WUF11: Scaling up Essential Services in African Cities

During this networking event at the World Urban Forum, the African Development Bank (AfDB), Cities Alliance and UNOPS will be launching the new report  Scaling up essential services in African Cities, as part of a paper series within AfDB's Sustainable Urban Development Action Plan 2021-2025. 

This session will contribute to the discussion on transforming African cities and the lives of their citizens through sustainable urban services in alignment with the theme of WUF11, "Transforming our Cities for a Better Urban Future".

The session will focus on the challenges, successful initiatives, innovative approaches and service delivery models for the provision of critical infrastructure services in African cities.

The event aims to bring in the perspective of different actors in African cities - AfDB’s approach as a financier; the challenges faced and solutions implemented by the government in Gambia; and the perspective and priorities of UN agencies to support governments in achieving sustainable urban development.

City-led innovation in urban infrastructure development and service delivery is on the rise in African cities. The discussion will focus on transformative strategies that offer the potential to meet service delivery needs in a cost-effective and sustainable manner for the provision of water, sanitation, renewable energy, ICT and waste management for all.

Moderator: Gustavo Goy Garcia, Infrastructure and Project Management Specialist, UNOPS

Opening remarks:

Samantha Stratton-Short - Head of Strategic Initiatives, UNOPS

Greg Munro, Director, Cities Alliance

Panel:

• Marcus Mayr, Head of Urban and Municipal Development Fund, African Development Bank
• Julian Baskin, Principal Urban Advisor, Cities Alliance
• Giulia Maci, Head of Cities for Women programme,  Cities Alliance
• Philip Maina, Project Architect, UNOPS
• Buba Sanyang, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Regional Governments and Religious Affairs, The Gambia