Lagos, four other African cities picked for ACRC’S implementation phase
THE African Cities Research Consortium ( ACRC) has confirmed Lagos as one of the five cities selected for its implementation phase, which will bring about urban transformation and reforms. Others are Accra, Ghana; Harare, Zimbabwe; Kampala, Uganda, and Nairobi, Kenya. This follows the foundation phase of research and engagement work in 12 cities, which has taken place over the last few years. ACRC is funded by the UK’S Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office ( FCDO) as part of UK Aid.
The holistic exploration of city systems, political settlements and urban development domains enabled city teams to identify priority complexes. Their proposed strategies to address these problems played a pivotal role in determining the cities moving ahead. With pilot projects and the first four selected cities announced in November 2023, Kampala is the final city chosen to proceed to ACRC’S next stage.
Along with action research project proposals during the foundation phase, the final city decision took the overall balance of implementation cities into account – ensuring diversity in geography, size, income levels, fragility and political context.
Over the next few years, local ACRC city teams will implement several urban development interventions in the selected cities, designed to address challenges identified in the foundation phase research and advance urban reform.
Although the five cities selected for the implementation phase will be ACRC’S primary focus in the next phase, the consortium is continuing to work with the seven cities not going forward to maximise the positive impact of the work undertaken so far. This will include supporting city teams with smaller action research projects, continuing to provide support around research uptake and engagement, and providing funding for other interventions.
Researchers in Lagos are currently developing several action research proposals, centred around improving access to housing for lowincome families, implementing climate resilience action plans to provide flood protection in lowincome neighbourhoods, and tackling violent crime hotspots with better street lighting.
Lagos ACRC Project Lead, Prof Taibat Lawanson, who was elated by the development, told The Guardian, “Lagos is excited to be going forward to the implementation phase. We are hopeful for the opportunity to continue learning and working with communities and making an impact in transforming urban systems and domains in Lagos.
“Focus is on housing, safety and security as we commence. We will consider other key areas including neighbourhood district and economic development, and structural transformation as we go along.
“It is all- encompassing and we hope to strengthen institutions, enhance the work of urban reform coalitions and contribute to urban transformation over the next few years.”
Already, pilot action research projects are underway in Nairobi and Harare, which were the first two cities confirmed to be proceeding to ACRC’S implementation phase. In Nairobi, the pilot intervention is focused on improving children’s access to healthy diets, by strengthening and expanding an existing school feeding programme to encompass schools located in informal settlements.
The Kampala project will focus on the Ggaba food market, a key source of fresh produce for the city and one of seven major markets owned by the Kampala City Council Authority ( KCCA). Vendors at Ggaba market face multiple challenges related to inadequate sanitation, poor hygiene and substandard food safety practices.
This action research intervention is aimed at enhancing the market’s food safety and sanitation systems. Through establishing a coalition of key stakeholders across public, private and civil society sectors, the project will build on previous experience to improve sanitation by developing a community- led approach and employing technologies for faecal sludge management. The system will generate gas to meet some on- site energy needs and support business enterprises, while compost byproducts will enable urban farmers to generate sales income.