Issues of urbanisation, economic development and city growth are key to building resilient city communities; topics discussed by local government leaders at the various Africities Summits.
Johannesburg will be the host of the next Africities Summit in early December 2015.
The summit, held every three years, looks at issues affecting urban and economic development in African cities and finds ways to share knowledge and experiences.
The Africities Summit is organised by the United Cities and Local Government of Africa (UCLG Africa), an organisation that represents and defends the global interests of local government.
UCLG Africa also focuses on increasing the role and influence of local government and its representative organisations in global governance.
Johannesburg was selected as host city because of its record organising major international events such as the Metropolis Board of Directors and One Young World meetings earlier in 2013.
On being selected host city, Joburg’s Executive Mayor Mpho Parks Tau said the City was “humbled” by the decision. “We believe that our capacity to host will go beyond logistics but also extend to their area of discourse and debate around critical issues such as the role of local government in the post millennium goals.”
The Africities Summit will give the City an opportunity to show its wide-ranging developmental programmes as outlined it its Growth and Development Strategy, Joburg 2040; creating a liveable and sustainable city.
The summit attracts the leaders of local governments across the continent, as well as representatives from trade unions, from the private sector and researchers and academics who share a common interest in sustainable development in Africa.
The opportunity also comes at a time when the City is making preparations to host the C40 summit early next year.
The sixth edition of the Africities Summit took place in Dakar, Senegal, in December 2012.
It examined the impact of urbanisation, globalisation and democratisation on Africa continent.