liaison
DEPARTMENTS Pavithra Rao
3 Watch
Design & Production
42 Wired Paddy D. Ilos, II
43 Books
Administration
43 Appointments
Dona Joseph
Cover photo: Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. Panos/Sven Torfinn
Distribution
Atar Markman
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2 AfricaRenewal April 2016
AFRICA WATCH: BURUNDI QUOTABLES
UN Women/J Carrier
The pace of change we
have seen over the decades
is directly correlated to
Demonstrators carry a Burundi flag during a protest in Bujumbura, Burundi. Reuters/G. Tomasevic
the investment we have
made. Where we made good
Slow progress in Burundi peace talks investment in women and
girls, the return is high and
life changing.
BY FRANCK KUWONU Meanwhile, independent human rights
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-
experts commissioned by the UN have
Secretary-General and UN Women
S cores of Burundian refugees continue
to pour into the neighbouring states of
Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, and
started investigating alleged mass graves
in the country. “We have good access to
government officials, to the police and also
Executive Director at the opening of the
60th session of the Commission on the
Status of Women on 14 March 2016
the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to victims and civil societies,” Christof
even as diplomatic efforts by the African Heyns, UN special rapporteur on extraju- At this time of grave
Union and others increase pressure for dicial, summary or arbitrary executions, injustices, devastating
an end to Burundi’s political crisis. The told the German broadcaster, Deutsche wars, mass displacement,
number of people in forced exile has now Welle. The government continues to deny grinding poverty and
passed the 250,000 mark, according to the existence of any mass graves. other man-made causes of
the UN High Commissioner for Refugees But while the violence of the past suffering, the International
(UNHCR), and more than 400 people year seems to have abated, human rights Day of Happiness is a global
have been killed since April. violations and targeted assassination are chance to assert that peace,
Burundi’s difficulties began in April reportedly continuing on the ground. On well-being and joy deserve
2015 when President Pierre Nkurunziza 21 February two people were killed by primacy.
controversially extended his term in office. gunmen while another was killed in a gre- Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary-general
When UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- nade attack at a market in Bujumbura. during this year’s International Day of
moon visited the capital, Bujumbura, at “Whereas dead bodies on the streets of Happiness marked on 20 March
the end of February, Burundian authori- Bujumbura were a daily occurrence in the
ties promised to free 2,000 political pris- second half of 2015, many abuses are now In this wealthy world of
oners and lift the ban on two independent taking place under the radar, with security ours, no one should die
radio stations as a sign of their commit- forces secretly taking people away and or have their dignity
ment to resolving the crisis. refusing to account for them,” said destroyed just because
Later, during a visit by an African Human Rights Watch, an international of lack of money.
Union delegation, the Burundian govern- advocacy group, in its February 2016 Kristalina Georgieva, European
ment further committed to accepting the report on Burundi. The government Commissioner for International
deployment of 100 military monitors and disputes the group’s findings. Cooperation, Humanitarian
Aid and Crisis Response at
100 human rights observers to help reduce Fears are growing that the cur-
European Commission,
the violence. The government had refused rent situation, if allowed to ahead of the World
an initial offer of 5,000 peacekeeping Humanitarian
soldiers in December. see page 41 Summit in May 2016
AfricaRenewal April 2016 3
One of the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals is to have sustainable cities
that provide opportunities for all, including access to basic services, energy, housing and
transport. In this special coverage, we look at some African cities like Lagos and Kigali that
are on the move and others such as Abidjan and Mogadishu that are recovering.
FOCUS ON CITIES
A model of the future Kigali City. An ambitious Kigali development master plan aims to turn the city into the ‘Singapore of Africa’. Panos/Sven Torfinn
Africa’s cities of the future
Proper planning key to sustainable cities
BY BUSANI BAFANA
W
ith an annual economic pollution and crime, among others. representing over 1,000 African cities,
growth rate of about “Urbanization in the Africa of today is describes sustainable cities as “cities of
5% over the last decade, an untapped tool for development and eco- the future today,” meaning those that can
driven mainly by the com- nomic growth,” says Joan Clos, the execu- withstand the intense pressure from rapid
modities boom, African cities have seen tive director of UN-Habitat. development and urban investments but
skyrocketing population growth, forcing Over the next 15 years, cities in Africa have a low impact on the environment.
governments to face a host of development will experience higher growth rates than Economic growth and a rapidly grow-
challenges. other regions of the world, predicts Oxford ing population of about 1 billion mean more
Africa is urbanizing at a rate of 4% per Economics, a British firm that specialises in urbanization in Africa than in any other
year, according to UN-Habitat, the United global forecasting and quantitative analysis continent, with major cities in Africa cur-
Nations agency tasked with assisting for business and government, with Cape rently contributing about $700 billion to
national programmes relating to human Town, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg and the continent’s GDP. This figure is set to
settlements through the provision of Luanda becoming Africa’s major economic grow to $1.7 trillion by 2030, notes Oxford
capital and technical assistance, particu- giants. Economics.
larly in developing countries. Population Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, the secre- UN-Habitat says rapid urbanization,
shifts from rural to urban areas lead to a tary-general of United Cities and Local especially in cities in the developing world,
number of challenges such as overcrowding, Governments-Africa (UCLG-A), a body is bringing challenges in the distribution
4 AfricaRenewal April 2016
of people and resources, as well as in land reforestation and the use of waste in energy hosted by UN-Habitat in October 2016 in
use, which leads to inefficient land-use generation, among other measures. Quito, Ecuador.
patterns. Cities growing horizontally are Given the economic and social chal- Countries attending Habitat III, the
struggling to deal with increasing urban lenges faced by many African cities, can first UN world summit after the adoption
populations and are not likely to be sus- they offer a high quality of life for residents of the SDGs and the Paris climate change
tainable over the long term because of through the provision of efficient basic ser- agreement, are expected to adopt the
challenges with congestion, infrastructure, vices while at the same time ensuring that “New Urban Agenda” for the 21st century.
