Chief Resilience Officers Address Urban Informality In Building More Inclusive And Resilient Cities Across Africa

CAPE TOWN – At the ACC International Urban Conference taking place in Cape Town on 1-3 February, Chief Resilience Officers from Cape Town and Accra were joined by representatives from 100 Resilient Cities – Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation (100RC) to discuss the ways in which municipalities across Africa can enrich their urban resilience efforts by working with the informal sector.

Africa’s growing population is expected to double in size by 2050. Combined with the forces of rapid urbanization, the continent is experiencing a larger prevalence of informal development than ever before; cities as diverse as Accra and Kigali currently measure the percentage of their population living in informal settlements at 58% and 79% respectively.

In parallel with growth in the informal sector is an increased urgency to build urban resilience in cities across the African continent, and around the world. Adding a resilience lens to urban governance allows a city to better survive, adapt, and thrive in the face of more frequent occurrences of shocks – catastrophic events such as earthquakes, fires, and floods – and the deepening severity of chronic stresses that weaken the city’s fabric. In regions with high levels of informality, a critical component of urban resilience will be adaptable and well-conceived policies, programs, and strategies that integrate both formal and informal systems.

In Africa, informal development is an issue that cannot be overlooked, due to the rate at which this sector is growing and because there are inherent strengths within the sector that can be leveraged in the process of building urban resilience. Panelists made clear the need to increase the interchange between the formal and informal sectors. In Cape Town employment in the informal sector is approximately 10% of the workforce, slightly below the percentage employment in the manufacturing sector. It is thus a significant source of employment, but more importantly it has a disproportionately positive effect on taking people out of poverty. Paying greater attention to the informal sector could help the City government to enhance the potential of this sector.

Areas which could see more labor absorption in this sector include expansion of specialized businesses such as metal work or recycling. This would require minimizing various barriers to growth. In Accra following months of intensive community engagement, city authorities have begun a decongestion program to move hawkers from pavements to concentrated demarcated areas in an effort to enhance pedestrian mobility and increase economic activity. These efforts have resulted in a 35% decrease in waste generated and a 50% decrease in commuting times within the Central Business District

According to Gareth Morgan, Deputy Chief Resilience Officer in the City of Cape Town, “Cape Town is already embarking on a survey of 10,000 Capetonians within the informal sector to better understand their key concerns. This process has highlighted that economic, employment and educational opportunities are at the top of the list for many residents. Findings from this survey will be used to inform the City’s Resilience Strategy and help it to address the shocks and stresses that are a key concern to the informal sector but also the broader community – as these two sectors are connected and co-dependent.”

Desmond Appiah, Chief Resilience Officer of Accra added, “The informal sector in Accra is growing at a rapid rate. Previously the main tool that city government used to address or control the issue of informal settlements was forcible removal. It was not sustainable and effective. The city is revising its appreciation of the informal sector and its contributions to social and economic development of the city. This will aid shifting the way people view informality in the city.”

Speakers from both cities agreed that they need to identify ways to work with citizens on developing solutions that address the various resilience concerns they are facing. This includes the issue of informal settlements and the informal economy, and the possible challenges and opportunities that manifest from the growth in this sector.

“Both Cape Town and Accra are part of a pioneering group of cities utilising their resilience practice to better prepare for, withstand, and recover more effectively when disruption hits,” said Dana Omran, 100 Resilient Cities Associate Director, City and Practice Management. “Through this type of inclusive discussion, cities can help each other prepare for the unexpected. It must also be reiterated that all residents, including those working in the informal economy and living in informal settlements, are a part of the solution and help support their city’s resilience journey.”

About 100 Resilient Cities—Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation

100 Resilient Cities - Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation (100RC) helps cities around the world become more resilient to social, economic, and physical challenges that are a growing part of the 21stcentury. 100RC provides this assistance through: funding for a Chief Resilience Officer in each of our cities who will lead the resilience efforts; resources for drafting a Resilience Strategy; access to private sector, public sector, academic, and NGO resilience tools; and membership in a global network of peer cities to share best practices and challenges. For more information, visit: www.100ResilientCities.org.