Africa is urbanizing late but fast. This brings many benefits but, as this report shows: thus far, urbanization in Africa, unique in a number of respects, is having deleterious and largely unchecked impacts on the natural environment; the degradation of natural assets and ecosystems within...

Central America is undergoing an important transition, with urban populations increasingat accelerated speeds, bringing pressing challenges as well as opportunities to boost sustained,inclusive and resilient growth. Today, 59 percent of Central America's population lives in urban areas, but it...

This report is organized in four sections. Section one provides an overview of the context in which many ECA cities consolidated. This section includes a review of the key factors that shaped the urban systems of ECA, including a discussion of the implication of urbanizing under planned...

The intent of the two competitive cities case studies is to highlight what institutions and strategies successful cities have relied on to spur economic development, under what conditions such success has occurred, and what lessons of this experience might be applicable to decision makers in...

The purpose of this report is to help policymakers improve economic development and job creation in Cameroon's cities. The report is part of the World Bank's Technical Assistance project on Enhancing Economic Performance of African Cities, supporting clients in the Ministry of Economy, Planning...

Geographically, Chongqing is strategically positioned as a gateway to China's west, a key connection in the Yangtze river economic belt, and a strategic base for China's belt and road initiative. Over the past two decades, Chongqing has faced significant challenges, including the resettlement of...

Melaka State, situated roughly halfway between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, has unique importance in the global dialogue around the sustainability of our shared urban future. At Melaka's heart is its historic urban center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) strategically located along the Strait...

This report captures the outcomes of the TA on Strengthening Urban Resilience in Ethiopia, including City Strength Diagnostic carried out in the Dire Dawa City Administration and nine regional capitals of Ethiopia. Chapter two provides an overview of shocks and stresses in the cities, the...

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) over the next 30 years will critically depend upon urban land use and infrastructure development actions taken across multiple sectors (buildings, energy, transportation, water-sanitation, and waste) in global cities. Integrated urban planning...

Globally, cities are the source of over 70 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Cities are also the engines of the global economy, concentrating more than half the world's population, and they are where the middle class is rapidly expanding. Indeed, by the year 2050, two-thirds of...