The What a Waste 2.0 report provides a global snapshot of the current situation and future trends in solid waste management. By 2050, the world is expected to generate 3.4 billion tons of waste annually, up from the current level of 2 billion tons. Sub-Saharan Africa currently accounts for 9% of global waste (174 million tons) production, but its share is set to increase more rapidly than any other region given the high rate of urbanisation and population growth. Read on

The Sahel and West Africa Club’s governing board, also called the Strategy and Policy Group (SPG), convened on 18-19 June 2018 for an important discussion of SWAC’s future work priorities. SWAC Members appointed Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, current Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD, as SWAC President. He will assume this function as of 1 January 2019. Read on

In this blog post published by IRIN, editor Obi Anyadike draws attention to the many challenges faced by African cities. three key findings: 1) African cities are crowded, “but not economically dense.” 2) African cities are disconnected. 3) African cities are costly, both for residents and businesses. The rapid urban growth is outpacing policy reforms. It is time for urgent reforms in African cities. Read on

Of the 566 new urban agglomerations that ‘emerged’ in the ten years between 2000 and 2010, two-thirds (375) are rural clusters. These new towns are a key feature of urban-rural linkages, driving territorial transformation processes and acting as entry points to the food system for the vast majority of the region’s family farms. Read on