Land and connectivity
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.
![Land and connectivity domain map](https://www.african-cities.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/LC-map_transparent.png)
LATEST NEWS from ACRC
![Analysis of urban reform coalitions awarded best 2024 paper by Area Development and Policy](https://www.african-cities.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ADP-award-blog-1080x600.jpg)
Analysis of urban reform coalitions awarded best 2024 paper by Area Development and Policy
ACRC’s CEO, Diana Mitlin, has been awarded the best paper of 2024 by Area Development and Policy for “The contribution of reform coalitions to inclusion and equity: lessons from urban social movements”.
![New research: Are reform coalitions the key to more inclusive urban housing in Africa?](https://www.african-cities.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Housing-paper-blog-1080x600.jpg)
New research: Are reform coalitions the key to more inclusive urban housing in Africa?
By 2050, it is projected that African cities will become home to an additional 950 million people – all of whom will need housing. A new ACRC report outlines findings from the housing domain research, which was implemented in seven African cities.
![New research: Overcoming systemic barriers facing young people in African cities](https://www.african-cities.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Youth-and-capability-development-paper-blog-1080x600.jpg)
New research: Overcoming systemic barriers facing young people in African cities
A new ACRC paper presents research into the challenges facing young people as they transition to adulthood in five African cities: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Freetown; Sierra Leone; Kampala, Uganda; Maiduguri, Nigeria; and Mogadishu, Somalia.