The inaugural RISE Africa Session sets the motivation for our Action Festival, arguing that Achieving local and global sustainability goals can only happen if we ensure Africa urbanizes sustainably

The Africa we want is a global powerhouse, a force to be reckoned with, standing out as the leader in innovative sustainable solutions to resource production and consumption, developing inclusive green industries that foster economic recovery and independence that supports youth employment and the empowerment of women, fostering strong regional collaboration and solidarity, and hosting thriving cities that preserve cultural identities and work with and for their people. In positioning Africa as the next global changemaker we explore the key trends, movements and developments that are manifesting in our cities and influencing global agendas. We further reflect on what this means in making our cities more sustainable and the role that African cities including their governments, citizens, industries, knowledge hubs, and civil societies have in shaping happy, liveable and sustainable urban environments and influencing global culture and development outcomes. We unpack the emergence of new regional strategies and goals such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, the implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the localisation of Global Agenda’s such as the SDG’s and Paris Agreement, and deliberate how these important forces are shaping the development trajectory of Africa, its regions and cities.