Urban Profiling is an assessment of needs and capacity building gaps at the city level. It is currently being implemented in over 20 countries in Africa and the Arab States. Urban Profiling uses a structured approach where priority interventions are agreed upon through consultative processes.

The Urban Profiling methodology consists of three phases

(1) A rapid participatory urban profiling, at national and local levels, focusing on Governance, Slums, Gender and HIV/AIDS , Environment, and proposed interventions

(2) Detailed priority proposals

(3) project implementation. RUSPS in Eritrea encompasses a national profile, and a single profile for the cities of Asmara, Massawa and Mendefera. This national report constitutes a general background, a synthesis of the four themes, Governance, Slums, Gender and HIV/AIDS , and Environment, and priority project proposals, both at national and city levels.

In Ethiopia, the profiling was undertaken under the leadership of national and local authorities. This initiative has been carried out locally in Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa and Ambo, as well as nationally. The Ethiopia National Profile focuses on the findings of a desk-study, interviews with key actors, and country-wide consultations 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.

In Ethiopia, the profiling was undertaken under the leadership of national and local authorities. This initiative has been carried out locally in Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa and Ambo, as well as nationally. The Ethiopia National Profile focuses on the findings of a desk-study, interviews with key actors, and country-wide consultations 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.

The Lautoka Urban Profiling consists of an accelerated, action-oriented assessment of urban conditions, focusing on priority needs, capacity gaps, and existing institutional responses at local and national levels. The purpose of the study is to develop urban poverty reduction policies at local, national, and regional levels, through an assessment of needs and response mechanisms, and as a contribution to the wider-ranging implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.

The study is based on analysis of existing data and a series of interviews with all relevant urban stakeholders, including local communities and institutions, civil society, the private sector, development partners, academics, and others. The consultation typically results in a collective agreement on priorities and their development into proposed capacity-building and other projects that are all aimed at urban poverty reduction.

The urban population in The Gambia stood at 53 percent of the total population in 2003. Increasing urbanization is causing stress on social services provided in urban areas with consequences of rising urban poverty. The Greater Banjul Area has the worst-case scenario - Banjul and its surroundings, the Kombos, constitute about 51 percent of the total population of the country. This high concentration of the population in this area has implications on poverty, particularly the growing incidence of urban poverty.

Rapid increase in urban population has been one of the major problems faced by The Gambia. In addition to loss of arable land in the Kombos, the rapid increase in urban population has brought with it several environmental and socio-economic problems including deforestation, soil erosion, pollution and waste generation, and stress on health, education, and employment services (Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (2007-2011) The Gambia).