However, the growth also introduces several challenges that create severe constraints to sustainable development. The top two critical challenges being the ability to attract infrastructure investment and climate change.
The current urban population of East Africa is about 132 million according to the UN Habitat. The rapid growth in population is putting pressure on urban infrastructure and affecting the way people live and move around in cities.
The population in the region is expected to grow to about 418 million by 2050 further straining the existing infrastructure and urban-based systems.
The burgeoning needs of the city and urban population must be addressed through adequate planning for critical infrastructure, which includes consistent supply of energy for households and commercial use, access to clean water, adequate waste management systems, and construction and expansion of existing transport systems.
Cities consume a majority of the region’s energy, producing more than 60% of greenhouse gas emissions driven by infrastructure construction and its use, such as buildings and transport, industries, and manufacturing plants.Additionally, cities in East Africa are particularly vulnerable because they are characterized by rapidly swelling informal settlements that lack basic infrastructure and services.
Such living conditions further expose communities to the harshest impacts of climate change, such as flooding, lack of access to clean water, and spread of tropical diseases further exacerbating the challenge of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
