The previous and first State of Arab Cities Report in 2012 was a groundwork publication that mapped the broad facts and trends of urbanisation in the region, as well as the historic background to the Arab region’s significant urban heritage. However, the world has changed even in the relatively short period since 2012, in some startling ways that are especially challenging to many countries contained in this report.

In its second edition, The State of Arab Cities report 2020 is driven by a sense of urgency around the headlong expansion of urbanization, in an area where more than two-thirds of the population will reside in cities by the middle of this century. In 1950, just two cities of the region had a million people, whereas by 2025 this is expected to reach 31. At a time whereas many Arab countries are undergoing major infrastructure initiatives and the proliferation of new cities, it is particularly useful to examine the role played by urban infrastructure in shaping the region as a whole and influencing its urban future.

The State of Arab Cities report 2020 argues that infrastructure answers two immediate and long-term needs. Firstly, the smart reordering of decentralised municipal finances to build, maintain, and retrofit infrastructure is one of the most narrowly pragmatic and achievable interventions possible for governments and municipalities, with some highly effective small and large-scale examples from across the spectrum of the Arab region.

Secondly, the report suggests that in a region of 22 countries often beset by social tension, exclusion, poverty, and conflict, the planning and implementation of infrastructure augments peacebuilding, stabilization, and legitimacy and inclusion, as citizens participate in shaping the environment of their cities. Infrastructure, as this report argues, can either be a vehicle for political and social exclusion that cements narrow conceptions of the city, or the engine for political and social inclusivity so vital for the region’s women and young people, as well as groups like persons with disabilities, migrant workers, and minority religious and ethnic groups whose human capital and contribution are often wasted through marginalization.

The ICT, Urban Governance and Youth report is the fourth report in the Global Youth-Led Development series. The report provides a conceptual framework which reflects the rapidly changing dynamics in three areas of urban development: the demographics of the fastest growing segment of urban populations, youth (ages 15 to 24); information and communications technology (ICT) and particularly mobile phones; and governance, particularly local governance in the developing world. This report takes into account the special characteristics of young, technologically savvy citizens. The reader is encouraged to read the first three reports to put these findings into a larger context of youth-led development.

The lack of recognition of the right of self-determination and the large-scale dispossession and degradation of their lands, resources and territories has had a devastating effect on indigenous peoples’ livelihoods, cultures and overall socio-economic conditions. Widespread poverty and destitution flowing from this has had a significant impact on their housing. Indigenous peoples often lack security of tenure and live constantly with the threat of forced eviction from their homes and/or lands. In some countries, indigenous peoples are often found in over-crowded houses that are in poor condition and that often have neither schools nor hospitals nearby. Indigenous women and men face discrimination in most aspects of housing. Housing and development policies and programmes either discriminate against indigenous peoples directly or have discriminatory effects. The loss of traditional lands andhousing contributes to the increased migration of indigenous peoples to urban centres, where barriers to adequate housing (such as unemployment/poverty, discrimination, and lack of affordable and adequate housing) are particularly acute.

Indigenous women in particular often bear the brunt of these inadequate conditions. At the same time, they experience gender-specific problems, such as domestic violence, together with discrimination and inequality as a result of institutional and cultural factors. These often curtail or prohibit women’s access to, control over and the right to inherit land, property and housing. Indigenous peoples with disabilities, youth and children, elders and sexual minorities also experience greater adverse conditions in housing.

Moçambique situa-se na costa oriental de África, é um país com uma população aproximada de 20 milhões de habitantes. Saído de uma Guerra civil devastadora em 1992, o país tem crescido a uma taxa anual de quase10%.

A sua recuperação pós-guerra tem sido referenciada como um processo exemplar. Moçambique à imagem de outros países em vias de desenvolvimento enfrenta uma nova problemática, relacionada com os novos migrantes para os centros urbanos, a população urbana em Moçambique é constituída por cerca de 7 milhões de habitantes.

A maioria da população urbana de Moçambique vive em áreas de ocupação informal onde o acesso a serviços básicos é complexo. Moçambique é um parceiro da UN-Habitat com o objectivo conjunto de melhorarem as condições de vida das populações mais pobres.

The National Urban Profile focuses on the findings of a desk-study, interviews with key actors and a town consultation with key urban actors and institutions. Consultation participants agreed to address the salient urban issues including poverty, insecurity, corruption, pollution and crime all problems that negatively affect investments and economic development.

A consensus was reached on priority interventions in the form of programme and project proposals to be implemented.

Le profil national est la synthèse des conclusions d’un bureau d’études, d’entretiens avec les acteurs clés et d’informations communiquées par les autorités. Les différents participants aux consultations se sont entendus sur la nécessité de délimiter leurs domaines de recherche sur les aspects marquants des problèmes rencontrés dans les villes, à savoir la pauvreté urbaine, les problèmes d’organisation notamment en ce qui concerne la gouvernance, l’accès aux services de base, les différentes formes de discrimination, la pollution etc.

Un consensus fut ensuite obtenu sur les interventions prioritaires, sur ce qui devait être entrepris que ce soit sous la forme de programme d’action ou des projets à mettre en oeuvre.

La structure urbaine de la plupart des centres urbains du Niger est caractérisée par l’existence de noyaux d’habitat anciens, auxquels se sont juxtaposés des lotissements successifs. La filière de l’auto-construction constitue le mode dominant de production des logements. La quasi-totalité des logements locatifs sont fournis par le secteur informel, les normes de confort et d’hygiène y étant souvent déplorables.

L’occupation régulière de l’espace a permis d’y réaliser des réseaux d’adduction d’eau potable et d’alimentation en électricité. Les déficits en services sociaux de base ne cessent cependant de s’accumuler. Cette situation touche particulièrement les populations résidant dans les quartiers pauvres des centres-villes et des quartiers périphériques. Au niveau environnemental, la poussée des extensions urbaines dans certaines localités, menace de pollution la nappe phréatique servant à l’alimentation en eau potable de ces localités.

L’existence de nombreuses mares dans bon nombre de centres urbains, constitue une sérieuse source de préoccupation sanitaire, mais aussi une menace physique (inondation – effondrement) pour les populations riveraines.