Integrated urban planning for sustainable mobility, housing and urban form in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda)

This proposal focuses on ´integrated urban planning for sustainable communities´ in East Africa targeting urban contexts in Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda.

It seeks mutually beneficial North-South-South research collaboration in the thematic areas of sustainable urban mobility, housing, and urban form.

The contextualized issues are inequality in transport and housing mechanisms, high levels of pollution due to fossil fuel dependence, and poverty due to poor economic integration of communities in the urban fabric.The research questions include: 1) How can integrated urban planning in East Africa contribute to sustainable communities through equitable transport, housing, and urban form mechanisms?, 2) What strategies can be explored to decrease pollution and fossil fuel dependence in transport and housing? , 3) How can integrated planning contribute to better livelihoods through local economic activities, linked to housing and mobility?

The collaboration will develop a joint research project to study the problem areas described above.

Operational aspects of the collaboration will consist of creating synergies in research and teaching, joint thematic workshops engaging relevant stakeholders, pilot activities in selected urban areas to test ideas, and dissemination of knowledge gained.The expected impact is strengthened research collaboration, innovation through pilot testing, and knowledge dissemination through joint publications.