Best practices and policies for adequate and sustainable access to public infrastructure and service in african cities

The world is facing a global housing crisis. Africa, while remaining one of the least urbanized regions on the planet, is experiencing the fastest rate of urban growth globally; 45% of its population lives in cities. This figure is expected to reach 70% by 2050. This rapid pace is transforming the continent, which now faces a structural challenge, as this rapid urbanization, in a context of weaker and poorly planned development, is leading to the formation of slums, an overload of services, and a lack of infrastructure in essential areas such as education, health, water and sanitation, etc. In 2014, the Heads of State meeting at the African Union Summit adopted the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Decentralization. In 2016, the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration entered into force. To better assess the operationalization of the charters, the International Organization for Public Decentralization (IOPD) Africa, in collaboration with the African Union and United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), organized the first pan-African edition of the Local Leadership Excellence Award. Following a lengthy voluntary process of knowledge sharing and documentation, ministries from 28 countries submitted their best practices, inspiring experiences, and innovations in decentralization and access to public services. Five countries (Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Rwanda, and Senegal) were selected and interviewed by the Scientific Committee of the Pan-African edition of the Local Leadership Excellence Award, held in Dakar in November 2025. Subsequently, the Scientific Committee drafted a memorandum on the issues and challenges of decentralization and access to public services in Africa, including recommendations. Citizen voting from 43 countries led to the prioritization of seven (7) major challenges and 21 recommendations for sustainable and safe cities. This networking event, offered at WUF13, will allow representatives from the ministries of the five countries to share best practices, policies, and innovations for decentralization and access to public services for safe and sustainable cities. The networking session will also allow representatives of regional institutions (African Union, UCLG Africa) and civil society to exchange views on the prospects for operationalizing the recommendations of the memorandum.