Urbanization in Africa: Trends, Promises and Challenges

May 26, 2015: The World Bank and the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) will host a conference titled: Urbanization in Africa: Trends, Promises and Challenges, from June 1 to 2, 2015 at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra.

The share of Africans living in urban areas is projected to grow from 36 percent in 2010 to 50 percent by 2030. The continents urbanization rate, the highest in the world, can lead to economic growth, transformation and poverty reduction. Alternatively, it can lead to increased inequality, urban poverty, and the proliferation of slums. The laws, policies, and actions needed to reap positive dividends from Africas urbanization are therefore critical in the continents transformation.

The conference will bring some of the most renowned thinkers and leaders on Africas urbanization to Accra. Sir Paul Collier (Oxford University) and Danny Leipziger (former Vice President, World Bank) will highlight the broad trends and challenges related to rapid urbanization. Additional speakers will present African case studies from Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Uganda, and around the continent.

The conference will also reveal insights from cutting-edge research done at the World Bank and leading universities, pointing to lessons learned and areas where further investigation is necessary to meet the policy challenges of ensuring sustainable and inclusive urban growth.

The two-day conference will include panel presentations by academics, urbanization experts, and policy makers, as well as question and answer sessions. Sir Collier will deliver the keynote address.

When: Monday June 1 to Tuesday June 2, 2015
Where:La Palm Royal Beach Hotel
Accra, Ghana