Africa-EU Summit Science Dialogue Events

Policy development that is inclusive, participatory and leads to a concrete practical implementation that is sustainable is a key priority for all who participate in the AERAP AU-EU Science Summit.
How do we establish an enabling environment for the dialogue to take place, so we can engage in an effective process to achieve that priority? The UN has been engaged in Africa and has on-the-ground networks and decades of lessons learned. How can we build and evolve a Global Europe approach to the development process so that assets and knowledge can be harnessed? This can create new and innovative ways to build on existing knowledge and know-how.

The session will look at how cities play a role in their own journey to achieve local aspirations and by sharing and learning speed up the process for all cities?

Africa is urbanizing at a rate of 4% per year, according to UN-Habitat, the United Nations agency tasked with assisting national programmes relating to human settlements through the provision of capital and technical assistance, particularly in developing countries. Population shifts from rural to urban areas lead to a number of challenges such as overcrowding, pollution and crime, among others. Urbanization in the Africa of today is an untapped tool for development and economic growth. Over the next 15 years, cities in Africa will experience higher growth rates than other regions of the world, with Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg and Luanda becoming Africa’s major economic giants.