pollution and social disaggregation. the environment is safe and clean? It is clear that urban planning requires
An increase in migration from rural to a shift from viewing urbanization mainly
urban areas can exacerbate poverty and as a problem, to seeing it as a tool for devel-
inequality as people pour into the cities in opment, UN-Habitat says in UN-Habitat
search of jobs and opportunities, straining Global Activities Report 2015: Increasing
available services such as water, transpor- Synergy for Greater National Ownership.
tation and garbage collection. At a meeting organized by UN-Hab-
“Urbanization, particularly in the itat and the Economic Commission for
developing world, has been accompanied Africa (ECA) in Ethiopia in March 2014,
by increased levels of crime, violence, and called “The Role of Urbanization in the
lawlessness. Global studies show that 60% Structural Transformation of Africa,” the
of all urban residents in developing coun- director of political affairs at the African
tries have been victims of crime at least Luanda, Angola. AMO/Rodger Bosch Union Commission, Khabele Matlosa,
once over the past five years, 70% of them said that African countries need to adopt
in Latin America and Africa,” says UN- new development models designed to take
Habitat’s website. “Yes, potentially,” says Mr. Mbassi, advantage of urbanization by facilitating
Women and children are often the most adding that this would require a pace of structural transformation, creating jobs
affected, especially when fear hinders their development in Africa that should not nec- and addressing social inequality and pov-
access to basic services in the city. Crime essarily resemble that of the West. erty while creating habitable settlements
and insecurity in the city restrict urban “We should plan cities according to their with equal opportunities for all.
social and economic development, and often specific situations and the needs of the local
jeopardize opportunities and policies that people, to ensure that cities include every- Starting smart to end slums
support the poor in urban areas. one and the poor are not marginalized in Although with good planning urbani-
terms of accessing all the services a city has zation, industrialization, sustained
Sustainable cities to offer,” Mr. Mbassi told Africa Renewal in economic growth and human develop-
The need for sustainable cities is particu- an interview. ment can be mutually reinforcing, there
larly urgent, considering cities generate over is urgent need for safe settlements too,
70% of global carbon emissions. The one A new agenda according to a report by UN-Habitat, The
billion slum dwellers worldwide suffer the Working with the UN Economic Com- State of the African Cities 2014: Re-Imag-
impacts of air pollution from indoor cook- mission for Africa, UCLG-A developed ining Sustainable Urbanization.
ing, proximity to traffic and industry, con- the Africa Urban Agenda (AUA) to be Sub-Saharan Africa has a slum popu-
taminated water and inadequate sanitation, adopted by African leaders in July 2016. lation of 199.5 million, which, according to
among other environmental health risks. UN-Habitat, is a sign of “a poorly planned
UN-Habitat suggests a three-pronged and managed urban sector and, in par-
By 2030
approach to sustainable cities, based on ticular, a malfunctioning housing sector.”
effective and comprehensive urban legisla- Africa is home to big slums such as
tion, proper urban planning and design, and Africa’s GDP will reach $1.7 West Point in Liberia’s capital, Monro-
adequate financing for projects. The three via, with more than 75,000 people, and
principles can be levers for the transforma-
trillion from the current Kenya’s Kibera slum in Nairobi, which is
tion of cities and human settlements into $700 billion the largest in Africa, with over 2 million
centres of environmental, economic and people.
social sustainability. Africa requires around 4 million hous-
Climate change is a recent considera- The Agenda consists of actions Africa ing units per year, with over 60% of the
tion in the planning of sustainable cities. needs to take to improve its cities and set- demand required to accommodate urban
Africa’s urban environments are particu- tlements and to promote urbanization as residents. Effective planning regulations
larly susceptible to flooding and outbreaks a catalyst for Africa’s structural transfor- and their enforcement will help cities deal
of diseases such as malaria. However, these mation. It represents Africa’s inputs into with the growth of informal settlements
can be mitigated through proper plan- the Global Urban Agenda to be adopted and provide a map for how the cities will
ning, effective policy implementation, the at Habitat III, a conference on housing grow and develop, while promoting eco-
protection of ecologically sensitive areas, and sustainable urban development to be nomic growth.
AfricaRenewal April 2016 5
CITIES ON THE MOVE
Kigali sparkles on the hills
Rwandan government implements an ambitious development master plan
BY BUSANI BAFANA
FOCUS ON CITIES
An artist impression (in the background) of a forthcoming shopping and office complex in Kigali. Panos/Sven Torfinn
R
wanda’s moniker, “land of a thousand hills,” In 2008, UN-Habitat awarded its Scroll of Honour
not only attests to the country’s unique geog- to Kigali for its slum clearance and upgrading of urban
raphy but also suggests the trajectory of amenities, particularly refuse collection and the provi-
Kigali through its many crises to become a sion of housing, water and sanitation.
2015 model sustainable city.
Kigali is one of Africa’s rising cities: it is clean and
As Rwanda’s main business district and port of
entry, Kigali is seen as an investment and economic hub
Kigali was organised and, thanks to an ambitious national devel- in Africa. Already the city of more than a million people
selected as opment plan, the city has become an ultramodern is one of Africa’s information technology hubs, making
metropolis that boasts recognizable social, economic it the country’s economic growth engine.
one of six
and environmental successes. It is a city under con-
African cities struction, in which new buildings are fast replacing Rebuilding after genocide
out of 67 cities outdated ones. Tarred, dual-carriage roads crisscross More than 20 years have passed since the Rwan-
worldwide Kigali, providing a seamless connection between urban dan genocide that claimed hundreds of thousands
for the 100 settlements and the fog-covered countryside uplands. of lives, deprived the country of decades of develop-
Resilient Cities The city is now a preferred destination for many organ- ment, destroyed infrastructure and crippled essential
izers of international conferences. services. Kigali’s transformation has benefitted from
Initiative of the
It is easy to understand why Kigali sparkles. Among determined efforts to forge national unity and actual-
Rockefeller other impressive environmental measures, city gov- ise a new vision for the country.
