Rapid urbanisation is an indisputable fact in Africa, and cities across the continent are increasingly driving national economies. Despite their growing role, many cities lack the institutions and instruments necessary to manage urbanisation in a sustainable way that includes their poorest residents. To counter traditional sectoral thinking and divided responsibilities and move towards a deeper, more systemic form of urban practice, an urban NEXUS approach for the design of sustainable urban development solutions is required. The approach guides stakeholders to identify and pursue possible synergies between sectors, jurisdictions, and technical domains, so as to increase institutional performance, optimize resource management, and service Quality.

The Workshop aims at further developing and applying the urban NEXUS approach in regard to the integration of social, economic and environmental dimensions in planning, management, and governance of slum upgrading programmes. Furthermore, it will address housing - land use - pro-poor economic development - environmental protection - citizen participation - education - risk reduction and look at existing good practices and emerging challenges to define innovative approaches that go beyond conventional urban practice.