URBAN MANAGEMENT ACROSS CONTINENTS

The fifth major opportunity is improved mass rapid transit. The Lagos Bus Rapid Transit – despite its flaws – succeeded in increasing transport opportunities, decreasing transport costs, congestion and emissions, and improving safety and comfort levels. Mass rapid transit, if planned and built properly, is not only efficient in linking people to formal employment but can also have positive impacts for the climate.

Finally, adequate financing for urbanisation is critical. Cities need a valid social contract to finance their services.

Kampala has held a successful campaign to improve the social contract, increase revenue and explain where tax money is applied.

The keynote ends with the conclusion that urbanisation is a great opportunity and that 20-30 years remain to unleash it. If urban management is successfully implemented, economic growth will take off. Referring to the abstracts of the students’ presentations, Astrid Haas is confident that scholars are taking these challenges on by learning from best practices from different locations.

Discussion

Following the keynote, Astrid Haas responds to the questions of the audience. Being asked by a student about the overlaps between urban planning and urban management, Astrid highlights that generally there are not enough planners in Africa.

Practitioners in the urban field tend to work in their disciplinary silos, but actually cities are systems that cut across borders of disciplines.

Therefore, responses to urban problems need transdisciplinary approaches. Urban management can fill this void and can bring the different urban disciplines together. By adhering to certain ideals and unrealistic plans, urban planning in Africa has ventured away from the reality on the ground. The challenge is to narrow the gap between what is ideal and what can be really achieved.