Foundation. ernment banned the importation of non-biodegradable Rwanda’s Vision 2020 is an ambitious development
plastics and designated a day each month for the resi- master plan that, when fully implemented, will lure
dents to clean the city and spruce up the surroundings. international investors. The government intends to
It is difficult to find litter on Kigali streets. expand modern infrastructure and ensure the efficient
6 AfricaRenewal April 2016
delivery of services for Kigali residents, Already new complexes are being devel- development programme, which imple-
including water, sanitation, energy and oped that combine office space with resi- ments a host of urban policies, including
transportation. dential apartments. Also, under the Kigali those pertaining to physical planning, eco-
Kigali has environmental and sustain- Urban Upgrading Program, informal set- nomic integration, social and environmen-
ability goals that include a vision for a safer, tlements are being upgraded with the pro- tal sustainability, according to Aisa Kacy-
cleaner and more competitive modern city. vision of services such as water, energy and ira, the deputy director of UN-Habitat.
With more than 70% of its population (the roads, Mr. Nkurunziza said. “There is a need to make African cities
bulk of whom are under 30) living in infor- liveable, functional and to serve as tools
mal settlements, and an annual growth Sustainable design for peace-building in post-conflict coun-
rate of more than 4%, the city expects Rwanda’s national sustainability agenda tries like Angola, Rwanda and Mozam-
to increase investments in service deliv- includes plans to integrate urban and peri- bique,” said Ms. Kacyira.
ery to meet the needs of a growing urban urban horticulture into Kigali’s develop-
population. ment master plan. With guidance from Challenges
the United Nations Food and Agriculture Nevertheless, despite progress made so
Open for business Organisation (FAO), authorities are pro- far, Kigali, and the whole country gener-
Kigali’s official website highlights a plan moting the growing of fresh fruits and veg- ally, faces some underdevelopment chal-
to “bring forward the most cutting-edge etables within the city to increase urban lenges, including a lack of adequate safe
ideas for city and infrastructure planning, food security and boost farmers’ incomes. and clean water, sanitation, housing and
based on the three prongs of sustainabil- They envision a cosmopolitan city with transportation services for all. Accord-
ity: ecology, equity and economy. Sustain- green gardens. ing to the NGO WaterAid, which is based
able management of land, water and biodi- The development of pedestrian and in the United States, 3 million Rwandans
versity guided the development of the plan cycling corridors will be part of Kigali’s have no access to a safe water supply and
insofar as these elements are essential 5 million have no toilets. This has a huge
factors for integrated urban design.” impact on health and infant mortality
As with other sustainable cities, plan- in the country, with over 2,000 children
ning is key. Kigali’s well-thought-out master 2040 dying every year from preventable diar-
plan was formally adopted in October 2013, rhoeal diseases.
and guides development until 2040 through
the year Kigali is projected As to housing, according to a study
five-year development phases. The current to become a city of done by the Ministry of Infrastructure
phase (2013 to 2018) prioritises rapid and affordable homes and green and the Rwanda Housing Authority, and
effective urban development through its transport, ensuring reduced cited by the newspaper The East Afri-
administrative structure and financial hubs. air pollution and congestion can, the country’s total housing needs
The “master plan takes into account and conserving the city’s from 2012 to 2022 were estimated at
the preservation of hillsides, forests and about 460,000 units, of which more than
wetlands so that they may be available for
environment 344,000 have yet to be constructed.
future generations.... It uses the natural The study put the housing demand per
cycles to provide efficient infrastructure annum at 60,000 units countrywide, with
for water, drainage, water purification, public transit system, which will allow Kigali alone needing half of the number.
biogas generation from waste and recy- for cycling and walking, and will reduce However, it estimated the supply at only
cling,” says the city’s official website. car access to the CBD. The private sector, 1,000 units per year.
“We are developing the city in phases local government, nongovernmental And in transportation, Rwanda has the
(short, medium and long term), with the organisations, civil society and investors highest transport costs in the region, esti-
first phase spanning 2013 to 2018, under are expected to support these efforts. mated at 40% of the value of its imports
which we are developing the Kigali Cen- In 2015, Kigali was selected as one of or its exports, against 12% and 36% for
tral Business District (CBD), which is the six African cities out of 67 cities worldwide Kenya and Uganda respectively, according
most attractive area of the city in terms of for the 100 Resilient Cities initiative of to a review by the African Development
commercial activities,” said city engineer the Rockefeller Foundation. The initiative Bank. The hope is that current efforts will
Alphonse Nkurunziza, who coordinates focuses on helping cities address urbani- soon begin to bear fruit.
the departments of urban planning and sation, climate change and globalisation “By 2040 we want to have Kigali as
construction; infrastructure development; challenges through infrastructure devel- a city of affordable homes. We also want
and master-plan inspection. opment that can cope with population a city of green transport, ensuring we
“This phase includes high-rise build- growth. The provision of adequate water, reduce air pollution and congestion and
ings and commercial complexes that match sanitation and public health services is conserve the city’s environment,” says the
demand, as we want to decongest the CBD part of this initiative. city engineer.
through eliminating unplanned commer- In addition, Colombia, Egypt, Mozam- For a city many already consider one
cial buildings,” Mr. Nkurunziza told Africa bique, the Philippines and Rwanda were of Africa’s most beautiful, the future looks
Renewal in an interview. selected to host a pilot sustainable urban promising.
