Impact story: Embracing Innovation and Experimentation

Extensive urban sprawl and high levels of informality are major challenges in many African cities. As a result of these factors, urban landscapes tend to evolve at a rapid rate, quickly rendering plans irrelevant and outdated. The UNA team has identified, therefore, a significant need for adaptive policies, systems and approaches that adequately respond to the realities on the ground and incorporate the dynamic energy that’s characteristic of so many cities on the continent.

In such a unique context that tends not to abide by the conventions of the Global North, boundaries often need to be pushed through experimentation and innovation in order to find approaches that are more applicable to the setting.

By testing new methodologies, the UNA programme has established innovative approaches to urban planning and community engagement, while building a municipal culture that allows for adaptability and experimentation.