ACRC-Addis Ababa Research Uptake

Project description

The African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) is a collaborative approach to tackling complex problems in the continent’s rapidly changing cities. The FCDO-funded programme aims to generate insights and evidence that will help improve the living conditions, services and life chances of all city residents, particularly for disadvantaged communities. Initially working in 12 African cities, the project integrates systems thinking with rigorous political analysis to provide new insights designed to support urban reform efforts.

Research approach

ACRC adopts a research approach that integrates systems thinking with rigorous political analysis, to provide new insights that enable African cities to be more productive, equitable and inclusive. Under this approach, the project has four main themes:

• Theme 1: Rethinking African cities – concepts and theory
• Theme 2: Understanding cities as systems
• Theme 3: Tackling priority complex problems to unlock urban systems
• Theme 4: Research uptake, including pathways to impact and synthesis

FSS’s role

For Addis Ababa, FSS is primary responsible for leading the fourth theme: research uptake.  ACRC’s work in Addis Ababa spans the housing, youth and capability development and structural transformation domains, along with political settlements analysis and a city of systems study covering ten key city systems. Accordingly, the uptake work will focus on engaging key stakeholders in Addis Ababa to co-produce and co-create knowledge, and to communicate research findings from these thematic areas to accelerate changes in policy, practice and programming with respect to the city’s urban transformation agenda.

For further information visit the ACRC website.

Follow ACRC and FSS on Twitter: @AfricanCities and @Forum_FSS