Skip to main content

Assessing Urban Liveability in Africa: Challenges and Interventions

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Definitions

Liveability is a composite of interrelated social, economic, and ecological indicators that promote and enhance quality of life and sustainability. It is a dynamic concept that is related to time and space. It connotes the challenges to lifestyle of individuals and communities. According to Economic Intelligence Unit (2019) which reports annual global liveability index, the liveability assessment quantifies the challenges that might be presented to an individual’s lifestyle. Urban liveability measures the quality or otherwise of living in urban areas or cities. Urban quality of life is based on assessments of stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure (EIU 2019). High level of liveability ranking has been established to be positively associated with health outcomes and behaviors, including increased physical activity and improved mental health.

Further, there is distinction between the definition of liveability in urban areas in...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agbola T (2005) Urbanization, physical planning and urban development in West Africa. Paper Presented at the West Africa, CAP-NITP Pre-Conference Agenda Workshop on the Theme: Rapid Urbanization, Physical Planning and Urban Development in the West Africa Region

    Google Scholar 

  • Agbola T, Kasim OF, Amune G (2014) An urban agenda for Africa: realities, challenges and potentials keynote lecture presented at the 3rd international conference on urban and regional planning organized by the Department of Urban and Regional Planning University of Lagos held on 6th–8th October, 2014 at the Julius Berger lecture theatre. University of Lagos

    Google Scholar 

  • Agbola SB (2011) Climate change and poverty in Nigeria. Reg Dev Dialogue 32(1):54–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Alderton A, Davern M, Nitvimol K, Butterworth I, Higgs C, Ryan E, Badland H (2019) What is the meaning of urban liveability for a city in a low-to-middle-income country? Contextualising liveability for Bangkok, Thailand. Glob Health 15:51. (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-019-0484-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antonescu, D. (2017). Liveable City from an economic perspective. Retrieved on 13 Jan 2019 from http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/79144

    Google Scholar 

  • Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) (2015) Building inclusive economies, building a better world. Economic Leaders’ Summit held at Manila, Philippines, 18–19 Nov

    Google Scholar 

  • Badland H, Roberts R, Butterworth I, Giles-Corti B (2015) How liveable is Melbourne? Conceptualising and testing urban liveability indicators: Progress to date, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Balsas C (2004) Measuring the livability of an Urban Centre: an exploratory study of key performance indicators. Plan Pract Res 19(1):101–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dovey K (2012) Informal urbanism and complex adaptive assemblage. Int Dev Plan Rev 34(4):349–367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dovey K (2013) Informalising architecture: the challenge of informal settlements. Archit Des 83(6):82–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Dovey K, King R (2011) Forms of informality: morphology and visibility of informal settlements. Built Environ 37(1):11–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) (2016) A summary of the liveability ranking and overview. The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Economist Intelligence Unit. 2019. The global liveability index 2019. Available via https://www.eiu.com/public/topical_report.aspx?campaignid=liveability2019

    Google Scholar 

  • Giap TK, Thye WW, Aw G (2014) A new approach to measuring the liveability of cities: the global liveable cities index. World Rev Sci Technol Sustain Dev 11(2):176–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guevara NKA (2014) Informality and formalization of informal settlements at the turn of the third millennium: practices and challenges in urban planning. J Stud Soc Sci 9(2):247–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Hankins KB, Powers EM (2009) The disappearance of the state from livable urban spaces. Antipode 41(5):845–866

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hart K (1973) Informal income opportunities and urban employment in Ghana. J Mod Afr Stud 11(1):61–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holden M, Scerri A (2013) More than this: liveable Melbourne meets liveable Vancouver. Cities 31:444–453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoornweg D, Pope K (2017) Population predictions for the World’s largest cities in the 21st century. Environ Dev 29(1):195–216. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956247816663557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howley P, Scott M, Redmond D (2009) Sustainability versus liveability: an investigation of neighbourhood satisfaction. J Environ Plan Manag 52(6):847–864

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Finance Corporation (2013). Regional poverty rates. Available at https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALeKk01AqsNMIftUJeauYsXQT_ZtZ-lTjQ:1595337352259&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=Regional+Poverty+Rate+($1.50/day+poverty+line).+Source:+IFC+Forum,+2013.&client=firefox-b-d&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjyjLbhtt7qAhUT9IUKHXRVBmAQsAR6BAgHEAE&biw=1138&bih=545

    Google Scholar 

  • Jasmine LL, Ahmad HH (2010) Liveability dimensions and attributes: their relative importance in the eyes of neighbourhood residents. J Constr Dev Ctries 15(1):67–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasim OF (2018) Wellness and illness: the aftermath of mass housing in Lagos, Nigeria. Dev Pract 28(7):952–963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keeble L (1969) Principles and practice of town and country planning. The Estates Gazette Limited, London

    Google Scholar 

  • McKinsey Global Institute (2010) Lions on the move: the progress and potential of African economies. McKinsey and Company, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Mfune O, Mutisya E, Popoola L, Mungai D, Fuh D, Olayide OE (2016) Changing rural urban linkages in Africa in a globalizing economy. Afr J Sustain Dev 6(2):109–134

    Google Scholar 

  • National Economic and Social Council (NESC)/International Organization for Migration (IOM) (2006). Managing migration in Ireland: a social and economic analysis. Commissioned by NESC and prepared by IOM

    Google Scholar 

  • Nwaka GI (2005) The urban informal sector in Nigeria: towards economic development, environmental health and social harmony. Institute for Global Urban Development, Prague

