Abstract
In recent times, a growing body of research has drawn attention to the changing interface and interdependence between urban and rural spaces in Africa. This includes studies on physical, environmental, socio-demographic, economic and other transformations in the peri-urban zone. However, little is known about how residents of peri-urban communities adapt their livelihoods to these transformations. Using the case study approach, and by applying the sustainable livelihood framework as an analytical tool, we have explored the livelihood strategies adopted by the residents of four communities in peri-urban Accrain response to the city’s physical expansion. We find that urban growth has differential effects on peri-urban livelihoods, thereby creating winners and losers. Some residents, by reason of their possession of, or control over, various forms of livelihood assets, are able to utilize opportunities offered by urban growth to devise livelihood strategies to enhance their wellbeing. Those who suffer adverse effects are mainly resource-poor farm households who, apart from not having the wherewithal to take advantage of opportunities created by urban growth, lose their farm-based livelihoods as a result of the conversion of land from agricultural to non-agricultural uses. We therefore recommend that local government authorities should incorporate peri-urban livelihood issues into their planning activities.
Highlights
Most of the world’s urban growth occurs in the developing world, Africa and Asia where the urban population is expected to double between 2000 and 2030 (UNFPA, 2007)
Those who suffer adverse effects are mainly resource-poor farm households who, apart from not having the wherewithal to take advantage of opportunities created by urban growth, lose their farm-based livelihoods as a result of the conversion of land from agricultural to non-agricultural uses
The study has shown that, while some peri-urban individuals and households benefit from urban growth by taking advantage of various livelihood opportunities created by the phenomenon, others are adversely impacted through the loss of livelihoods
Summary
Most of the world’s urban growth occurs in the developing world, Africa and Asia where the urban population is expected to double between 2000 and 2030 (UNFPA, 2007). The term peri-urbanization refers to the process through which peri-urban areas physically and/or functionally get incorporated into the urban system (Webster & Muller, 2002; Webster, Cai, Muller, & Luo, 2003; Heikkila, 2003; Graham, Gurian, Corella-Barud, & Avitia, 2004) It involves various transformations on the edges of large cities, such as transformation of existing rural settlements into urban settlements without necessarily displacing the rural residents (UNFPA, 2007) and changes in the structure of the peri-urban local economy, including changes in both sectorial composition of economic activities and labour force (Webster & Muller, 2002). It involves changes in demography, social structure, land use, land use management and architecture in the peri-urban zone (Simon et al, 2004), as well as increased demand for land in peri-urban communities where indigenous and long-term settlers have depended on agriculture for centuries (see Oduro & Doan, 2012)
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