Poverty and Hunger

From Trash to Treasure: Korogocho’s Food Waste Champions

By |2024-01-29T10:46:20+01:00December 28th 2023|Resilient Cities and Climate, Sustainable Infrastructure|

Explore Nairobi's dynamic markets with Joy Carey and Sam Ikua, where waste undergoes a remarkable transformation. These champions not only reshape the narrative around waste but also address issues of food and hunger, driving innovation and leaving a lasting impact on the community.

UN Habitat Assembly

United Nations Habitat Assembly: Affordable Housing for All

By |2024-01-05T12:56:38+01:00June 13th 2023|Good Governance, Housing and Construction|

The second United Nations Habitat Assembly took place in Nairobi from June 5 – 9. Reuben Kyama attended the high-profile event which ended by adopting a historical resolution.

COP27

Needing No Less Than a Revolution – Building For a Sustainable Future Climate

By |2024-01-04T16:31:42+01:00November 8th 2022|Resilient Cities and Climate, Sustainable Infrastructure|

To get cities back on track to avoid building towards a climate crisis, actions must start today. Donovan Storey and Etta Madete Mukuba on sustainable design principles, alternative building materials, and technologies.

Young Voices

Leave No One Behind – A Promise to the Urban Poorest

By |2024-01-04T16:25:11+01:00August 23rd 2022|Gender and Inequalities, Good Governance|

Leave on one behind is a catchy phrase which is used in various contexts so often that one might forget it is also a promise. One that is unfulfilled, Franka Bernreiter argues and reminds us that neither slums nor the responsibility to create sustainable cities are exclusive to the Global South.

AFFORDABLE CITIES

Mathare Social Justice Centre Struggles for Clean Water and Sanitation

By |2024-01-04T15:49:25+01:00July 7th 2022|Gender and Inequalities, Sustainable Infrastructure|

Access to affordable and clean water cannot be taken for granted in Nairobi's neighbourhood of Mathare. Gacheke Gachihi outlines the structural changes needed to guarantee affordable water for all.

A Sustainable Urban Future: The Role of Early Childhood Education

By |2024-01-04T15:39:00+01:00January 11th 2022|Good Governance|

Playing is learning – and a way to teach young children the principles of sustainable urban development. The Toy Library Association of Kenya wants every child and every educational facility to have access to tools for playful education for sustainable development. By Lilian A. Oloo

Spatial Fragmentation in Nairobi City; the Elephant in the Room

By |2024-01-04T14:21:19+01:00April 29th 2021|Good Governance, Integrated Planning|

Nairobi is recognised to be among the rapidly urbanising and growing economies in East and Central Africa. Eunice Jimmy reviews the city's spatial, economic, and social structure, uncovering its dual nature of formal/informal, planned/unplanned, and connected/disconnected fragments, hence Nairobi's spatial fragmentation.

Safe and Beautiful Public Spaces? Necessity Not Luxury!

By |2024-01-04T14:23:32+01:00April 12th 2021|Gender and Inequalities, Good Governance|

Public spaces are more important than ever – and cities need to find ways to co-create spaces that are accessible for everyone. Public Space Network meets this challenge by spearheading community-based transformation in Nairobi. By Ivy Njambi Maina

Resilience After Covid19 – A System-Thinking Approach

By |2024-01-04T13:31:57+01:00June 18th 2020|Good Governance, Resilient Cities and Climate|

Resilience needs to be a priority in shaping the post-pandemic future, argues David Jácome-Pólit, outlining the advantages of system-thinking in urban planning.

A Spark of Hope: Making Nairobi’s Slums Fire Resilient

By |2024-10-01T12:02:30+02:00January 9th 2020|Housing and Construction, Resilient Cities and Climate|

High density and poor building materials make informal settlements extremely prone to fire hazards. The Nairobi-based enterprise Kwangu Kwako has developed a housing model that, while being truly affordable, increases fire resilience and thus positively affects many aspects of residents' lives.

Let Them Play! Nairobi through a Child’s Eye

By |2024-10-01T12:03:27+02:00November 14th 2019|Gender and Inequalities, Sustainable Infrastructure|

The number of children living in urban areas is on the rise. However, this is not reflected in cities' infrastructures. Rapid development is shrinking the amount of suitable and safe play areas for children. Using Nairobi as an example, Peninah Ndegwa, founder of Wow Mom Kenya, reflects on why and how cities should become more child-friendly.

Innovation for Better Quality of Life in Cities and Communities: First UN-Habitat Assembly

By |2024-01-03T14:59:52+01:00May 31st 2019|Good Governance, Integrated Planning|

From 27-31 May 2019, the first UN-Habitat assembly is taking place in Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi. Reuben Kyama reports directly from the conference.

Act Globally, Act Locally

By |2024-01-03T11:35:40+01:00February 14th 2019|Good Governance, Integrated Planning|

An oft mentioned phrase in development parlance is “think globally, act locally”. Yet, when the change we seek is improved livelihoods globally, is local action enough? Doug Ragan, Rolf Wichmann, and Raphael Obonyo claim that local action is critical yet can’t be done in isolation of national and international realities. In their article, they explore different interventions that can be utilised to address the issue of improving youth livelihoods through interventions from the local to the global.

More Than Income: How Selling Household Items Can Transform Slum Communities

By |2024-01-03T14:56:31+01:00February 12th 2019|Finance, Gender and Inequalities|

"LivelyHoods" forges economic opportunities for youth and women in Kenyan slums – while at the same time promoting clean energy. What are the project's success factors and what challenges does it face?

Women’s Growing Need for Safe Mobility

By |2024-01-02T15:01:21+01:00May 23rd 2018|Gender and Inequalities, Sustainable Infrastructure|

Until today, women around the world experience harassment and even assault when moving in public spaces, including on public transport services. In Nairobi, Kenya, the Flone Initiative is combatting gender-based violence by supporting victims, and by training service providers to effectively prevent behaviour that compromises women’s safety and right to mobility.

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