AfricaRenewal April 2016 7
FOCUS ON CITIES
Lagos Island from Apogbon, overlooking Apapa Wharf. Africa Media Online/Ademola Akinlabi
CITIES ON THE MOVE
Lagos now wears a new look
City transforming from chaos of traffic congestion, rickety buses and pickpockets
BY KINGSLEY IGHOBOR
A
n oft-told tale of Lagos’s once- as positive changes can be seen in Afri- A fast-growing population (600,000
notorious traffic jams is that ca’s most populous city, with 21 million people added annually), without commen-
of a taxi passenger stuck in a people. These days the greeting “Welcome surate improvements in social services
snarl-up who left the vehicle, to Lagos” portends better news. such as housing, water and transporta-
wandered into a roadside restaurant to tion, had pushed Lagos to the cliff’s edge.
eat, drank a beer, took a nap and returned Transformation foundation
to the vehicle that had not moved an inch. The transformation of Lagos started “Manhattan” rises offshore
He reached his destination several hours during the tenure of Bola Tinubu, Lagos There have been impressive infrastruc-
later. State governor from 1999 to 2007. Mr. tural developments, but the plan to
First-time visitors to Lagos about 10 Tinubu set forth a rescue operation that create a “new city” at the edge of Lagos
years ago were warned, “This is Lagos.” That his successor, Babatunde Fashola, later is probably the most audacious. Dubbed
meant that you should not expect help from continued. the “Manhattan of Africa,” Eko Atlantic
anyone — but brace up for hard times ahead. There were political and economic ben- on Victoria Island consists of 10 million
Fast-forward to 2016 and the traffic efits for such efforts. “Lagos is Nigeria’s square meters of land reclaimed from
congestion, high crime rate, clogged gut- richest state, producing about $90 billion the ocean and protected by an 8.5 km
ters and roads filled with garbage could a year in goods and services, making its seawall. Construction began in 2008, and
soon become just a bad dream. These economy bigger than that of most African it consists of seven districts along the
days Lagosians still regale each other countries, including Ghana and Kenya,” oceanfront, including a business district
with anecdotes of the dystopian city even notes the Economist. that is expected to host major banks and
8 AfricaRenewal April 2016
insurance and oil companies, as well as realities of Lagos may thwart Mr. Tinubu’s Molues, were replaced by swanky new ones
the Nigerian stock exchange, once con- ambitious plans; the city is collapsing as fast that use designated bus lanes. With sup-
struction is fully completed. as it grows, disappearing under a mountain port of private operators, the government
Lagos’s government reduced crime rates of rubbish.” But after 15 years of painstak- procured about 1,300 taxicabs to run in
by providing logistical support to the police ing efforts, that image of Lagos is slowly the city.
force run by the federal government. It changing. In addition, an ambitious multibillion-
installed closed-circuit television in most dollar light rail project that began in 2010
parts of the city and established skills acqui- Fashola’s strategy is set to be completed by December of this
sition programmes for the “area boys”— After Mr. Tinubu exited, Mr. Fashola’s year. The project consists of seven lines,
youths, mostly jobless, who extort money strategy was focused on three fronts. which, on completion, will further ease
from drivers and passengers. It also set up First, he solicited citizens’ support for a Lagos city traffic.
mobile courts to summarily try cases. new vision of Lagos. The slogan Eko o ni
Oshodi market, located about five miles baje (Lagos must not spoil) rallied Lago- The journey is not finished
from Murtala Mohammed International sians against the status quo. Second, he Nowadays Mr. Fashola’s efforts have won
Airport, used to represent the good, the reformed the tax system, which resulted bipartisan praise, a phenomenon rarely
bad and the ugly of Lagos: thousands of in an increase in tax revenues to $115 seen in Nigeria. Nobel laureate and social
people to-ing and fro-ing; a cacophony of million per month in 2015, up from $3.2 critic Wole Soyinka says, “Fashola diag-
voices at the highest decibels; rickety buses million in 1999. Tax compliance increased noses the problems and goes at it like a
meandering through a sea of human beings; to 80%, up from about 30% in 2005. Third, skilled mechanic.”
pickpockets on the prowl; people fighting at Mr. Fashola used the tax revenues to “There is no finish line in this journey,”
one end, others dancing to loud music at the undertake ambitious transportation and says Mr. Fashola, whose term expired
other end. Currently, most of what used to sanitation projects, including the creation in 2015 and who now oversees Nigeria’s
be Oshodi market has been demolished, to of a rail network, bus lanes and a waste federal ministries of energy, works and
make way for a “world-class bus terminus,” collection system, as well as massive road housing. Both he and his predecessor Mr.
according to government officials. rehabilitation. Tinubu set a high bar. The jury is still
“The place [Oshodi] was harbour- Under the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) out on the current governor Akinwunmi
ing criminals and a number of untoward system, Lagos transportation “became Ambode, who took the reins in May 2015.
activities,” said Steve Ayorinde, the current faster, safer, predictable, relatively cheaper But for Lagos, the city of the late Afrobeat
Lagos state commissioner for information and more comfortable,” reported Van- icon Fela Kuti and the city from which
and strategy, according to the Nigerian guard. The BRT itself created jobs for 2,500 Africa’s richest person, Aliko Dangote,
newspaper Vanguard. Mr. Fashola himself people. Most of Lagos’ notoriously old manages his business empire, the mantra
regards Oshodi’s transformation as a water- and dangerous commercial buses, called continues to be Eko o ni baje indeed.
shed moment. During his tenure, he often
reminded Lagosians that, having trans-
formed Oshodi, there was nothing they
couldn’t achieve.
Lagos is becoming a clean city. Thou-
sands of workers can be seen late every night
sweeping the roads and taking away the
dirt. An efficient garbage collection service
supports the cleaning efforts. More than
one million tons of waste was deposited in
public landfills in 2015, up from 71,000 tons
in 2004. About 72% of Lagos residents cur-
rently use a government-regulated waste
disposal service; in 2005 only 42% used
such a service.
Nigerians are generally in disbelief
regarding the new Lagos. “This is not the
Lagos I used to know,” says Sanusi Turay,
who manages a private security firm in the
city. The new Lagos is a bit of an anomaly,
Mr. Turay explains, with a tinge of sarcasm.
“But, honestly, we are very happy things are
changing for the better.”
