A new urban agenda for Africa's structural transformation

Abstract

A New Urban Agenda is set for adoption during the third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador, from 17 – 20 October 2016. The New Agenda will be the main outcome of Habitat III, which is expected to guide policies and strategies for sustainable urbanization globally, taking into account existing commitments including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Both the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognize the urgency and importance of urbanization, and seek to harness it for inclusive sustainable growth and transformation. However, the potential urbanization could play in Africa’s transformation is not sufficiently reflected in regional, national and sub-national policies and strategies.