世界银行-撒哈拉以南的非洲城市发展路线图：如何兼顾宜居和经济效率（英文）-2019.3-59页_11mb

Summary of "Which Way to Livable and Productive Cities?" for Sub-Saharan Africa

Core Content

This report outlines the challenges and opportunities for urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasizing the need for policy reforms to make cities livable and productive. Despite significant urban population growth, the region has not seen the same economic benefits as other parts of the world. The report identifies three key pillars that are essential for achieving sustainable urban development: empowering land markets, strengthening urban planning and regulation, and financing public investments.

Main Messages

• Urbanization and Poverty: Urban areas in Sub-Saharan Africa have lower poverty rates than rural areas, but the growth of urban populations has not significantly reduced overall poverty. This is due to the fact that most urban population growth is a result of natural increase and fertility, not economic pull from rural areas.
• Economic Growth and Urbanization: Urbanization has not traditionally been linked to economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, as the shift from agriculture to industry and services has not been substantial.
• Livable Cities: Urban areas lack adequate infrastructure, leading to high costs of living, poor service access, and environmental degradation. The report emphasizes that the spatial configuration of cities and the availability of infrastructure are key to promoting competitiveness and productivity.
• Policy Solutions: To unlock the potential of cities, policy makers must focus on land markets, urban planning, and public investment. These reforms will help cities become more economically dense, efficient, and sustainable.

Key Findings

Urban Population Growth

• Sub-Saharan Africa's urban population doubled from the mid-1990s to 2016, reaching almost 400 million.
• By 2040, half of the region's population is expected to live in urban areas.
• Urban population growth is largely due to natural increase, not migration, and rural-to-urban migration accounts for less than 40% of the urban population growth.
• Large cities account for 34% of the urban population, secondary cities for 15%, and smaller cities and towns for 50%, with small towns accounting for 29% of the urban population.

Poverty and Livability

• Urban poverty head-count ratio is 22%, less than half of the rural poverty rate (47%).
• The number of urban poor is increasing due to population growth, even though the proportion of the poor in urban areas is rising.
• Over 60% of Sub-Saharan Africa's urban population lives in slums, compared to 34% in other developing countries.
• Access to basic services like piped water and flush toilets is limited, with less than 25% of urban households having piped water and 35% using flush toilets.

Economic Productivity

• Cities generate about one-third of the region's GDP but have not created enough jobs for the youth population.
• Economic density and productivity are not well developed in African cities, limiting their ability to attract investment and create employment.
• Urban agglomeration effects are constrained by fragmented development and poor spatial planning.

Infrastructure and Environmental Challenges

• Infrastructure investment has not kept pace with urban population growth, leading to shortages of housing, transport, and utilities.
• Urban sprawl and informal settlements contribute to environmental degradation and increased vulnerability to natural disasters.
• Climate change exacerbates these risks, especially for the urban poor who live in hazardous areas.

Policy Highlights

• Land Markets: Formal land registration and efficient land transfer systems are crucial for enabling economic density and agglomeration. Inadequate land markets lead to inefficient land use and hinder infrastructure development.
• Urban Planning: Effective urban planning is necessary to guide growth, improve service delivery, and enhance connectivity. Planning must address both the needs of small towns and large cities.
• Public Investment: Sustained and efficient financing for public infrastructure and services is essential. Investments should be targeted to improve productivity and livability while mitigating environmental risks.

Key Recommendations

• Differentiated Policies: Urban and rural areas require different policy approaches due to their distinct challenges and opportunities.
• Infrastructure Development: Investments in infrastructure should be scaled up and made more efficient, with a focus on improving service access and reducing costs.
• Institutional Capacity: Strengthening institutional capacity is essential for managing urban growth and ensuring effective service delivery.
• Financing Mechanisms: Diversify financing sources beyond donor aid to support infrastructure and public services, especially in smaller towns.

Conclusion

The report concludes that Sub-Saharan Africa's cities and towns must undergo structural reforms to become engines of economic growth and prosperity. Without addressing land markets, urban planning, and public investment, the potential benefits of urbanization will remain out of reach. A sequenced and targeted approach is needed to reform institutions and policies, and to finance infrastructure that supports both productivity and livability in an environmentally sustainable manner.