Documents

Urbanisation in a Digital World: Opportunities and actions for governments, donors and the private sector

The digital revolution provides significant opportunities for developing countries to diversify their economies, improve sector productivity, build their human capital and enhance governance and public services. This is particularly true for cities where much of this innovation will occur. However, whilst the digital and concurrent ‘fourth industrial revolution’ have the potential to improve the lives […]

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Transportation: Making the Connections – Reaching the Opportunities

The purpose of this note is to highlight linkages between improved transport services and development.  It summarises how these are essential to individual access to opportunities, business and industrial connectivity, and economic growth at local, national and regional levels.  It considers areas of comparative advantage for DFID and the UK more widely, and concludes with […]

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Understanding cities in DFID programming

Why is understanding cities important? The world is increasingly urban, with 55% of the world’s population living in cities. DFID does a lot of programming in cities, promoting economic growth, better governance and social inclusion. However no two cities are alike, and the hugely varied socio-economic pressures and opportunities cities place on the poor. This means […]

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Urban Growth Diagnostic – Solwezi, Zambia

Solwezi is a large town, which is growing rapidly due to the recent construction of one of Zambia’s largest and most productive mine, Kansanshi. The town’s growth is expected to continue and there is a need for public investment to improve services needed by the growing private sector. 

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Urban Growth Diagnostic – Ndola, Zambia

Ndola is the third largest city in Zambia, and the industrial and commercial hub of Zambia’s copperbelt. The city is home to half a million people, roughly a third of those living in Copperbelt Province. Ndola lies just 10km from the border with DRC. Whilst mining contributes significantly to GDP, unemployment is high and Ndola […]

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Urban Growth Diagnostic – Mongu, Zambia

Mongu municipality is the provincial centre for western Zambia, one of the poorest  regions of the country. Mongu’s economy is primarily agricultural, with trade links to Angola and Lusaka. There is potential for tourism as a gateway to the Barotse flood plain and Luiwe Plains National Park.

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Urban Growth Diagnostic – Mbala, Zambia

Mbala is a small but growing town on the border with Tanzania. Unlike many border  towns its economy is only loosely linked with its neighbour. Instead the town acts as an  economic and service hub for surrounding rural agricultural communities, and a supply  hub for nearby national parks.

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Urban Growth Diagnostic – Mansa, Zambia

Mansa is the regional capital of the Luapula Province. One of the poorest provinces in Zambia, Mansa acts as a regional commercial hub, is home to a number of mines, and forms a small urban cluster with neighbouring border towns facilitating trade into DRC.

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Urban Growth Diagnostic – Lusaka, Zambia

As the capital of Zambia, Lusaka is the country’s key political and economic centre.  With a population approaching two million, Lusaka is also Zambia’s largest city. Lusaka hosts a diverse range of commercial activities, and these businesses are well-connected to Zambia’s other cities through a developing road network.

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Urban Growth Diagnostic – Livingstone, Zambia

Livingstone is the tourism capital of Zambia. The economy is relatively undiversified and the city needs improvements in urban infrastructure, services, sector skills and diversification to ensure growth and attractiveness to visitors. 

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