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Mayors lead the charge: Highlights from the inaugural Africa Urban Forum

Published: 1 Oct 2024
Events
Mayors lead the charge: Highlights from the inaugural Africa Urban Forum
The inaugural Africa Urban Forum (AUF) 2024, held from 4 to 6 September in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, marked a significant milestone for urban development across the continent. Organised by the African Union Commission and the Government of Ethiopia, with technical support from UN-Habitat and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, this unprecedented event culminated decades of advocacy and commitment  to prioritising urban Africa.
 
Established in 2022 in response to the rapid urbanisation of the continent, the AUF serves as a vital platform to address opportunities and challenges posed by urban growth. It aims to foster an inclusive, holistic approach to unlocking the potential of urbanisation throughout Africa.
 

CoM SSA Mayors shared their insights at key junctures

Throughout the AUF, Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) Mayors engaged in various discussions, sharing valuable insights on topics such as; project preparation, loss and damage, climate finance, and community-led resilience initiatives.. Their voices resonated powerfully during critical moments; for instance, CoM SSA Regional Mayors Forum (RMF) member, Fatimetou Abdel Malick, President of the Council of Nouakchott (Mauritania), delivered a compelling address at the AUF opening ceremony, highlighting the significance of this historic event. 
Chilando Chitangala, Mayor of Lusaka, and Fatimetou Abdel Malick, President of the Council of Nouakchott, speaking at a
session co-hosted by African Union’s Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment Department
In a session co-hosted by the African Union’s Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment Department, CoM SSA RMF Vice-Chair, Chilando Chitangala, Mayor of Lusaka (Zambia) spotlighted migration: “As we plan our cities, we also have to plan for the people that are migrating - not just from rural to urban areas within our countries - but also those coming from other countries. All forms of migration will only increase, with climate change.”
 
At the same session, President of the Council of Nouakchott discussed the importance of youth engagement, stating “Young people represent 60% of Nouakchott's population. They are among the most vulnerable to climate change and also lack economic opportunities. We launched the “feeding and greening” project in the city, with the support of CoM SSA, which aims to increase food security, combat the effects of climate change while providing socio-economic opportunities to the youth of Nouakchott.”
 

 

A Roadmap to COP30: Collaborating for climate action

On the sidelines of the AUF, the CoM SSA Regional Mayors Forum (RMF), comprising 12 mayors representing the four regions of sub-Saharan Africa, met with representatives from the European Commission’s Directorate General for International Partnerships. Together they reflected on CoM SSA’s achievements and initiated the development of a Roadmap to COP30 in Belém. This roadmap proposes objectives that CoM SSA would like to have come to fruition by COP30:
 
  1. the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund specifically around how sub-Saharan African cities will access the Fund.
  2. calling for increased quality and quantity of climate finance and tackling the financial architecture
 
Regional Mayors Forum meeting participants and guests
In their discussion, the RMF provided feedback on the draft AUF Declaration text, advocating for stronger references to social inequalities, informal settlements, migration, women and the elderly and the inter-linkages between the Sustainable Development Goals. The RMF felt that there was also a need for a reference to monitoring and evaluation. Their insights led to significant improvements in the final Declaration, ensuring that it is more action-oriented and inclusive.
 

Speed and direct access: key to the effectiveness of the Loss and Damage Fund

At a session on addressing loss and damage in Africa's urban future, co-hosted by CoM SSA and the ICLEI Africa, CoM SSA Mayors shared what they think is key for the fund to be effective:
 
  • Speed: If the Loss and Damage Fund operates like other funds, then what's the point? Current mechanisms are not responding to the urgent needs of cities. Take Beira, for example—90% of the city was submerged after Cyclone Idai. Pledges were made, but where are the results? The realisation of those promises remains a challenge. My city was impacted last year, and despite numerous efforts, 18 months later, we are still not back to operating at full capacity. We need action, not just promises. ~ CoM SSA RMF member, Mayor of Quelimane (Mozambique), Dr Manuel de Araújo
  • Direct access: Cities must be at the forefront in determining how loss and damage funds are distributed. We also need the technical expertise to ensure effective implementation. We are not policy poor. We are implementation poor. ~  CoMSSA RMF member, Mayor of Walvis Bay Municipality (Namibia), Trevino Forbes
The session underscored that current climate finance mechanisms have failed to deliver for vulnerable communities. The Loss and Damage Fund must learn from past inefficiencies and ensure cities and communities benefit directly.
 

Peer-to-peer exchanges broaden networks and turn partnership ideas into reality

he Mayor of Dire Dawa (Ethiopia) and the Council President of the Nouakchott Region (Mauritania), 
​​​​​​signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish sister-city relations.
Ahead of the AUF, the RMF had the privilege of visiting Dire Dawa (Ethiopia) and being hosted by the Mayor, Kedir Juhar, where they engaged in impactful discussions on sustainable development and local climate actions. They visited innovative projects like the Sediment Storage Dam, designed to mitigate flood damage, and participated in a tree-planting ceremony to promote environmental stewardship.
 
During the AUF, RMF members, the Mayor of Dire Dawa and the Council President of the Nouakchott Region, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish sister-city relations. The Mayors committed to strengthening people-to-people ties, and promoting cooperation in commerce, education, culture, green economy, and infrastructure. The agreement outlines mechanisms for collaboration, such as sharing best practices, exchange visits, and joint programs. Similarly, Dire Dawa formalised a sister-city agreement with the Mayor of Kloto 1 (Togo).
 

A pivotal moment for Africa's urban future

The inaugural AUF was a pivotal moment for Africa, uniting leaders to shape resilient, inclusive cities that will define the continent's development in the decades to come. With Africa's urban population projected to double by 2050, this Forum is crucial for ensuring that local governments are equipped to manage urban growth effectively.
 
CoM SSA's presence and active participation in the AUF underscored the importance of local governance in addressing the challenges of urbanisation. By bringing together mayors and key stakeholders, CoM SSA is not only amplifying local voices but also fostering collaborative efforts to build sustainable and resilient urban environments across the continent.
 
CoM SSA is co-funded by the European Union (EU), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ), and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

 

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