ASCL Seminar: Urban Transitions in the Global South - Harnessing opportunities and expanding possibilities

International development mechanisms determine and dominate approaches to urban development. This is through well validated methods of designing, planning, financing and building cities for advancement and prosperity. The dominant approach has for long created path-dependent systems where ‘cities’ are seen as networked, centralised systems as growth poles with a trickled down effect on rural areas. But the pace of urban development has not matched the need leading in its trail a host of challenges including; deficits in capital investments, operational costs and inequities. Cities also continue on the other hand to be areas of concentrated resource consumption with high ecological and a carbon footprint that goes beyond their hinterland rural areas to distal relation across the globe. What is rarely seen are the ingenious innovations that offer alternative development approaches in urban spaces. Such would include among others; micro, small, and medium enterprises, and links to global value chains – localising globalised processes and prosperity; disruptive and innovative - technology development; hybridisation of infrastructure with multiple pathways. The potential and expandable solutions could enhance equity, address climate change, create sustainable cities and build resilient urban systems. This presentation by Prof. Shuaib Lwasa (Erasmus University Rotterdam) will explore some of the levers for harnessing these opportunities and pathways to expand the possibilities to give indicative alternative to urban development.

This event takes places in Leiden in person. For registrees who cannot travel to Leiden a link to an online platform will be sent one day before the start of the event.

This Seminar will be followed by the handing over of the award of the 2023 Africa Thesis Award to its winner, Rachel Dubale. You are very welcome to attend this festive ceremony, 17.30-18.00! More information.