    Google Scholar 

  • Ojo EO (2013) Global overview of disasters: nature, causes, impacts and management measures. In: Bolanle W, Atebije N, Ibrahim Y (eds) Disaster risk management in Nigerian Rural and Urban Settlements. The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) and Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC), Abuja, pp 39–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Oloukoi G, Olakunde AD (2015) Participation. In: Layi E (ed) Contemporary concepts in physical planning, vol I. Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Ibadan, Ibadan

    Google Scholar 

  • Partnership for Sustainable Communities (2011) Livability initiative. Retrieved on 28 Jan 2017 from http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/livability/partnerships/partnerships

    Google Scholar 

  • Pieterse E (2000) Participatory urban governance: practical approaches, regional trends and Urban Management Programme (UMP) experiences. UN-Habitat, Nairobi

    Google Scholar 

  • Pieterse JN (2010) Development theory. Sage, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Shamsuddin S, Hassan NRA, Bilyamin SFI (2012) Walkable environment in increasing the Liveability of a City. Procedia Soc Behav Sci 50:167–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smit W, Hancock T, Kumaresen J, Santos-Burgoa C, Sánchez-Kobashi Meneses R, Friel S (2011) Toward a research and action agenda on urban planning/design and health equity in cities in low and middle-income countries. J Urban Health 88(5):875–885

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Throsby D (2005) Cultural heritage as financial asset in strategies for urban development and poverty alleviation. Paper Presented at the International Conference for Integrating Urban Knowledge and Practice, Gothenburg, Sweden, 29 May–3 June

    Google Scholar 

  • UN-Habitat (2006) The state of the World’s cities report 2006/2007. The millennium development goals and urban sustainability: 30 years of shaping the Habitat agenda. Earthscan, London

    Google Scholar 

  • UN-Habitat (2007) Enhancing urban safety and security addresses three major threats to the safety and security of cities: crime and violence; insecurity of tenure and forced evictions. United Nations Human Settlements Programme, Nairobi

    Google Scholar 

  • UN-Habitat (2009) Planning sustainable cities: global report on human settlements. Earthscan, London

    Google Scholar 

  • UN-Habitat (2010) State of Asian Cities 2010/2011. UNESCAP and UN-HABITAT, Bangkok

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • UN-Habitat (2011) State of the world cities 2010/2011: cities for all bridging the urban divide. UN-Habitat, Nairobi

    Google Scholar 

  • UN-Habitat (2012) State of the world cities 2012/2013: prosperity of cities. UN-Habitat, Nairobi

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations (2009) Human development report 2009 overcoming barriers: human mobility and development. United Nations Development Programme, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (2014) Annual report 2014. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2015) Population 2030: demographic challenges and opportunities for sustainable development planning (ST/ESA/SER.A/389). United Nations, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Urbis T (2008) Enhancing Victoria’s Liveability. Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Vuchic V (1999) Transportation for Liveable cities. Center for Urban Policy Research, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahab B, Agbola B (2017) The place of informality and illegality in planning education in Nigeria. Plan Pract Res 32(2):212–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wahab B, Ola AB (2016) The activities of informal waste collectors in municipal solid waste Management in Ibadan, Nigeria. J Environ Des Manag 8(1 & 2):80–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahab B, Oladiran O (2015) The nature and causes of illegal developments in Ajoda new town in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Ibadan J Soc Sci 13(2):225–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahab B (2018) Transforming Nigerian informal settlements into Liveable communities: strategies and challenges. In: Ogbazi J (ed) Enhancing the Liveability of informal settlements in Nigeria. Abuja, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, pp 3–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward K, Imbroscio D, Marlin D, Stone C, Whelan R, Miraftab F, Cochrane A (2011) Urban politics: an interdisciplinary dialogue. Int J Urban Reg Res 35(4):853–871

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waston V, Agbola SB (2013) Who will plan Africa’s cities? Africa Research Institute. Retrieved on 13th August, 2014 from www.africaresearchinstitute.org

  • Wheeler SM (2001) Livable communities: creating safe and livable neighborhoods, towns and regions in California (working paper 2001–2004). Institute of Urban and Regional Development, University of California, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Woolcock G (2009) ‘Measuring up? Assessing the liveability of Australian cities’, state of Australian cities. National Conference, Promaco Conventions, Sydney

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2002) World development report 2002. World Bank, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2003) Land policies for growth and poverty reduction. World Bank, Washington, DC

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2009) Systems of Cities: harnessing the potential of urbanization for growth and poverty alleviation. World Bank, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • World Economic Forum. 2018. African cities will double in population by 2050. Here are 4 ways to make sure they thrive. Retrieved on 25 December, 2018 from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/06/Africa-urbanization-cities-double-population-2050-4%20ways-thrive

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeun B, Ooi GL (2009) Introduction: world cities challenges of livability, sustainability and vibrancy. In: Ooi GL, Yeun B (eds) World cities: achieving livability and vibrancy. World Scientific Publishing Co. Ltd, Singapore, pp 1–12

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olawale Emmanuel Olayide .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Section Editor information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Kasim, O.F., Wahab, B., Olayide, O.E. (2020). Assessing Urban Liveability in Africa: Challenges and Interventions. In: Leal Filho, W., Azul, A.M., Brandli, L., Lange Salvia, A., Wall, T. (eds) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71059-4_70-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71059-4_70-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-71059-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-71059-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics