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Showing all content in Cities
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Publication - Policy Brief
Water, sanitation, and hygiene policy in the time of COVID-19
Investing in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is a no-regret policy for developing countries in the fight against COVID-19. According to numerous studies, for every $1 invested, the return in terms of healthcare savings, reduced time off work, and increased national productivity is between $2-4 for water and $5-9 for sanitation. This is particularly true for...
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Blog post
World Environment Day: Championing clean energy post COVID-19
Combating climate change and ensuring clean air for all is an interdependent effort. As developing country governments electrify their populations, renewable energy offers a range of clean ways of doing so. The recent plunge in energy demand and oil prices, which threatens to reverse recent gains in renewables, should not act as a barrier to transitions towards clean energy...
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Blog post
Freetown just implemented a new tax system that could quintuple revenue
In the next few weeks, residents of Freetown are expecting to receive new property tax bills as part of a revamped and more progressive system. Approved as Sierra Leone was entering lockdown in mid-April, the revised arrangement places a greater onus on the richest and could increase the capital’s tax revenue five-fold. The new system has been in the works since Yvonne...
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Blog post
Urban agriculture: A viable safety net for the urban poor during times of crisis?
One of the most devastating side effects of COVID-19 and the associated national lockdowns is the impact it is having on food access for the poor. Sub-Saharan Africa, with an already fragile food system, where rapid urbanisation and the rise of urban poverty pose substantial challenges to food security and nutrition, is likely to be hit the hardest. A simulation by the IGC...
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Publication - Policy Brief
A road map for e-mobility transition in Rwanda
Electric vehicles (EV) are gaining popularity among both governments and the private sector globally as an energy efficient mobility technology and the Government of Rwanda (GoR) embraces the fact that their expansion is now inevitable, as they aim to scale up their nascent e-moto industry. The researchers recommend e-mobility be implemented in the context of a wider...
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Publication - Policy Brief
Optimal construction permit fees for Rwanda
To successfully manage rapid urban growth and its attendant challenges, and to implement effective development control, municipal authorities need to increase revenue from construction permits and other sources. Rwanda’s ranking in the Dealing with Construction Permits subcomponent of the World Bank’s Doing Business index is rising, but the Government is keen to...
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Blog post
Behavioural economics of lockdown compliance: In search of lost time and well-behaved neighbours
There are some crucial insights that behavioural economics and surrounding psychological evidence can bring to bear on public policies of a lockdown. Such insights are particularly pertinent to leveraging humans' 'predictable irrationality' in its design. Applying this evidence suggests that, where lockdowns are implemented, it might be better for policymakers to impose...
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Blog post
Technology and property tax: Raising city revenue in Kampala
Recent technology has proved effective in expanding the city’s tax base but requires up to date data and is no substitute for supportive policy and legislation. Property taxes are a hugely important potential source of revenue for cities. Faced with limited municipal revenues and rapidly growing populations, taxes on the value of land and property can offer a...
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Event
IGC at Urban Innovation Africa
As part of this year's Skoll World Forum by Skoll Foundation, Utopia is hosting the virtual event Urban Innovation in Africa on Thursday 2nd April, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (BST). The event will cover topics on urbanisation and emerging cities in Africa and will explore the following questions through the perspective of leading urban practitioners and innovators: Who...
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Event
Cities and experts meeting: Strengthening the financing position and investment in the cities of developing countries
UN-Habitat, along with the European Investment Bank (EIB), European Commission DG DEVCO, International Growth Centre, and United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) held a cities and experts workshop on ‘enhancing financing for sustainable urban development’ on 28th February 2020 in Dakar, Senegal. The workshop took place during the European Investment Bank...