Kenya: at the Africities summit, close-up on intermediate, strategic and yet neglected cities

College students in Kisumu, Kenya (photo illustration).

Studies show shortcomings, in terms of health and education in particular, in medium-sized African cities.

Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

The Africities Summit opened on Tuesday May 17 opened in Kisumu, Kenya.

The African Development Bank and Cities Alliance presented, on Wednesday May 19, their new joint publication, a study on the dynamics of secondary cities on the continent.

Because if they occupy a strategic place in urbanization in Africa, they are often left aside by development strategies and face many challenges.

Advertisement

Read more

With our special correspondent in Kisumu,

Ministers, mayors but also economic actors and development organizations have been meeting since Tuesday, May 17 in Kisumu, Kenya, for

.

They exchange around the same theme: the role of intermediary cities in the sustainable development of Africa.

With populations ranging from 100,000 to one million, intermediate cities are home to nearly 15% of Africa's population.

However, a report co-produced by the AfDB and Cities Alliance points out that they are often neglected by urban development plans.

This lack of planning results in a proliferation of informal settlements and a failing public service, in terms of access to water, sanitation, but also health and education. 

►

Despite this observation, medium-sized towns remain welcoming lands.

Synonymous with economic opportunities for many, they attract a large number of migrants and help support nearly 80% of the population that does not live in metropolitan areas.

However, the economy of these intermediary cities remains very informal.

Governments derive little revenue from it.

The authorities are also struggling to attract investment.

This lack of financial means and training slows down their development.

A crucial issue

However, the stakes are crucial as their growth accelerates.

By 2030, Africa will see 250 million new urban dwellers.

Hence the urgency, concludes the report, to strengthen the capacities of local authorities.

To enable them to be more integrated into development plans and to better seize economic opportunities. 

All these issues are at the center of discussions at the moment in Kisumu and until Saturday 21 May.

Many mayors of medium-sized towns came precisely to meet development partners, in the hope of attracting new funding. 

►Also read: Africities 2012: local authorities want to be better associated with governance

 (

)

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• Kenya

• Cooperation and Development

• Architecture and urbanism

• Social issues