The African continent is currently in the midst of simultaneously unfolding and highly significant demographic, economic, technological, environmental, urban and socio-political transitions. Africa’s economic performance is promising, with booming cities supporting growing middle classes and creating sizable consumer markets. But despite significant overall growth, not all of Africa performs well. The continent continues to suffer under very rapid urban growth accompanied by massive urban poverty and many other social problems. These seem to indicate that the development trajectories followed by African nations since post-independence may not be able to deliver on the aspirations of broad based human development and prosperity for all. This report, therefore, argues for a bold re-imagining of prevailing models in order to steer the ongoing transitions towards greater sustainability based on a thorough review of all available options. That is especially the case since the already daunting urban challenges in Africa are now being exacerbated by the new vulnerabilities and threats associated with climate and environmental change. Also available in French Version.  

Ethiopia remains one of the least urbanized countries in Africa and almost 80 per cent of the population reside in rural areas where they eke out a living from subsistence agriculture. However, rapid population growth, a sluggish agricultural performance and increased rural-urban migration have been countering this. The pace of urban growth is expected to  accelerate in the coming decades and this will largely be in small- and medium-size cities with low resilienceto climate change shocks.

This paper reviews the dramatic transformations which have taken place in the cities of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union since the collapse of communist regimes in the region twenty years ago.

The paper further analyzes how urban planning 'the indispensable public function which aims to guide and manage urban change' evolved in response to the new urban challenges.

Города продолжают выполнять важную роль в обеспечении экономического развития страны и организации обслуживания, как в пригородах, так и в сельской глубинке.

В докладе приводится анализ произошедших перемен в городской экономике и дается оценка различных типов городов с выделением сокращающихся, развивающихся и вновь возникающих городов и региональных центров.

Рассматривается вопрос о постоянно возрастающем значении инновационных разработок, образования и научных исследований как движущих факторов экономического развития.

также доступны в английской версии

The transitional European countries are now in different stages of their transition to prosperous, just and democratic societies. As we look at the challenges of the future, The State of European Cities in Transition 2013 offers insight and analysis to inform and enlighten.

With 80% of its population living in cities, Latin America and the Caribbean is the most urbanized region on the planet. Located here are some of the largest and best-known cities, like Mexico City, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Bogota, Lima and Santiago. The region also boasts hundreds of smaller cities that stand out because of their dynamism and creativity. This edition of State of Latin American and Caribbean cities presents the current situation of the region's urban world, including the demographic, economic, social, environmental, urban and institutional conditions in which cities are developing. Also available in Spanish Version.