Cities Alliance at Africities 2022

Africities is a Pan Africa conference that is convened by the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG-A). It brings together the leadership of cities and sub-national governments and their associations for the advancement of decentralization and local governance aimed at improving the living standards in the African continent. 

The 9th Africities Summit will take place in Kisumu, Kenya from 17 to 21 May 2022. The event will focus on the Role of Intermediary Cities of Africa in the Implementation of Agenda 2030 of the United Nations and the African Union Agenda 2063. 

During the Summit, Cities Alliance will be co-hosting a series of events in collaboration with members and partners. Sessions are shown in local time (GMT+3/CEST+1) : 

• 17 May / 14:30-18:00. The role of intermediary cities in the settlement pattern of Africa: An event in partnership with the OECD Sahel and West Africa Club to help cities navigate the multiple challenges of climate change and sustainable growth. 
• 18 May / 09:00-12:30. The role of secondary cities in promoting and providing durable solutions to migration and forced displacements: Co-organized with IGAD, GIZ and UCLG-Africa, this session will highlight the needs and the gaps that secondary cities are facing and how they can promote the inclusion of migrants and displaced population to support the delivery of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) and international agendas, in the Horn of Africa.
• 18 May / 09:00-12:30. Strengthening Cities of All Sizes in Africa: the role of management, governance and investment:  Launch of our report Dynamics of Systems of Secondary Cities in Africa. Urbanization, Migration and Development, in partnership with the African Development Bank. Professor Brian Roberts, one of the editors of the publication,  will present the key findings and recommendations. 

• 20 May / 14:30-18:00. Meeting of Development Partners - Support for Decentralization and Local Authorities in Africa: Dialogue on improving the implementation of decentralisation policies on the continent and strengthening the place and role of intermediary cities in the implementation of the global agendas. The event is organized in partnership with OECD SWAC and UCLG-Africa. The session will discuss two reports: Inventory of Local Authorities in Africa, and The Institutional Environment favourable to cities and local authorities in Africa, CEE Rating.

• 21 May / 10:00-12:00. Tripartite dialogue meeting between Ministers, Mayors and Development Partners: This high-level meeting is the highlighting point of the political segment of the Africities Summit. It will allow each party to the dialogue to raise five critical issues to be addressed to the other parties to ensure that local and subnational governments are able to contribute more effectively to the implementation of the global agendas. The meeting will also discuss and agree on the Summit’s statement and roadmap for the next three years.

Kisumu will be the first intermediary city to host the Africities Summit. Organized by the Republic of Kenya, the County Government of Kisumu, the Council of Governors, and the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa.