Explaining inclusive lower-level urbanization in Tanzania and Uganda

The project studies lower level urbanization in Uganda and Tanzania, aiming to assess under what social, economic and spatial conditions that processes of urbanization at the lowest level of the urban hierarchy can promote the livelihoods and welfare of residents in small towns.

In sub-Saharan Africa, future urbanization is considered to be driven by a set of negative rural pressures, rather than the attraction of urban areas. The continuing importance of agriculture characterizes urbanization, as opportunities outside agriculture are limited.

Small towns take on a special role in this context: the majority of the urban population lives in cities below 300 000 inhabitants, 26% in small towns of less than 50000 inhabitants.

While linkages to agriculture are likely to continue to play a major role in urban livelihoods, kinship relations provide support in the absence of formalized systems of welfare provision.

Theoretically the project combines perspectives from urban systems theory with perspectives on multi-local livelihoods to situate urbanisation processes spatially and economically, with respect to the urban system, rural surroundings and local business structure, politically in terms of local governance and socially in relation to kinship and multi-local livelihoods.

The methodology involves a ground-breaking combination of remote sensing data analysis and the collection of quantitative data and qualitative interviews in selected sites in Tanzania and Uganda.