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Nairobi in Kenya is one of many fast-growing cities across Africa (Photo: Stuart Price/Make it Kenya, Creative Commons via Flickr)
African cities can raise more money. Kenya and South Africa offer useful lessons
… It’s cheaper to provide all kinds of services to people living in urban areas, from paved roads to health care. Urban growth can … the utilities take on borrowing rather than municipalities. Kenya’s water and sanitation utilities are owned by the county governments and … and helping local government or utilities mobilise investment for sustainable urban infrastructure. This blog first appeared on the …
Insight, 31 October 2018
A man and woman standing in a field
Difficult choices: balancing competing priorities on Burkina Faso farms
… farmers in eight villages – four in each commune – how they defined ‘sustainable intensification’. Based on their criteria, we developed a … in towns and cities in Burkina Faso: the proportion of rural to urban households used to be 80:20 and is now more likely to be 60:40. In … affecting grass growth and the quality of grazing land, soil and water and, perhaps most importantly, increasing social tension with …
Article, 26 April 2020
Construction of Hyderabad’s new metro. The first phase, covering 30km and 24 stations, opened in November 2017 (Photo: banjaxx, Creative Commons via Flickr)
Financing sustainable infrastructure: a tale of two cities
… in four people lives in informal settlements without clean drinking water, reliable toilets or decent housing. With these pressing demands … value capture projects. A new working paper from the Coalition for Urban Transitions, ' Financing the urban transition (PDF) ', explores … and systematic way, and improve the systematic planning and management of new infrastructure projects. While acquiring these skills, …
Insight, 09 January 2018
Street scene, Karachi, Pakistan. Photo by Fareena Chanda
Can we change the goals of development without changing the implementers?
… This blog refers to what was on 9 July the latest draft (PDF) of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets – not the most recent draft. … – for instance does it pay sufficient attention to biodiversity or water resource management or rural development. I come to this with a concern that urban issues get adequate coverage – and the SDGs include a goal and …
Insight, 09 July 2014
A Coca-Cola sign outside a small town in Benin. Bloomberg’s new health initiative will support cities to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks, but this isn't the biggest health challenge facing low-income urban residents (Photo: Lorena Pajares, Creative Commons via Flickr)
Bloomberg and public health: did he get it right?
… support. They are cheap compared to (for instance) extending water supply systems. But does this list really address the biggest … fallen. Conditions were better in 1990 than today . Around a billion urban dwellers live in under-served informal settlements. They usually … basic infrastructure and services for all urban residents. And as the Sustainable Development Goals say, "leave no-one behind".  David …
Insight, 07 June 2017
Gates Foundation gives US$10 million to help urban poor improve living conditions
… organisation Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI) to support the urban poor in Africa, Asia and Latin America to take action to improve their housing, water and sanitation. It is the first time a major US foundation has … This assistance will help to build local dialogue and locally sustainable solutions." To date, these grassroots groups have built or …
News, 22 November 2007
Woman walking through a vegetable garden. A pond behind her.
D&C Days 2021: five pathways for adaptation, resilience and action
Article, 12 November 2021
Business models for sustainable development
… at scale. See our Overview briefing paper: Business models for sustainable development: innovation for society and environment What are … energy facilities can provide sufficient power for meeting rural and urban community needs. See also Brian Shaad and Emma Wilson’s report   … for providing access to sustainable energy for the poorest people. Water As part of our business models series, Engineers Against Poverty …
Article, 10 May 2010
Lilongwe's residents call it the "Garden City" because of its many green spaces (Photo: Gome Jenda )
Seeds of change: Lilongwe City Council recognises the value of urban nature
… savannah woodlands and botanical gardens break up the urban space and give a home to diverse species. But in recent years … a pilot for an international programme designed to improve ecosystem management. The programme, known as 'Local Action for Biodiversity', was … of work and activity — Monipher Musasa Staff working with the water and electricity boards described how their budgets were going …
Article, 21 March 2016
Cover for 17579IIED.pdf
Multiple Pathways: case studies of sustainable agriculture in China
… of fertilisers and pesticides to widespread soil erosion, pollution, water scarcity and the loss of agricultural biodiversity. Coupled with … challenges are prompting the emergence of a growing movement towards sustainable agriculture, witnessed by the rise in ecological farms, … associations and remote sheep-rearing societies which target local urban consumers, to large certified organic companies with national …
Publication, 01 December 2015