Commissioner for Political Affairs at the Africa Union Commission, Dr. Aisha Laraba Abdullahi, has said the continent’s fast-growing urbanisation must bring about its vision for industrialisation.
Speaking at this year’s Africa Development Week in Addis Ababa, on the topic ‘Urbanisation and Industrialisation’, she said Africa is the fastest urbanising continent with an urban growth rate of 4.5 percent per year — the highest in the world.
Currently 40 percent of Africa’s population is urban, with projections indicating that 50 percent of Africa’s population will reside in urban areas by 2035.
“While we recognise that much of Africa is still agrarian and rural, we need to address the challenges and seize opportunities presented by the new urban agenda.
“At the core of this agenda is the imperative to urbanise and industrialise Africa through acceleration of inclusive, sustainable growth and structural transformation of the continent in implementing Agenda 2063—The Africa we want and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” she added.
She agreed that there are challenges in the rapid urban growth, saying urbanisation stretches the limits of public services while stressing existing infrastructure and threatening environmental sustainability.
“A lack of sufficient housing can lead to the proliferation of slums and informal settlements that lack adequate services and facilities.
Urban economies can struggle to absorb waves of population growth, leaving many to seek employment in the informal sector, without social protections or economic safety nets.”
In order to ensure that the new urban agenda reflects African realities and African interests, she said ministers of housing and urban development from across the continent met in Abuja, Nigeria, in February this year to agree on a Common African Position for Habitat III (CAP).
The ministers, she said, also adopted the Abuja Declaration for Habitat III.
The CAP is a statement of mutual goals that advocate for an urban agenda to strengthen the link between urbanisation and industrialisation and bring African countries closer to realising the goal of poverty eradication.
The CAP represents the collective voice of African nations, policymakers, civil society and citizens for the future of urban areas and socio-economic transformation in the decade to come.
She said outcomes of the conference must shape the process of urbanisation, urban-focused development, and economic policy for years to come.
“We know that all people have a right to live in well-managed and developed cities and settlements, a goal that must be informed by the local context and needs of the average citizen.”
Source: B&FT Online