African cities are growing rapidly: The continent’s urban population will double by 2050, reaching 1.5 billion people. But urban infrastructure and services are not meeting demand.

Most growth is happening in informal settlements, where people do not have reliable, safe or affordable access to essential everyday services. About 51% of city residents in sub-Saharan Africa live in places that exceed safe limits for air pollution. Many cities are located along coasts and major rivers, exposing citizens to dangerous floods. Globally, urban areas produce 70% of the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing escalating climate impacts like heatwaves and droughts.

This puts Africa’s cities at a key inflection point. More than three-quarters of the infrastructure that will exist in African cities by mid-century is yet to be built, offering immense opportunity to improve urban planning as cities expand. It is essential that this development is not only low-carbon and climate-resilient, but also enhances access to crucial services such as running water and sanitation, electricity, decent housing, transport, and dignified, healthy urban jobs.

Our goal is to transition Africa’s urban systems to provide a better quality of life and health through equitable access to jobs and core services for all residents — especially the underserved. At the same time, we’re working to make cities more resilient to climate change and help them achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

WRI works to ensure the future of African cities by helping city administrations, private and public investors and donors make informed decisions on city planning and policy. Our approach in all cities is to:

  • Develop liveable neighborhoods. We work closely with city agencies and other decision-makers to reduce air pollution; restore urban forests and watersheds; develop safe and reliable transportation; and ensure all residents can access sanitation, clean water, parks and other services.
  • Build resilient water systems. We aid cities in overcoming water challenges and reducing exposure to floods by advancing nature-based solutions for flood mitigation.