Just before Mr. Tinubu took over as
governor in 1999, the BBC reported that “the Banana Island, Ikoyi, was reclaimed from the waters of Lagos Lagoon. Panos/George Osodi
AfricaRenewal April 2016 9
INTERVIEW
Urbanization is a tool for development
— Joan Clos
J oan Clos is the Executive Director of the Nairobi-based United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). In this
interview with Newton Kanhema for Africa Renewal, Dr. Clos talks about the effects of urbanization in Africa and the forthcoming
Habitat III, a major UN conference on housing and sustainable urban development to be held in Quito, Ecuador, in October 2016. The
following are excerpts:
Africa Renewal: What are the conse-
quences of Africa’s fast-growing urbani-
zation, and should Africa control this
phenomenon?
Joan Clos: The share of the population
living in African urban areas now is about
30%, but will rise to 50% in a very short
period of time. That will present several
challenges in both governance and the
capacity of cities or even national gov-
ernment to react. It’s important to have a
national urban policy which can be trans-
formed into local initiatives. Urbanization
is more of an opportunity than a challenge
because it goes in parallel with develop-
ment. If governments plan and design
urbanization well, they will enjoy the ben-
efits that urbanization brings to a society.
Urbanization will be a big opportunity for
Africa in the coming years.
So what you are saying is that urbaniza-
tion can bring benefits?
Yes. In the way and pace that African
societies are going, urbanization is a
consequence of development and also
the driving force for accelerating this
development.
Many African governments tend to FOCUS ON CITIES
develop new megacities in order to decon-
gest existing cities. Is this sustainable or Dr. Joan Clos is the Executive Director of the Nairobi-based United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-
a fire brigade solution?
Megacities tend not to be sustainable but not the size but the capacity of the cities What kind of support does UN-Habi-
they are good evolutions for economic to develop, not spontaneously but in a tat provide to national governments to
prosperity if they are well planned. In fact, well-designed and well-planned manner. develop environmentally sustainable
there are many big cities around the world The problem is not the emergence of human settlements?
that are much bigger than the megacities megacities, but the lack of planning. The We provide advice to member states on
of Africa. Tokyo, for example, has more challenge is how to transform megaci- strategies that can be applied to urbaniza-
than 35 million people, compared to some ties so they can be productive without tion to increase efficiency and productiv-
of Africa’s megacities that have around accumulating the problems of unplanned ity. This includes suggesting a national
10 to 12 million people. The question is urbanization. urban policy composed of three pillars.
10 AfricaRenewal April 2016The first pillar is rules and regulations; livelihoods of people, such as employ- experiences on transforming urbaniza-
this is important because urbanization is ment, income, training and human capi- tion as a tool for development. Very often
about the rule of law. The second pillar is tal. Authorities need to provide affordable we approach urbanization as a problem
about the quality of urban design, and the houses for the middle class. It’s a long of poverty, lack of services, etc., and not
third is financial planning. Urbanization and difficult process; there’s no radical as an opportunity to accelerate the pace
is a costly exercise which requires a lot of solution. of development. Habitat III will align
resources. urbanization as a development tool
Are there best practices in the world that with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
New cities are springing up in Africa African countries can adopt? What can we Development.
but so too are slums. What kind of poli- learn from Kigali or Lagos?
cies should African governments adopt to Well, there is a lot of experience in and Many African countries face huge urban-
address the proliferation of slums? outside the region. There are no easy and ization problems. Without resources,
Slums are a natural consequence of spon- quick solutions to urbanization because how can such countries implement poli-
it is a process of transforming a society cies that provide for adequate human
and it requires time. What is important settlement?
is to approach the question with a good The issue of financing urbanization is
strategy and a midterm and long-term a very complex one but economists say
vision. And this is what we provide—a the wealth that urbanization generates is
framework of ideas that address different much more than the cost of urbanizing.
problems that cities face. We are help- The question is how to share the wealth
ing Kigali to introduce new concepts for created by urbanization among all stake-
city extension, well-planned urbaniza- holders. One of the tricky points that need
tion, quality public spaces and a balance to be addressed is that urbanization is not
between public spaces and buildable plots. just building buildings, but finding a bal-
In Lagos we have a very interesting case of ance between the art and science of build-
a big city that, although it’s mentioned as ing cities and building buildings.
one of the mega-capitals of Africa, has the
capacity to initiate policies that can gen- Are there elements of the recently signed
erate income, sustain domestic services Paris agreement on climate change that
and transform the wealth of its habitants. illuminate the work that you do?
Lagos is a good example of the approach Yes, climate change is important to
other African cities should adopt. urbanization. This is particularly so in
the developed world, where cities are a
The major event on your calendar this source of greenhouse gas emissions. Yet
year is Habitat III. How significant is this the effects of climate change are most felt
event for the African continent? in the cities that do not have sufficient
This is a very important meeting taking infrastructure. It’s a complex equation
place in Quito, Ecuador, 20 years after that needs to be addressed globally. It
Habitat II, which took place in Istanbul, means taking measures to reduce the
Turkey. Habitat III will be a review of emission of greenhouse gases and helping
urbanization over the past two decades. cities that suffer from the consequences
It will also be the beginning of a process to adapt to new conditions. In some parts
to implement agreed strategies on urbani- of the world cities are the main emitters
zation for the next 20 years. There is no of greenhouse gases and in others cities
doubt that urbanization is going to accel- suffer the worst from climate change.
erate over the coming years and Africa
Habitat). UN Photo/Rick Bajornas will experience the most rapid pace in the Lastly, what is your message for Africa?
world. I am happy that African leaders are Africa has a huge opportunity to address
taneous urbanization. In that sense they mobilizing their governments for Habitat the new challenges of urbanization. It’s a
should be considered a temporary out- III, as they will be actively participating, wave and it’s a process. They should devise
come of development. In order to prevent engaging and deepening the debate on strategies that focus on the capacity of
the slums, we need to accelerate develop- urbanization over the coming years. urbanization to generate prosperity. The
ment. Slums should be integrated in a big question is how to direct this process,
much better manner with proper rights What outcome can African leaders expect and with which objective and vision. I urge
to housing. You cannot fight slums in from Habitat III? people in Africa and their governments to
an isolated manner. What you need is Habitat III would provide an important take urbanization as an opportunity and
an integrated policy that addresses the opportunity for African leaders to share as a tool for development.
