Good Urban Governance and City Resilience: An Afrocentric Approach to Sustainable Development

Meyer Meyer,Auriacombe Auriacombe

doi:10.3390/su11195514

Meyer Meyer, Auriacombe Auriacombe

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195514

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Oct 5, 2019
Citations: 58	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: North-West University, University of Johannesburg

Abstract

Good urban governance is a multidimensional concept that focuses on the improvement of the quality of living conditions of local citizens, especially those of marginalised and disadvantaged communities. Cities face various adversities and challenges, such as unsustainable use of natural resources, lack of housing and infrastructure, the prevalence of poverty, rapid urbanisation, crime, disasters and effects of climate change. City resilience is an inclusive process that refers to a city’s ability to sustainably manage unexpected and expected risk-related events. In addition, it includes a city’s capacity to adapt to future challenges from a strategic and spatial perspective. This paper aims to analyze the nature of sustainable development in general. More specifically, it sets out to analyze the importance of urban governance in Africa and the interrelationship of good urban governance and city resilience. The purpose is to provide a theoretical underpinning and a practical orientation for the role that urban governance could play in sustainable development. The methodology is based on a document analysis by way of an intensive literature study. The qualitative description of the findings focused on the themes that emerged from the research and the manner in which they were conceptualised. It was established that while African countries have experienced certain successes, there have been many challenges as far as ‘good’ and ‘sustainable’ urban governance is concerned. Results indicated that the notion of ‘good urban governance’ is a prerequisite for African countries to design and execute sustainable development initiatives successfully.

Highlights

Good urban governance and sustainable development are closely interlinked
Emphasis was placed on the notions of “good” urban governance as a prerequisite for the ability and capacity of countries on the African continent to successfully design and execute development initiatives, to participate in the global economy, and to adhere to the imperatives emanating from international treaties and conventions as far as sustainable development is concerned
This paper provided a general overview of the role that cities and towns could and should play in sustainable development and community resilience

Summary

Introduction

Good urban governance and sustainable development are closely interlinked. This article focuses on the local levels of governance. Within this context, urban governance is confronted with complex issues such as waste disposal, housing, low tax bases, unemployment, sanitation and water purification, electricity, the construction and maintenance of roads and other challenges associated with rapid urbanisation. Local governments in general are responsible to foster sustainable livelihoods and to ensure urban centres’ resilience. Good urban governance can be regarded as a prerequisite for growth and prosperity in communities. Socio-economic growth should be facilitated by good urban governance and so lead to an environment in which communities are capable to create more sustainable livelihoods [1,2]

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