Keypoints:
- One billion more Africans will live in cities by 2063
- Report urges urgent reforms to avoid crisis
- Urbanisation seen as catalyst for inclusive growth
AFRICA’S cities stand at a defining moment, according to a new report that warns the continent risks missing a once-in-a-century opportunity to harness urbanisation for growth and justice.
The Unstoppable Force, published as a Cityscapes Magazine Special Report and launched by Urban2063, argues that without urgent reforms, Africa’s rapid urban expansion could deepen inequality and instability. The initiative is led by the African Centre for Cities (ACC) at the University of Cape Town and supported by 12 other global partners.
A billion new urban dwellers
By 2063, Africa is expected to gain an additional one billion urban residents. Yet more than 80 percent of existing urban jobs are informal, while millions of young people grow up in slums without access to adequate housing, healthcare or education.
These gaps are amplified by climate pressures, with 70 percent of African cities already ranked as highly vulnerable.
‘This report is a wake-up call and a roadmap for how we can harness this transformation for dignity and justice,’ said Professor Edgar Pieterse, founding director of the ACC.
Tau Tavengwa, co-editor of Cityscapes Magazine, added: ‘Africa has the resources, talent and energy it needs. What’s missing is leadership willing to act. The Unstoppable Force is both a warning and an invitation to reimagine our cities’ futures.’
Contributors across the continent
The report includes input from policymakers, activists and city leaders. Former South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, former Mozambican Prime Minister Luisa Dias Diogo, Zimbabwean activist Namatai Kwekweza, Kenyan organiser Regina Opondo and Will Senyo of Accra Impact Hub all share their perspectives.
Interviews with the mayors of Shaggar City, Lusaka and other African municipalities highlight a common conviction: Africa’s future rests on unlocking the transformative potential of its cities.
Anchored in Agenda 2063
Urban2063 places sustainable urbanisation at the centre of the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Its 2025 programme focuses on influencing G20 and Urban 20 deliberations to ensure Africa’s voice is heard in global debates on resilience and city development.
The coalition brings together 13 major institutions including the African Climate and Development Institute, Association of African Planning Schools, ARUP – Africa Region, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, Centre for Sustainability Transitions (University of Stellenbosch), Climate KIC, Club of Rome (Africa Section), Urban Futures Lab, Utrecht University, WIEGO, World Resources Institute, Overseas Development Institute, GSMA and CS Studio.
Urgency for reform
The Unstoppable Force cautions that innovation alone will not solve Africa’s urban crisis. Without structural reforms in housing, energy, education and healthcare, rising youth unrest — already visible in protests in Nairobi, Maputo and Dakar — will intensify.
The report combines new data with first-hand testimony to underline the risks of inaction and the opportunities for transformation. It calls on policymakers, investors, and citizens to seize the moment to shape cities into engines of inclusive growth.
‘Africa’s urban future is not yet written,’ the coalition concludes. ‘With vision and bold leadership, cities can still be transformed into spaces of opportunity and justice.’
