Overall theme and context

In African cities, housing, transport, services, urban spaces, and economic activities result from initiatives, investments, and actions carried out by a wide range of actors, whether public or private, formal or informal. However, local authorites often have a difficult time keeping up with these dynamics and may even need to learn (or re-learn) what is being done in their territories on the informal level. This course offers concrete examples taken from diverse regions that demonstrate the possible links between public and private actions and the decision-making, design, and management processes that shape the collective urban fabric.

Learning objectives

• To stimulate interest and create the conditions for the success of co-production approaches to the city.
• To understand and analyse the ecosystem of local stakeholders involved in developing the city and to know which resources and allies to mobilise.
• To help participants position themselves as intermediaries and coordinate an ecosystem of city stakeholders with different and sometimes conflicting skills and agendas.

Teaching and activities

In this course, you will have the opportunity to explore the following modules through the personal accounts from key figures and actors from African cities:

1. African cities: a collective production.
2. Inhabiting your habitat.
3. Living neighbourhoods: public spaces and their users.
4. Co-producing sustainable and inclusive urban services.
5. Conclusion and dialogue between the topics.

Registration details

This MOOC represents 15 hours of training, divided into five three-hour modules. It is available all year.

Target audience

Local elected representatives, public-sector and private-sector territorial planning and development executives, urban planners, teachers, researchers, students from French-speaking Africa, and AFD staff.

Partners

African Cities Lab, Gret, UCLG Africa