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Showing all Blog Posts, Publications in Cities That Work
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Blog post
Data for decision-making: How spatial data is shaping the African urbanisation story
Ahead of the 17th Urban Age Conference and the first to be held in Africa, Sebastian Kriticos and Astrid Haas discuss the need for better data to tackle some of Africa’s biggest urbanisation challenges. On a daily basis, city policymakers need to take decisions: where and how to deliver services, what rates to apply to taxes and where to make investments, amongst others....
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Blog post
Making room for Africa’s urban billion
By 2050, more than a billion people will be living in African cities and towns. As more and more of the continent’s population – 60% of whom live in the countryside – move to urban areas, pressures on land can only intensify. How should we make room for this massive urban expansion? How will city structures have to change to accommodate Africa’s urban billion? And...
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Blog post
Land reform, redistribution, and risk: Towards an inclusive South Africa
At the end of February 2018, a motion was put forward by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a far-left opposition party, to revisit South Africa’s Constitution and amend it to allow for land expropriation without compensation. This motion was successfully passed, and subsequent public hearings across the country confirmed that there was resounding support from the...
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Blog post
From roads to regulation: Realistic transport reform in Greater Kampala
Across developing cities, transportation is struggling to keep up with rapid population growth. Transport systems that are supposed to connect individuals to jobs, services, and markets have limited reach and low capacity. Land allocated to roads in sub-Saharan African cities, for example, is around a third of that in cities in other parts of the world (Collier and Venables...
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Publication - Working Paper
Taxing vacant urban land in Kampala
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Publication - Policy Brief
Considerations for a tax on urban vacant land in Kampala
Vacant land constitutes an estimated 8-10% of Kampala’s land. However, this does not take into account abandoned or derelict buildings, space used for parking, or large pieces of land attached to small buildings. These are all types of land that have been categorised as vacant in other countries. Currently, vacant land is not classified as property under the...
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Blog post
The promises and challenges of special economic zones
On Tuesday 29 May 2018, the Oxford Urbanists and Cities that Work hosted a panel event titled "Can Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Drive Growth in Developing Cities?” to discuss evidence for improved policy. How should we think about Special Economic Zones (SEZs)? What benefits can they bring to developing cities? Where do they fall short? How can...
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Publication - Working Paper
Asset and debt management for cities
This paper argues and provides examples that municipal assets, debts, and liabilities are fundamental elements of any city management program and strategy. Consistent and comprehensive analysis is a very important task that city leaders should fulfill. Well managed cities show visible positive results, such as balanced and sustainable development, stable and affordable...
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Publication - Policy Brief
Land rights: Unlocking land for urban development
This brief outlines the crucial role land rights play in urban development, and explores trade-offs that policymakers face in reforming current tenure systems. It identifies key lessons and best-practices from policy reforms across the developing world.
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Publication - Policy Brief
Options for financing and funding transportation infrastructure
There is a growing interest in building urban transportation infrastructure across the developing world. Many policymakers are currently drafting ambitious transportation plans that implement new systems and build infrastructure. A key hurdle to the implementation of major transportation projects is funding which often costs billions of dollars and requires...