AfricaRenewal April 2016 11RECOVERING CITY
Abidjan regains it glamour
Spurred by Côte d’Ivoire’s current economic growth, the city is turning a corner
BY FRANCK KUWONU
FOCUS ON CITIES
Aerial view of the district of Plateau in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. UN Photo/Basile Zoma
L
it by an elaborate display of the fun and the dazzling fireworks, there the Deux-Plateaux area of Cocody took
orange lights, one of the three are signs that Babi (as Abidjan residents just 35 minutes; in the past such a distance
colours of Côte d’Ivoire’s flag, affectionately call their city) is getting back during rush hour would have taken two
the city of Abidjan ushered in its lustre and rebuilding its infrastructure in hours or more.
2016 with a spectacular fireworks display. dozens of construction sites across the city. The new Henri Konan Bédié Bridge,
For 25 minutes revellers in the commer- The combined effects of an armed con- named after a former president, and its
cial capital that calls itself the “perle des flict, which began in 2002, and an intense connecting bypass on the Valéry Giscard
lumières” (pearl of lights) were treated post-election crisis in 2011 left much of the d’Estaing Boulevard in Marcory are other
to dazzling displays of colour in the sky city infrastructure dilapidated. The swift major infrastructural developments. New
above the Ebrié Lagoon. completion in 2014 of a much-needed bridge hotels under construction and old ones
On the lagoon shore, in the towering on the Ebrié Lagoon was the first sign of the being rehabilitated are part of the city’s
hotels along the shallow waters and in the city’s renewal. Construction of the bridge urban renewal programme.
Treichville Cultural Palace, some of the Ivo- had been delayed for almost two decades. A growing number of foreign travel-
rians Africa Renewal talked to were upbeat lers are once again flocking to the city,
and hopeful for a good year ahead. The cel- Infrastructure renewal attracted by the country’s economic per-
ebrations apparently captured the mood in Linking the north and the south of the formance. In 2015 Côte d’Ivoire posted an
the country and the official narrative is that city, the 1.5 km toll bridge saves commut- economic growth rate of about 8%, accord-
Abidjan is now “back in business.” ers hours they would have spent in slow- ing to the World Bank. The economy is
“Pheno-me-nal!” was how Fraternité moving traffic. In early January 2016, forecast to maintain the same rate in 2016.
Matin, the main daily newspaper in Abidjan, for example, after a holiday weekend, a The African Development Bank’s
described the fireworks show. But beyond rush-hour 17-km ride to the airport from (AfDB) decision in 2013 to bring back its
12 AfricaRenewal April 2016headquarters from Tunis to Abidjan was was often referred to as “the Paris of West clothing store with a huge photo of the
considered one of the earliest signs of Africa” and its business district “the Man- Eiffel Tower in the background. “A very
international institutions’ renewed con- hattan of West Africa” because it was fitting spot,” he said, striking a pose. “The
fidence in Côte d’Ivoire. considered one of the foremost African developed world has come to Babi and I
The AfDB, which helped finance cities in terms of fashion, culture and the need to show people that I was here.”
the new bridge in Abidjan, along with standard of living. To many, the opening Yet despite the festive New Year’s cel-
the World Bank, the ECOWAS Bank for of a shopping mall with European and ebrations, chronic problems of income
Investment and Development (EBID), American brands is proof that the city can inequality continue to fester. Gbich, a
the China Exim Bank and several French now rival the trendiest world capitals in satirical and arguably the most popular
companies, has invested heavily in infra- fashion and quality consumer goods. news magazine in Abidjan, carried a head-
structure financing, including for road “Let me tell you,” Sonia Ngoyet told line: “Before we knew it, 2015 is over.
rehabilitation and construction. Africa Renewal, “the quality and taste of Yet we have nothing to show for it.” Not
the burger or the hot dog at the food court all Ivorians have shared in the nation’s
High-end retail is as good as the ones I’ve tasted in Europe. new wealth. “Some of us are left behind,”
With the economic boom and the city’s Having a Burger King here in Abidjan is Anselme Kouadio, a street hustler on Rue
growing influx of expatriates, and a just fantastic.” Ms. Ngoyet and Christelle des Jardins in Cocody, complained. “Talks
flourishing middle class with disposable Amou, both salespersons at the Aseke Oro of bridges and roads being built don’t fill
income and a willingness to spend, the
service industry, including restaurants
and high-end retail shops, is picking up. To many, the opening of a shopping mall with
In December 2015 a new 20,000-square- European and American brands is proof that the
metre shopping mall opened in the city can now rival the trendiest world capitals in
southern neighbourhood. Named the
PlaYce Marcory, the mall comprises 55 fashion and quality consumer goods.
shops, in addition to a hypermarket and
a food court. The shops include a Car- Jewellery store, one of the locally owned the belly. Real jobs are what we need, so
refour hypermarket, the first branch of stores in the mall, said they were happy to we also can enjoy what the city offers.
the French retail and grocery group to be working at the mall. But unfortunately, they are few and far
be opened in sub-Saharan Africa, and between for young people like us.”
branches of L’Occitane en Provence, an Youth employment lags Even the World Bank observed in 2015:
international skin care and fragrance Aly Diallo, a regional correspondent for “There are disparities in access to basic
retailer, and Brosway, an Italian jeweller. the state-run Fraternité Matin, travelled services, and gender disparities across
“PlaYce represents something good from the countryside to spend the holi- wealth and urban-rural groups”. It is
for Africa. It shows that Africa has now days with his family. He went window- estimated that only 57% of the Ivorian
entered the consumption market,” trade shopping and ended up buying a few items population had access to clean water and
minister Jean-Louis Billon said at the from the French Carrefour hypermarket. improved sanitation by 2009, far below the
opening. But what he wanted most was to have his 81% target of the MDGs”.
