The African Cities Research Consortium is a think tank focusing on international development in certain cities in Africa that operates out of the University of Manchester’s Global Development Institute in the United Kingdom. It is funded by the UK’s Foreign, Development & Commonwealth Office (FCDO), equivalent to other countries foreign ministries or Departments of State.

The organization was formed in 2021 as a collaboration of several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on international development projects in Africa. Other organizations involved with operating the organization include ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability Africa, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), ODI Global (formerly the Overseas Development Institute), and Slum Dwellers International (SDI). ^{1 2 3}

Background

The African Cities Research Consortium was created in 2020 by the University of Manchester Global Development Institute in the United Kingdom. The organization highlighted that 40 percent of Africans live in cities and towns in which providing decent jobs, housing, and services was described as a “huge challenge—even before COVID-19 hit.” The organization described itself in 2021 as planning to “tackle the complex, political, and systemic problems in some of Africa’s fastest growing urban areas.” ⁴

The group defines urban reform coalitions as groups of stakeholders including social movements, civil society organizations, state agencies, and private enterprises that promote policies to “improve the relational capital of disadvantaged residents, increasing the legitimacy of their claims, advancing their interests and leading to pro-poor reforms.” ⁵

The organization focuses on over a dozen cities mostly in sub-Saharan Africa such as Nairobi, Kenya; Accra, Ghana; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and Lagos, Nigeria. ⁶

The group is led by CEO Diana Mitlin, a professor of global urbanism at the University of Manchester and also the principal researcher at the International Institute for Environment and Development. ⁷

Activities and Stances

The African Cities Research Consortium publishes a variety of research highlighting policy and investment strategies and priorities in Africa and the rest of the developing world. It promotes a variety of left-of-center positions on environmentalism and climate policy and has been involved in United Nations-affiliated global climate conferences. The group highlighted the COP26 conference and “efforts to address the risks posed by the climate crisis need to consider the realities of the billions across the world living in these built-up areas,” stating a needed emphasis on “City-level climate adaptation, urban climate justice and other intersecting topics.” ⁸

The group’s research highlights themes such as “Climate change, gender and finance are significant themes that cut across research at city and domain level.” The group notes that such themes are key focuses of ACRC research and that such themes will inform the recommended policy implementation in relevant cities. ⁹

Affiliated Organizations

The African Cities Research Consortium is operated by the University of Manchester’s Global Development Institute in the UK. Organizations involved with operating the organization include ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability Africa, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), ODI Global (formerly the Overseas Development Institute), the Liverpool School of Architecture, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR), the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), and Slum Dwellers International (SDI). ¹⁰

1. “About.” African Cities Research Consortium. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.african-cities.org/about-us/
2. “Partners.” African Cities Research Consortium. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.african-cities.org/partners/
3. “Connect.” African Cities Research Consortium. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.african-cities.org/connect/
4. “Webinar Introducing the African Cities Research Consortium.” African Cities Research Consortium. 2021. https://mailchi.mp/98cc4808a793/webinar-introducing-the-african-cities-research-consortium
5. “New paper: Driving equitable change through urban reform coalitions.” African Cities Research Consortium. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.african-cities.org/new-paper-driving-equitable-change-through-urban-reform-coalitions/
6. “Cities.” African Cities Research Consortium. Accessed October 1, 2023.  https://www.african-cities.org/cities/
7. “Diana Mitlin.” University of Manchester. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/diana.mitlin
8. “Reflections from COP 26.” African Cities Research Consortium. November 19, 2021. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.african-cities.org/reflections-from-cop26-can-city-level-climate-action-catalyse-global-change/
9. “Crosscutting Themes.” African Cities Research Consortium. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.african-cities.org/crosscutting-themes/
10. “Partners.” African Cities Research Consortium. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.african-cities.org/partners/