Opportunities for Human Rights During Africa’s Urban Migration

Africa is experiencing the most rapid exodus from rural to urban areas on the planet: Its urban population is projected to increase from today’s 414 million to over 1.2 billion by 2050.

This migration, unlike others in the past, is not occurring alongside an upswing in economic growth and opportunity. Access to social services remains limited, leading to increasingly widespread urban poverty, with more than 60 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s urban population currently living in slums. These communities exist on the fringes of cities with inadequate or no access to the most basic services including sanitation, infrastructure, healthcare, safety, and education.

Africa’s increased urban population will place significant pressure on local governments to provide services at an unprecedented scale. These governments will also have to plan for future mega-projects including housing, public health facilities, urban planning, energy provision, and resilience to natural disasters aggravated by climate change.

At a recent lecture, Gavin Silber, former director of the Social Justice Coalition, spoke about the opportunities this time of change presents for human rights. Listen above.