Strong economic growth in urban areas has not led to rapid urbanization in Ethiopia, possibly as a result of prevailing land tenure policies. We examine the economic implications of accelerated urbanization using a rural–urban economywide model that explicitly captures internal migration and agglomeration effects. Simulation results indicate that accelerated urbanization would strengthen economic growth, improve rural welfare, and reduce the rural–urban divide.

This publication, Innovative Land and Property Taxation, is derived from a 2009 Conference in Warsaw, Poland. It presents the ways in which land and property taxation policies, legal frameworks, tools and approaches to sustainable urban development have been experimented with around the World. Its key finding is the prominent role that land-based financing and local authorities play at the core of urban development.

Rural development and urbanisation are often seen as competing, but in most cases are intimately linked. It is essential that policies re? ect and support the many positive links between rural and urban areas, enterprises and people. This in turn requires a better understanding of urbanisation processes and the role of small towns.

This case study draws on an analysis of urban land markets in the East African region. The research was undertaken by Paul Syagga, School of the Built Environment, University of Nairobi, and commissioned by Urban LandMark. Some learning and reflection activities based on the case study are provided. The next part of the document presents examples of how people access, trade and hold land in various East African cities. The final component of this document includes a summary of the key issues covered in the case study and recommendations arising from it.

This case study draws on a regional study of urban land markets in southern Africa. The research was undertaken by Resetselemang Leduka of the National University of Lesotho, and commissioned by Urban LandMark and UN-HABITAT. 

This case study draws on research that examined the formal urban housing market in South Africa. The research study was carried out by

Mitchells Plain is about 20km from the Cape Town city centre. It was built in the 1970s as a township for people classified as ‘Coloured’, who were forcibly removed from areas that had been declared ‘whites only’ under the Group Areas Act. Various attempts were made to upgrade the Mitchells Plain Town Centre (MPTC) after the advent of democracy in 1994, but these were disjointed and lacked a champion to drive the process.

This case study draws on research that examines

Face la complexité des défis à relever et de la faiblesse en ressources humaines, techniques et financières nécessaires pour faire face aux multiples préoccupations des zones qui ont été longtemps marginalisées, le Tchad a élaboré la présente Stratégie Nationale et Plan d’Actions pour la Mise en Oeuvre de l’Initiative Grande Muraille Verte au Tchad.