Sustainable Urban Prosperity
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Research Program
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Research Program
Sustainable Urbanisation and Wellbeing Research Programs:
Prior to 1950 majority of urbanization occurred in more economically developed countries where rapid urbanization took place during the period of industrialization. Since 1950 the most rapid growth in urbanization has occurred in Less Economically Developed Countries in South America, Africa and Asia. Between 1950 and 1990 the urban population living in Less Economically Developed Countries doubled. The UN predicts that two-thirds of the world's population will live in cities by 2050; this poses a unique infrastructural, environmental, socioeconomic challenge for African and Asian countries, where 90% of the growth is predicted to take place. According to UN Habitat reports Africa is now facing rapid urbanization and Africa is projected to experience a 16% rise in its urban population by 2050 – making it the most rapidly urbanizing region on the planet – as the number of people living in its cities soars to 56% and cities are least prepared to offer poor immigrants decent living conditions. Sustainable Urbanization and Well-being Programs under the Red Pact-Africa initiative strives to help African countries to identify priority areas and provide sound monitoring mechanism towards preparedness and the achievement of sustainable development goals.
Gender Equity and Women Empowerment Research Programs:
While gender equity, women empowerment and equitable access to services and resources is an end goal in its own right, it is also crucial to the achievement of all other sustainable development goals. Supporting national capacity development for advancing gender equity and the empowerment of women is central to the UN system’s development work towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and other internationally agreed goals.
Children Health and Well-being Research Program:
Child health is a state of physical, mental, intellectual, social and emotional well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Healthy children live in families, environments, and communities that provide them with the opportunity to reach their fullest developmental potential. Because of the mutable nature of childhood and the desired long-range impact of any initiative targeting early childhood, this program is up to the challenge in how to use outcomes and indicators to measure the success of African countries and cities in attaining optimal child health and well-being.
Adequate and Affordable Housing Research Programs:
The right to housing is the economic, social and cultural right to adequate housing and shelter. It is recognised in many national constitutions and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The right to adequate housing is relevant to all States, as they have all ratified at least one international treaty referring to adequate housing and committed themselves to protecting the right to adequate housing through international declarations, plans of action or conference outcome documents. Several constitutions protect the right to adequate housing or outline the State’s general responsibility to ensure adequate housing and living conditions for all. In the face of rapid urbanisation in developing countries, cities are facing enormous challenge in meeting the housing demand, the adequate housing research program under the Red Pact-Africa initiative provide an important monitoring mechanism for cities to assess their progress towards achieving adequate housing and living conditions for all.
Street Network and Mobility Analysis and Research Program:
Connectivity refers to the density of connections in path or road network and the directness of links. A well-connected road or path network has many short links, numerous intersections, and minimal dead-ends (cul-de-sacs). As connectivity increases, travel distances decrease and route options increase, allowing more direct travel between destinations, creating a more Accessible and Resilient system that reflects Complete Streets principles. Connectivity can apply both internally (streets within that area) and externally (connections with arterials and other neighborhoods). Well connected streets reduce travel distance and time translating into energy conservation in walking and cycling and travel cost reduction for motorists translating into more working time and savings leading to higher productivity hence economic growth. Street Network and Mobility analysis and Research Program provides countries and cities with evidence based information for street development.
Urban Statistics and Open Data Program:
Statistics and Open Data Program strives to assist African countries and cities with data and quality synthesised information planning, monitoring and evaluation of urban development programmes and policy formulation to enable them achieve sustainability by 2030. The program generates data by conducting in-depth analysis of Censuses, DHS & MICS and makes the data available freely through an online portal. This program develops indicators and indices to monitor urban development. Offers advanced online data capture, management, analysis and dissemination of key urban performance indicators. Capacity development and training interventions are designed to help nations and cities to achieve better urban development outcomes and reach sustainable prosperity.
Research on how to better Link Data to Policy and Action/Interventions:
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