Regional and International Cooperation Key to Promoting Sustainable Urban Development in East Africa
By Ange de la Victoire DUSABEMUNGU
During a virtual press conference held by UN-Habitat ahead of the Cairo Urban Forum, Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat emphasized the importance of regional and international cooperation in urban development, particularly in East Africa. She highlighted the recent African Urban Forum as a critical example of bringing together local stakeholders and the international community to address urbanization challenges in the region.
Rossbach stressed the need for collective thinking and action, as well as building coalitions and partnerships to overcome major challenges.
She emphasized the importance of gathering data, knowledge, and experiences from different countries and cities to build consensus on the way forward. Rossbach also highlighted the significance of building local capacity and institutions to ensure sustainable urban development.
Abdelkhalek Ibrahim, Assistant Minister of Housing for Technical Affairs at the Egyptian Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities, further reiterated the importance of regional partnerships and collaborations in promoting sustainable urban development in East Africa. He mentioned a high-level meeting with African ministers to discuss the outcomes of the African Urban Forum and how to implement them in practice.
Ibrahim emphasized the need for sharing knowledge and experiences among African countries facing similar urbanization challenges.
He highlighted the importance of putting people at the center of urban development initiatives and ensuring that no one is left behind.
Ibrahim also mentioned the launch of future projects on the ground to address urban challenges in the region.
Overall, both speakers emphasized the need for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building to address urbanization challenges in East Africa. The upcoming Cairo Urban Forum will provide a platform for further discussions and actions to promote sustainable urban development in the region.