Working together for urban progress
The African Cities Research Consortium is a collaborative approach to tackling complex problems in the continent’s rapidly changing cities.
About the AFRICAN CITIES RESEARCH CONSORTIUM
Cities are complex, dynamic, political systems. We bring together the right people and an understanding of the political economy of individual cities to identify and address the critical challenges they are facing.
Our aim is to generate insights and evidence that will help improve the living conditions, services and life chances of all city residents, particularly for disadvantaged communities.
LATEST NEWS from ACRC

What drives land value change in African cities? Unlocking value and the prospects for progressive reform
The urgency of developing more effective mechanisms to capture rising land values for urban infrastructure and services is now widely acknowledged. It is also accepted that this is highly challenging.

New research: Advancing urban reform opportunities in Addis Ababa
A new ACRC report, led by Tegegne Gebre-Egziabher, uncovers the interplay of politics, systems and urban development in the fast-growing capital city, shining a light on the challenges facing residents and potential pathways forward.

Legal empowerment in informal settlements: New open access book
The International Development Research Centre, Canada, and the Grassroots Justice Network are excited to announce a new open access volume: Legal Empowerment in Informal Settlements: Grassroots Experiences in the Global South. One chapter is co-authored by ACRC’s Smith Ouma, highlighting the role of legal empowerment in establishing the Mukuru Special Planning Area in Nairobi.
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Our Publications
Discover all the latest research, knowledge and briefings from across the Consortium.