Arthur Minsat

Keywords： African Urbanisation; Industrialisation; Intermediary Cities; Sustainable Development; Regional Development; Sustainable Development Goals; Multi-level Governance; Clusters

Abstract：

Africa’s urbanisation is mainly taking place in small and intermediary cities. Cities with less than 300 000 residents captured 58% of recent urban growth. Ongoing trends are accelerating: Africa’s urban population will more than double, reaching 824 million by 2030. Cities with less than 1 million inhabitants will capture 77% of that growth.

Such massive peopling of the continent could make or break the SDGs in Africa:

· Strong rural-urban linkages offer big potential to increase productivity and reduce poverty.

· Unplanned urbanisation comes at high economic, social and environmental cost. About 62% of Africa’s urban population lives in informal settlements. Air pollution costs Africa USD 447 billion, a third of its GDP. Smaller cities are not equipped to face these challenges: most spend less than USD 1 per resident per year.

Distinguishing five main types among the fifty-five African countries reveals the diversity of the African continent. In each group, intermediary cities can advance the SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Today, only about sixteen African countries have a national urbanisation strategy. Less than ten identify the development potential intermediary cities can offer. Among the many actions needed, reforming multi-level governance will empower intermediary cities to achieve the SDG 11.

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