Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. The future of slums will tell us much about the future of African cities & democracies.

Africa’s growing slums are complex, diverse neighborhoods with their own histories. Currently, these places, characterized by spatially concentrated poverty and human rights abuses, are where large proportions and, in many cases, the majority of Africa’s growing urban populations live. These slums often have a politics characterized by clientelism and repression, but also cooperation, accountability, and political mobilization. Importantly, they must be understood within a wider political context as products of larger historical processes that generate severe inequalities in standards of living, rights, and service provision. Varied approaches (modernization vs. more critical historical and political economy approaches) attempt to explain the emergence, dynamics, and persistence of slums and the politics that often produces, characterizes, and shapes them in Africa.

At the Rome SDG16 Conference 2019, #civilsociety presented its "Rome Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+", which includes recommendations & calls to action. Read & endorse the Rome Declaration:

"The time for committed, urgent, & meaningful action is now"

As recognised by Political Declarations of the UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF) and other UN and civil society analyses, numerous challenges and structural barriers confront the realisation of the ambitious SDG16+. Collectively, the world is off track in realising the 2030 Agenda and thus realising inclusive and peaceful societies. Around the world, over 40 countries are in active conflict, and 92 countries have become less peaceful over the last 10 years. Violence causes 1.6 million deaths worldwide every year. 5.1 billion people have unmet justice needs globally.

The growing problem of youth unemployment and underemployment is one of the main socio-economic development concerns of most African governments. Without job-related skills, youth and adults cannot benefit from the employ-ment opportunities that offer a decent income.

The illegal trade in wild fauna and flora involves the harvesting, procurement, transport, and distribution both domestically and internationally, of animals and plants, as well as their parts and derivatives, in violation of laws and treaties. It ranges in scale from single items being traded locally to commercial containers shipped worldwide to international markets.

The State of Peace and Security in Africa (SPSA) has become the annual flagship Report of the Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa, popularly called the Tana Forum, offering a synoptic analysis of the pressing peace and security issues on the continent during the previous year—2018, in this case— and provide explanations for them. It is not intended, and cannot even pretend, to document all the peace and security challenges the continent faced in any particular year, but draw attention to those considered to be the most salient and cross-cutting, particularly in terms of disruption and harm they caused African citizens and the states.

With rapid global urbanization, the future of humanity is urban; and thus, the future of violent conflict is also urban. At the same time, urban and rural areas might have different dynamics of crime and violence and thus require different type of approaches and solutions. Much of urban growth has been rapid and unplanned, with urban centres largely lacking the capacity to provide adequate opportunities and gainful employment, primarily affecting the young women and men. The emergence of a large un- and under-employed urban youth population provides immense opportunity for young people to play a key role in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2250, particularly at the local level as articulated in the New Urban Agenda.

Faith-based actors play a crucial role in human and sustainable development. The respect and public trust earned over several decades of engagement with governments, local communities and other key actors has exceptionally placed and equipped religious communities and faith-based actors to play a critical role in promoting the inclusion of different groups, offering peaceful channels for conflict resolution, upholding the human rights of the most vulnerable, among others.

During the first UN-Habitat Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, the Local and Regional Governments will hold a forum to dialogue with policy makers, the UN system and stakeholders on identifying innovative solutions to harness the New Urban Agenda to accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

The strategy provides a framework for the UN system to coordinate efforts to assist Member States harness the opportunities and meet the challenges of urbanization for the attainment of the SDGs. It builds upon earlier analytical work by HLCP, aligning it with Agenda 2030 and other global agreements and considers frontier issues, such as artificial intelligence and climate change, that will impact on sustainable urbanization.

Cities are in a unique position to be able to connect, bring communities together, celebrate diversity and inclusion. Interfaith Dialogues will offer delegates the opportunity meet, explore similjarities, challenge stereotypes and build relationships for healthier and sustainable communities.