Regionalisation

Together with UN-Habitat, Urban Landmark's regional programme is embarking on a project that seeks to provide basic, easily accessible material on how urban land markets work in Africa. The partnership is based on the recognition of a gap in our understanding of the African experience with urban land markets, particularly at regional level. ULM's Regional Programme is thus commissioning five sub-regional studies of urban land markets in Africa: (i) North Africa; (ii) West Africa; (iii) Central Africa; (iv) East Africa; (v) Southern Africa. The results of the studies will support the development of two original publications:

1. A Handbook on Urban Land Markets for Africa

   The handbook will provide policy makers, local authorities, land professionals and non-governmental organisations with basic information regarding how land markets operate and how they may contribute to the achievement of a variety of development objectives. The main objectives of the handbook are to:

   • explain the key economic concepts that pertain to urban land and the functioning of the urban land market;
   • provide basic, easily accessible material on the factors that affect the dynamics of urban land market operations;
   • illustrate the ways in which land is used, transacted and obtained by different actors, using a range of case study material from selected regions in the continent.

2. Contribution to the State of African Cities Report

   The studies will be used as background material for the preparation of the 2010 State of African Cities report, which will include a special theme on urban land markets within the overall framework of "Bridging Urban Inequality".