In its golden days during the 1980s and picture taken in the mall to show that A recent World Bank report, “The
up to the early 1990s, Abidjan, with its he “was a part of history.” After trying a Might of the Elephant — Benefitting from
towering skyline and surrounding lagoon, few photo spots, he finally settled for a Strong Growth to Create Better Jobs,” says
about 9 out of 10 young graduates are still
struggling to make a decent living.
Campaigning in 2010, “President Ouat-
tara promised to create a million jobs for
the youth,” Kobri Borgia, the editor of the
biweekly La Tribune de l’Economie told
Africa Renewal. “Five years later, the jury
is still out,” he says.
Again in 2015, President Ouattara
pledged to make youth employment a pri-
ority for his last mandate. While time will
tell, Mr. Borgia asserts that “making sure
the strong economic growth works for all,
including providing employment, is key
to Côte d’Ivoire’s sustainable growth.”
The World Bank report came to the same
President Alassane Ouattara visiting the PlaYce mall. Reuters/Thierry Gouegnon conclusion.
AfricaRenewal April 2016 13INTERVIEW
SDGs: No one will be left behind
— David Nabarro
D avid Nabarro is the new special adviser to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on sustainable development goals
(SDGs), a plan of action for ending poverty adopted by UN member states in September 2015 to replace the Millennium
Development Goals. Dr. Nabarro will work with member states to implement SDGs by 2030. The following are excerpts of his interview
with Masimba Tafirenyika for Africa Renewal.
Africa Renewal: Let me start with the
significance of your appointment. This NO
POVERTY
is probably one of your most challenging
tasks. What came to your mind when you
first heard about your new assignment?
David Nabarro: Well, the secretary-gen-
eral telephoned me in December asking ZERO
HUNGER
whether I would be ready to do this job.
The first thing I thought was: I’m being
asked to succeed Amina Mohammed who
was an extraordinary, charismatic leader
who helped the UN give birth to sus- GOOD HEALTH
AND WEL L-BEING
tainable development goals. So it was an
honour to be asked to do this job. It is a
huge and daunting responsibility. At the
same time, it’s a job that is enormously
important because the SDGs set out a plan QUALITY
EDUCATION
for the future of the world’s people and the
planet. It’s a tough job because I’m being
asked to help the secretary-general to
ensure that the ambitions of world leaders
GENDER
are properly fulfilled. EQUALITY
Your main task will be to work with
member states and other stakeholders
to implement the 2030 Agenda. What
does this involve?
Most of the work to implement the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development is David Nabarro, UN Secretary-General’s special adviser on the sustainable development goals. UN
going to be done by the member states
themselves —governments and the differ-
ent institutions within countries. We’re Who is responsible for implementing It is estimated that trillions of dollars
already seeing signs that countries are SDGs? Can governments be held account- will be required over the next 15 years
moving fast to get their national plans able if they do not implement them? to finance SDGs. Where will this money
aligned with this agenda. They’ll be sup- The goals are owned by world leaders come from and are you going to advocate
ported by the UN and backed by a big on behalf of their people. So in truth, for more resources for poor countries?
movement of civil society, business, faith the accountability is between national The SDGs apply to every country in the
organizations, academic groups, the media governments and their people, with the world. The concept that world leaders had
and others. My job is to help the secretary- people having the right to expect that when they developed these goals was that
general keep an eye on who’s doing what the goals will be addressed in their own they would underlie every national devel-
and where he can put his energy to try and countries and to demand this of their opment plan of all countries. That means
advance the process. leaders. existing spending by governments should
14 AfricaRenewal April 2016be adjusted to align to the SDGs. find themselves being attracted to and country-centred. It’s up to CLEAN WATER
AND SANI TATION
A lot of the money will come from extremist behaviour. I see invest- the countries to decide on the tar-
existing national budgets. But of ment in the SDGs as an absolute gets and indicators to use. It will
course extra money will be needed. prerequisite to reduce the risk of not be for some external group to
Some of these goals are going to be violent extremism. prescribe.
expensive. But they will be needed AFFORDABLE AND
CLEAN ENER GY
particularly in poorer countries to One of the challenges that faced the As the saying goes “if everything is
help ensure that there are oppor- MDGs was the absence of regular important then nothing is.” What
tunities for everybody and nobody national performance reports. Are would you consider to be the most
gets left behind. For that, develop- there plans to ensure citizens are important SDGs that African coun-
ment financing is critical, supple- informed through regular reports tries could prioritize? DECENT WORK AND
ECONOMIC GROWTH
mented in some cases by private on the SDGs? I’ve worked in development for
sector investment. To ensure that The 2030 Agenda is going to be more than 40 years and I’ve seen
development funds are available, regularly followed up and reviewed the reality of life particularly for
[donors] will be asked to maintain by all countries. This will be done poor and vulnerable people. Their
INDUSTRY, INNOVATION
their assistance and not to reduce through an annual mechanism lives are interconnected. Issues in AND INFRASTRUCTURE
it because of domestic pressures. called the High-Level Political agriculture, in climate, in gender
One of our jobs within the UN is Forum which will provide an oppor- equity, in health and education tend
to advocate for continued develop- tunity for nations to explain what to be linked in a very intense way.
