Africa

David Kilcullen creates maps to empower disenfranchised people in developing countries around the world. By combining social science and technology his firm solves tough problems in "frontier environments," reports David Holmes.

August 1, 2012 - Fast Company

Continuing a practice long decried by international rights groups, Nigerian authorities gave the residents of the waterfront shantytown of Makoko a scant 72 hours to vacate their homes before demolishing them en masse, reports Robyn Dixon.

July 25, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

Ernest Harsch interviews UN-Habitat Director Joan Clos on the challenges facing African cities in an age of unprecedented urbanization, from the abundance of slums to the threat of natural disasters.

June 27, 2012 - Independent Online

Nate Berg reports on a Kenyan High Court decision that allows the government to proceed with "slum upgrading and road construction projects" in one of the largest informal settlements in the world, by tossing out ownership claims made by residents

May 30, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

After aiding in the dissolution of Egypt's authoritarian regime, social media is being enlisted to tackle a more formidable obstacle: easing its capital city's traffic, reports Noel King.

May 22, 2012 - Good

Kareem Fahim explores the surprisingly reliable subway system beneath the Egyptian capital, as well as public sentiment that it's the last stronghold of order in a city still trying to regain its balance.

May 9, 2012 - The New York Times

Unlike Asia and South America, sub-Saharan Africa did not see birthrates fall in the second half of the 20th century. As a result, urban life in Nigeria heralds the challenges facing an increasingly populous planet, Elisabeth Rosenthal reports.

April 18, 2012 - The New York Times

Benita Hussain describes an innovative architecture project serving Rwandan women in their quest to rebuild the country.

March 25, 2012 - Good

Defying logic, as the world entered recession its poorest made inroads out of "extreme poverty" according to a new World Bank report. In 2009 a similar report predicted just the opposite would happen due to recession. Why the improvement?

March 13, 2012 - The New York Times - World

Chuck Wolfe analyzes his 2011 articles which appeared on Planetizen and in other sources, and derives his urbanist trends to watch for in 2012.

December 31, 2011 - myurbanist

Faced with climate change and poverty, Africans are focusing on a new farming frontier: the cities.

November 28, 2011 - OnEarth

An interview with Nancy Odendaal, who is spearheading an effort by the Association of African Planning Schools to reform planning education across the continent.

November 22, 2011 - The Atlantic Cities

Lisa Findley & Liz Ogbu explain how architecture and urban planning were critical to apartheid in South Africa and how Le Corbusier and Ebenezer Howard influenced the racial segregation practice.

November 17, 2011 - Design Observer

Drawing from lessons learned by a Seattle-based economic development organization working in Africa, Chuck Wolfe notes that "[s]ometimes, finding a way to keep a meaningful rural existence trumps city life."

October 28, 2011 - myurbanist

Halloween may mark the world reaching 7 billion. Population author Vanessa Baird looks beyond the number into both fertility and consumption rates, showing why it is a mistake to get caught up with the increase in population rather than consumption.

October 28, 2011 - The Guardian - U.K.

Prof. Suzanne Preston Blier of Harvard unearths the ancient plans of Yoruban towns, which were laid out as early as 350 BCE.

September 27, 2011 - ASLA's The Dirt blog

Kigali, Rwanda's capital city, is beginning to embrace an urban transect-based plan as a solution for its recent population growth and rapidly evolving economy.

September 14, 2011 - World Architecture News

A survey of over 8,000 commuters in 20 cities across 6 continents yields an alarming result. By and large, commuters in emerging economies face traffic conditions that are far worse than those who live in the U.S. and Europe.

September 10, 2011 - The Infrastructurist

With high scores in five broad categories, Melbourne, Australia received the highest spot in livability rankings from The Economist's research unit.

September 2, 2011 - TheCityFix.com

New government efforts in South Africa are trying to improve mobility for those who rely on public transportation, walking and biking.

August 30, 2011 - This Big City