The global environmental change (GEC)-cities nexus has been one of START’s primary thematic focus areas for knowledge development in recent years, especially in Asia. In 2013, our prioritized ramping up its knowledge development initiatives in African urban systems, with a particular focus on urban resilience in Africa. In March and September 2013, we conducted a pair of scoping workshops that investigated knowledge and capacity needs on governance facets of GEC in Africa. This article provides context for START’s strategic focus on the governance-vulnerability resilience interface, makes the case for prioritizing knowledge generation in governance dimensions of urban resilience in Africa, and summarizes related research priorities that emerged from these workshops.

Strengthening Urban Resilience in Africa Through Good Governance

“Good local governance” is key to urban sustainability (Satterthwaite et al., 2007). Deficits in good governance (such as political suppression and corruption) are likely to impede the development of much-needed adaptive capacities and *urban resilience in Africa* at all levels of government (see UNHABITAT, 2010; Brown et al., 2010; Lockwood, 2013; Bond et al., 2009). For instance, comparative research on the human toll of Indian Ocean cyclones Nargis (2008) and Sidr (2007) suggests that the absence of good governance in Myanmar may have heightened the mortality rate in the country as a result of Cyclone Nargis (IPCC, 2012). Similar place-based research is critically needed to assess the relationship between governance systems and processes, and climate change risk management and adaptation efforts across cities in Africa, particularly to enhance urban resilience in Africa.

Also read: https://www.acash.org.pk/topics/development-through-affordable-housing/