ment assistance for poor countries. they have done on the SDGs. It’s You can’t take one area, one aspect REDUCED
a transparent way so people can of human existence and deal with it INEQUALITIES
Experts say some of the money question the performance of their out of sync with another aspect. So
needed to finance SDGs could come governments and seek to under- I actually do believe that all the dif-
from curbing illicit financial flows. stand why certain activities might ferent issues identified in the SDGs
The 2030 agenda calls for reduc- not have performed as well as they are important and if you take one SUSTAINABLE CITIES
should have but also to appreciate part out it is like taking a big stone
AND COMMUNITIES
tions in illicit financial flows and
the need to strengthen the recovery areas which have performed well. out of the middle of the arch of the
and the return of stolen assets. bridge; the whole of the bridge will
What are your views on this? Many countries or regions have fall down. I believe all of them are
The most important requirement their own development plans. For important. RESPONSIBLE
CONSUMPTION
for governments is for fair and example, the African Union has the AND PRODUCTION
transparent systems to ensure Agenda 2063. How will the SDGs What makes you optimistic that 15
money needed for the public sector square up with these plans? years from now, for the most part,
benefits the people. This is the core The SDGs were agreed to by all the world will attain the SDGs?
set of principles underlying the world leaders, and they knew I am optimistic because I have seen CLIMATE
ACTION
SDGs. If, by any chance, [money already that there were some activi- the incredible capacity of people
is] moved from countries without ties in their countries that directly all over the world to come together
proper accountability or if there is reflected what’s in the SDGs. The around agreed objectives that
diversion of money [to avoid paying] idea is not to completely redesign improve human conditions and to
taxes not just in poor countries, national plans but instead to align work hard to achieve results. In
LIFE
BELOW WATER
then this undermines the realiza- them with the SDGs. In some places the news we hear about situations
tion of SDGs. That’s why proper that means leaving things as they where things are not good. But for
use of tax revenue and proper use are. In others, it means changing every account of things going badly,
of government finance is absolutely them so that they are better aligned. there are thousands of accounts of LIFE
key for the SDGs to be realized. things going well. They just don’t ON LAN D
Let’s now talk about SDG targets. get in the news. It’s an optimism
Are you concerned that the global Who is involved in drawing them that makes me feel certain that
fight against terrorism and extrem- up? Are the targets the same for people will come together and
ism could pull resources away from both rich and poor countries? achieve the goals by putting spe- PEACE, JUSTICE
funding SDGs? The SDGs targets are offered to cial emphasis on climate change, on AND STRONG
INSTITUTION S
When I talk to governments in countries to help them judge pro- gender equity, on protracted crises,
countries affected by extremism gress on achieving the goals. The on human rights, and on financing
and terrorism, I hear that they indicators, which apply to each for development.
would like to have more resources of the targets, are also available PARTNERSHIPS
FOR THE GOAL S
to fulfil the SDGs so that younger for countries to assess progress.
people, particularly those that have The [process] is country-first, it’s
received some education, do not country-based, it’s country-focused
AfricaRenewal April 2016 15Africa looks to its entrepreneurs
A useful strategy in the toolbox to reduce youth unemployment
BY RAPHAEL OBONYO
W
ith a majority of Afri- Today, entrepreneurship is seen as one that is focused on skills development,
can nations diversifying of the most sustainable job generation resource provision and access to markets.
from traditional sources tools in Africa. Roselyn Vusia, a human This seems to be bearing fruit,” she says.
of income, entrepreneur- rights advocate, points out that Uganda’s The importance of entrepreneurship
ship is increasingly seen as a key to eco- youth unemployment estimated to be 83% was underscored at the July 2015 Global
nomic growth. So far, entrepreneurship according to the African Development Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) held in
has yielded huge returns for entrepre- Bank’s 2014 report, is one of the highest the Kenyan capital Nairobi, attended by US
neurs, and according to experts, there in Africa. President Barack Obama, entrepreneurs
lies great untapped potential to drive the Unemployment around the continent from over 100 countries and a group of
African continent into its next phase of is also worrying. A 2013 study by Brook- American investors, among others.
development. ings Institution, a Washington DC-based Speaking at the summit, President
A study released in June 2015 by think tank, found that African youth Obama lauded entrepreneurship for its
Approved Index, a UK-based business net- (15-24 years) constitute about 37% of the promise for Africa with participants at the
working group, ranked Africa as among working age population. The same age GES agreeing with him that entrepreneur-
the top of the entrepreneurship chart. As group, however, accounts for about 60% ship is one of the key ingredients in the
a testimony of the continent’s rising star, of jobless people in Africa. toolbox to address youth unemployment
the Entrepreneurship around the World Kwame Owino of the Institute of Eco- in Africa, the region with the youngest
report listed Uganda, Angola, Cameroon nomic Affairs (IEA), a think tank based population in the world.
and Botswana among the top ten on the in Nairobi, says: “High youth population, “Entrepreneurship creates new jobs
entrepreneurship list. The group sees poor policy choices and a lack of com- and new businesses, new ways to deliver
entrepreneurship as a ‘necessity’ at a prehensive employment plans in many basic services, new ways of seeing the world
time of high employment, saying: “When African nations precipitate the high rates — it is the spark of prosperity,” Mr. Obama
unemployment is high and the economy of unemployment.” told the summit.
is weaker, people are forced to start small Ms. Vusia comments on one proactive According to Evans Wadongo, listed by
businesses to provide for themselves and approach: “The government of Uganda has Forbes Africa as one of the most promising
their families.” implemented an entrepreneurship strategy young African entrepreneurs, many Afri-
can governments have not been keen on
developing policies that would avert unem-
ployment among the youth in a big way.
“Governments are not doing enough.
The private sector is trying, but most goods
brought into the African market are from
China. This denies the youth the much
needed manufacturing jobs, which are
more labour intensive,” he says.
Success breeds success
Kenya’s cabinet secretary in the Minis-
try of Industrialization and Enterprise
Development, Adan Mohammed, however,
defends the policies of most African gov-
ernments, saying that their efforts have
been spurring confidence in the continent
Scorpio R. Khoury, the 26-year old Rwandese,
owner of fashion house ‘Made in Kigali’.
Panos/Sven Torfinn
16 AfricaRenewal April 2016You can also read
