Leaving No Place Behind: Strengthening Urban-Rural Linkages In Africa

The project is intended to provide support to policy making highlighting the interdependencies and synergies between urban and rural areas in four selected African countries. Data and evidence on growing disparities must be collected to form the basis for policy design, formulation and implementation. The project will develop gender-and age-disaggregated data, including youth and gender issues to promote equity and ensure that “no place…” and “no-one” should be left behind. Countries will improve their human and institutional capacity on how to collect data and incorporate key dimensions of urban-rural linkages into policies, strategies and plans. The project does not only aim to strengthen the capacity of national, regional and local authorities, but it also includes other stakeholders such as civil society organizations, NGOs, academia and the private sector into the decision-making process in order to improve synergy in the design, formulation, and implementation of integrated urban-rural development strategies. It is expected that the application of this inclusive approach to improve urban-rural linkages in national and regional frameworks and the involvement of all stakeholders in the decision-making process will foster a constructive dialogue between national governments and regional and/or local authorities in the target countries.

The project will also reinforce the capacity of key decision makers (either at national or at subnational levels) to assess their plans, policies and development strategies. Developing tools and implementing guiding principles, frameworks and indicators can facilitate effective and inclusive policies. Due to the complexity of urban-rural linkages issues such as sustainable management of natural resources, adequate infrastructure and service provision, equality, equity and social inclusion will be addressed during the project as well as environmental pressures and the flow of capital, goods and people.