Latest News + Insights
ACRC Harare team engages city council in an uptake-related session
ACRC’s research activities in Harare have gone up a gear following an interim workshop hosted in March this year and, more recently, an uptake meeting with City of Harare officials.
Understanding Covid-19 responses: Political settlements and community initiatives
Two new working papers, produced under the Covid Collective, explore and compare the politics and social and economic impacts of Covid-19 as it evolved in three East African capital cities and its legacy in terms of possibilities for positive and lasting change.
Insights on knowledge co-production from Harare, Zimbabwe
Collaborations between academia and grassroots organisations are not without tensions and power imbalances. For urban low-income communities, engaging with academics may mean enduring disqualification of their knowledge.
Creating sustainable growth and reducing poverty through structural transformation
Structural transformation involves the movement of workers from low- and labour-intensive productivity sectors to high-productivity sectors.
Reflections from Nairobi: ACRC’s first consortium-wide workshop
It has been an exciting month for the African Cities Research Consortium, as members from across the consortium met together in person for the first time in Nairobi.
Enhancing livelihoods in urban neighbourhoods and districts
More than 80% of urban workers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) work in the informal sector, according to the ILO. Most work in household microenterprises (HMEs), informal businesses employing the entrepreneur either alone, or together with members of their household.
Addressing the drivers of urban insecurity
Many residents of African cities are vulnerable to widespread manifestations of violence, including crime, political and ethnically motivated intimidation, and threats to property, both housing and land rights. These residents thus feel insecure, due to the risk of personal and communal harm and loss or damage to property.
Postdoc Profile: Matthew Sharp
Matthew Sharp talks about his research background, his interest in zoning regulations and land use policies, and the importance of economics within urban planning.
Youth empowerment and development in African cities
Young people are central to the opportunities, challenges and crises facing African cities. With 70% of sub-Saharan Africa under the age of 30, urban youth is set to play a potentially game-changing role in development outcomes across African cities in the coming decades.
Postdoc Profile: Miriam Maina
Miriam Maina talks about her background in urban planning, her interest in how towns and cities come together and the different actors involved, and why she is excited to be part of ACRC’s multisectoral community.
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