(e.g. political instability) are major constraints for the expansion of investments and
economic diversification (AUC, AfDB and UNDP 2016). Furthermore, despite
measures to reduce income inequality such as tax reforms, the fair redistribution of
the gains from economic growth has remained challenging throughout the region
due to the lack of strong political commitment and the limited capacity (Masiya
2017).
Finally, as for most other SDGs, there is a critical lack of stratified and comparative datasets to appreciate the current extent of inequality within and between
countries. In fact, there are major data gaps for most of the indicators for SDG10
(SDG Centre for Africa 2019), which have prevented its inclusion in most efforts to
track SDG progress in the continent (e.g. UNECA 2017, 2018). This points to the
ongoing need for improved data collection and statistical capacity building, especially in the poorer SSA countries (SDG Centre for Africa 2019).
1.2.11 SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SSA is currently the least urbanized region in the world. Although only around 40%
of its population is considered urban, it has the fastest urban growth rate globally
standing at 4.1% (World Bank 2018a; UNECA 2018). Furthermore, many cities and
towns in the region are poorly planned and constructed but account for about 55% of
the regional GDP (UNECA 2015a). Large populations live in the continent’s
proliferating slums, which although declining moderately in terms of proportion, it
remains quite high in absolute terms (Fig. 1.11) (UNECA 2018). Urban population
in SSA lacks reliable access to many services such as transport. Only 18% of the
residents in major SSA cities have access to reliable transport network, with
Fig. 1.11 Population living in urban slums (in % of urban population). Source: (World Bank
2018a)
1 Sustainability Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Context of the. . .
25
economic diversification (AUC, AfDB and UNDP 2016). Furthermore, despite
measures to reduce income inequality such as tax reforms, the fair redistribution of
the gains from economic growth has remained challenging throughout the region
due to the lack of strong political commitment and the limited capacity (Masiya
2017).
Finally, as for most other SDGs, there is a critical lack of stratified and comparative datasets to appreciate the current extent of inequality within and between
countries. In fact, there are major data gaps for most of the indicators for SDG10
(SDG Centre for Africa 2019), which have prevented its inclusion in most efforts to
track SDG progress in the continent (e.g. UNECA 2017, 2018). This points to the
ongoing need for improved data collection and statistical capacity building, especially in the poorer SSA countries (SDG Centre for Africa 2019).
1.2.11 SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SSA is currently the least urbanized region in the world. Although only around 40%
of its population is considered urban, it has the fastest urban growth rate globally
standing at 4.1% (World Bank 2018a; UNECA 2018). Furthermore, many cities and
towns in the region are poorly planned and constructed but account for about 55% of
the regional GDP (UNECA 2015a). Large populations live in the continent’s
proliferating slums, which although declining moderately in terms of proportion, it
remains quite high in absolute terms (Fig. 1.11) (UNECA 2018). Urban population
in SSA lacks reliable access to many services such as transport. Only 18% of the
residents in major SSA cities have access to reliable transport network, with
Fig. 1.11 Population living in urban slums (in % of urban population). Source: (World Bank
2018a)
1 Sustainability Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Context of the. . .
25