Financing resilient and livable African Cities.

Africa is urbanizing rapidly, and large-scale investments and transformations are needed to achieve sustainable, resilient and livable cities across all corners of the continent. Solid local finances, financial markets conducive to local investments, and the capacity to identify and implement these investments into infrastructure and essential services based on sound planning, are some the key ingredients to aid Africa’s sustainable urban transition. Achieving this won’t be easy, but more and more African cities are leading by example – guided by the common goal of achieving the SDGs, and develop solutions on their path to sustainability and people-centered development. The African Development Bank proposes the event ‘Financing resilient and livable African Cities’ to showcase and discuss the multiple angles and solutions by African cities that aid the sustainable transformation, showcasing improvements in urban governance, urban planning and investments. The event will provide space for African Cities to share best practices, solutions and lessons learned. The event will begin with a keynote providing an African perspective to the core theme of the World Urban Forum: Transforming our Cities for a Better Urban Future. The event will feature selected local leaders and urban development champions from different backgrounds, discussing the three pillars for sustainable urban development action: (i) urban governance, (ii) urban planning, (iii) financing infrastructure and essential services from different angles and – based on results - provide concrete solutions.