Land access and ownership are crucial in determining economic and social opportunities for many residents in African cities, playing a central role in political discourses, identities and conflict. Land administration is key for poverty reduction efforts and to facilitate bottom-up wealth creation and development.

Access to and rights over land determine many factors impacting residents’ lives and livelihoods, including housing availability and affordability, access to basic services and employment, and social security and physical safety, among others. As such, urban land issues are an intensely political subject, making technical interventions challenging and drawing in a wide range of actors.

Our research looks into the ideologies shaping state-led land reforms and support from international donors across the continent, along with how an increased appetite for land investment has fuelled price increases and speculative property development – entrenching the socio-spatial divide in many African cities. We also explore how international development partners are working with African governments on land reform, land value capture and enhancing property taxation, to funnel increased land prices into financing infrastructure and service investments.

Within the land and connectivity domain, we are focusing on the following cities:

LATEST NEWS from ACRC

Moving Accra’s property tax debate forward

Moving Accra’s property tax debate forward

Property taxation could prove to be an important source of financing to pay for the infrastructure and public service investments that Accra requires, but implementing new taxes is always politically contentious and a technical challenge. Over three days, participants from ACRC cities, Ghanaian local and traditional authorities, civil society organisations, academia, professional bodies and the media came together to examine the design and administration of property taxation.

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How can refugees be better integrated with Nairobi’s communities?

How can refugees be better integrated with Nairobi’s communities?

Nairobi City County is taking a significant step forward in fostering inclusive development with its newly launched Refugee Integration and Community Building Strategy (NCRIS). The launch immediately provides refugees and other migrants living in the city with access to public healthcare and city-run schools, and the ability to obtain a business license.

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