The Just City in Zambia

Urbanization and the evolution of cities and towns in Zambia have been driven by mineral exploitation on the Copperbelt and along “Line of Rail”. Rural to urban migration remains a major driver (push factor) of urbanisation in Zambia.Despite many urban development challenges, evidence suggests that cities in Zambia are “engines” of economic growth, and job creation. Cities, if well managed, can catalyse industrialization by taking advantage of agglomeration economies and their relatively good infrastructure and services, high population density and diversity.The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and the United Nations Programme for Human Settlements and Sustainable Urban Development, UNHabitat, signed an agreement to collaborate occasionally to host joint events, dialogue programmes and workshops on variety of topics with objective of contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, SDG No. 11, through an initiative titled Just City in Zambia. The two (2) parties have agreed to increase dialogue and engagement in the policy making process with the objective to accelerate the realisation of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Further, the project aims to strengthen coordination among local authorities and other stakeholders such as trade unions, civil society organisations and those living in informal settlements in public goods delivery. The Just City project in Zambia, is a project that aims to enhance dialogue and policy engagement with policy makers and other key stakeholders in an effort to accelerate the realization of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. 

Here is a brief overview of the principles on which Just City stands:

1. Democracy – this call for urban planning and decision-making processes which embraces participation. It seeks to envision a city whose planning and implementation incorporates voices, perspectives and experiences from diverse social groups in urban areas.
2. Dignity – often, informality is stigmatized which is why we want dignity to be the fundamental principle that underlies both human rights-based approaches and our equity work. It implies respect for and recognizing residents of informal areas as equal citizens.
3. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) – this principle calls for equitable access to opportunities (decent work) and services (health, transport, education, housing) for all city residents regardless of their race, gender, socio-economic status or ethnicity. In a just city we focus on fighting the intersections of oppression, i.e. combined inequalities.
4. Accessibility and Affordability – the relevance of access and affordability cannot be under

For further information on our Just City work in Africa, see our Just City Website.