Expected population of Africans living in cities will increase by about 60 per cent in 2050, a reason governments should now embrace partnerships and competent architectural practices in developing urban towns.
This is the clarion call from the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), during this year’s congress co-hosted by Kenya and Sweden.
Running for two days, 28-29 September, the forum seeks to strengthen the landscape architecture in relation to sustainability Agenda 2030.
This is through exploring new forms of collective problem-solving, borderless strategies and possible networks of ideas and cooperation, while keeping the issues of climate change, social inequality and biodiversity loss at the forefront.
Data by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs shows by 2015, most of Africa's population living in urban areas rose from 27 per cent in 1950 to 40 per cent in 2015.
“With the population projected to rise further to 2050 by at least 60 per cent, it will consequently worsen the climate change crisis, underscoring the urgent need for collaboration towards building sustainable cities,” UN says.
Speaking at the convention, representative of the CS of the State Department for Public Works, Chief Architect Lawrence Mochama, emphasised on the government’s commitment in making the cities sustainable in line with the African Climate Summit discussions.
“Collaboration is required in order to work together to save our biodiversity. The government is committed not just to make urban cities a center of economic development, but also a place where people can live in dignity,” Mochama said.
On her part, Swedish Ambassador to Kenya, Caroline Vicini lauded the efforts made by the built environment professionals of both countries to learn from each other and discuss climate change.
“It is important to build smart, healthy and efficient cities where people can integrate, communicate and move freely. Landscape architecture plays an important role in shaping sustainable development,” she said.
President of Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) Florence Nyole, stressed on the significance of cooperation within the built environment, as it enabled the professionals to reach shared environmental goals that rest on a foundation of social sustainability.
“Such congresses provide an opportunity to promote learning and collaboration among built environment professions to find solutions to the major global challenges,” Nyole said.
“The city of Nairobi for instance, relates very closely to the congress theme, ‘Emergent Interaction’, with rapid urbanisation, dealing with climate change and adequate housing as priority issues.”
She however says the country faces a huge gap in the incorporation of required professionalism in architectural work, saying only 20 per cent of the buildings in the country have been built with the input of environmental specialists who enforced sustainability measures.
“The remaining 80 per cent is a clear gap that need a tap in, hence the need for more collaborative frameworks in sharing of ideas and solutions in betterment of our cities.”