Tags: Informal settlements, Slums, Innovation, Demolition, Upgrading programs, Basic services, Education, Health

An overwhelming majority of people in West Africa’s cities lives in slums. As more people leave the rural areas and flock to cities, slums are increasingly becoming the defining characteristic of cities in the region and will become more so as West Africa’s urbanization continues. What should be done about this challenge? In this issue, we explore the question, with a simple message: slums should be embraced as part of a complex urban reality, and the collective energy they have should be channeled towards improving them.

The future of slums.pdf