Latest News + Insights
Reflections from the ACRC Kampala cross-project learning workshop
ACRC held a cross-project learning workshop in Kampala during the last week of April 2026., bringing together the Kampala city team, representatives from the action research projects, and members of the senior management and central uptake teams.
Navigating different approaches to urban reform in Harare
Urban reform in Harare is approached by the ACRC action research team from the recognition that the city is shaped less by formal plans and policies than by everyday practices of negotiation, self-provisioning and incremental adaptation across multiple systems.
What is urban development? Reflections from Zimbabwe and Harare
“Urban development” is a term that is widely used but rarely unpacked. It often evokes images of new roads, housing estates and expanding city skylines. Yet, when viewed from the perspective of cities like Harare, urban development is far more complex, contested and dynamic than conventional definitions suggest.
Is knowledge power? Reflections on water, sanitation and survival in informal settlements
When the ACRC Lagos water and sanitation (WASH) team visited Mukuru in Nairobi, for a learning exchange, we carried a simple question: how do informal settlements secure dignified water and sanitation access in cities that often overlook them?
From Mukuru to Okerube: Reflections from the Nairobi–Lagos WASH exchange
In early February, the Akiba Mashinani Trust (AMT) led a nine-person delegation from Nairobi for a weeklong learning exchange visit to Okerube informal settlement in Lagos.
Podcast: Building community-driven WASH solutions in Lagos
In the informal settlement of Okerube in Lagos, the community faces significant challenges in accessing clean water and sanitation, which disproportionately impact women and children. An ACRC action research project is aiming to address these issues through establishing a sustainable, community-driven social enterprise model.
Nairobi to Naija: Inclusive service delivery in African cities is not a pipe dream
One of the less visible but highly impactful aspects of the ACRC programme is the opportunity for cross-learning that it presents for urban development researchers, practitioners and policymakers working in different city contexts. This was precisely the case for an ACRC Lagos delegation that went to Nairobi on a learning visit in December 2025.
A city under water: Reflections on Nairobi’s seasonal flooding challenges
Flooding is not an isolated occurrence, but rather the visible manifestation of deeper structural and systemic challenges within Nairobi’s urban environment. It reflects the cumulative impact of widespread encroachment onto riparian corridors across both formal and informal developments, which has significantly reduced the natural capacity of rivers to accommodate excess flows.
Podcast: Urban markets, informality and climate resilience in Harare
Chris Jordan and Rosebella Apollo are joined by Harare-based practitioners George Masimba and Shiela Muganyi to explore what inclusive urban reform looks like in practice.
Journalism and urban challenges in Lagos
Media coverage can play a critical role in securing political traction for urban issues and ensuring accountability of decision makers. While researchers are ideally placed to highlight new trends, problems and potential solutions, in practice, there is often a gap.
Sign up to our newsletter
Keep up to date with all the latest news and insights from the African Cities Research Consortium.