Land and connectivity

This report delves into the intricate relationship between urban land and connective infrastructure in African cities, acknowledging the multifaceted roles land plays in economic, environmental, and social contexts while also recognising its politicised nature, often leading to conflicts and exacerbating urban inequalities. Through a comparative study spanning six cities across Africa, including Accra, Bukavu, Kampala, Harare, Maiduguri, and Mogadishu, the report explores how the nexus between land and infrastructure shapes land valuation, usage, transactions, conflicts, management, and taxation.

It discusses various emergent themes such as:

• the drivers of urban land values,
• the capture of rising land values by different societal actors,
• challenges of "growth without access" in urban peripheries,
• diversity in property taxation systems, technopolitical dimensions of land administration,
• the impact of digital connectivity on land management, and
• the politicisation of land leading to conflicts.

The report also offers a comparative analysis of the politics surrounding urban land and connectivity, highlighting the role of different political settlement types in shaping land politics. Finally, it concludes with key findings and policy implications derived from the study.

The ACRC held a webinar about this work on 20 May 2024 titled “Urban land in Africa: Contested governance, value capture and prospects for reform”.

An outline of the session and the recording is available to watch here.

Abstract based directly on original source.