Over the past few decades, Africa has experienced a remarkably rapid urbanization process. The total urban population has increased by 3.7% annually, surpassing the continental population growth rate of 2.5%. Urban residents make up nearly 45% of this population. This is a substantial increase from 35% in 2000. By 2033, the number of urbanites is expected to surpass their rural counterparts, and by 2050, 60% of Africa’s population will reside in cities. This rapid urbanization is mainly attributable to cities doubling from 3,300 in 1990 to 7,600 in 2022. Megacities like Cairo, Kinshasa, Kenya, and Lagos have led — and continue– to lead.
As is well known, the expansion of African cities has not been matched by the capacities of metropolitan authorities to address significant challenges. These include severe congestion, poor waste management, and inefficient resource allocation. Several cities have begun the first steps toward harnessing AI systems for planning and aligning urban infrastructure with sustainable development goals. Nairobi, Kenya, has emerged as a good example of AI-powered traffic management systems that are reducing congestion and lowering CO₂ emissions, successfully launching AI-powered traffic management last month. In South Africa, Cape Town has deployed AI for energy management via smart grids, achieving significant energy efficiency and reliability benefits.
Innovative local startups have been pivotal actors in such technological transitions. Sadeem Technology, for example, is in the business of leveraging AI tools to create better disaster preparedness and traffic management systems. The replication potential of innovative startups like this is vast. Indeed, they are laying strong foundations on which cities can build smarter, more resilient African cities in the future.
AI allows city officials to apply sophisticated, big-data predictive analytics to previously intractable city planning problems. Human decision-makers can develop multiple urbanization scenarios and evaluate and pursue those consistent with people’s aspirations. Thanks to the positive demonstration effect of UNEP’s sustainable building project in Nairobi, it is conceivable that city managers are now more than likely to promote eco-friendly construction and operational practices in the city. And in Cape Town’s case, official support for AI-powered planning and management has likely been strengthened. We can expect AI adoption to improve ridership patterns, energy consumption, and infrastructure service deliveries, helping the city reduce reliance on private vehicles, enhance air quality, and promote healthier urban environments.
There are clear indications that Africa’s urbanization trend will continue. As AI adoption accelerates beyond the early adopters, the increased use of AI as a human decision-support tool in urban development will enable African cities to overcome current challenges and build more prosperous, resilient futures for their growing populations. The continent’s urban transformation is a compelling story of African innovation and opportunity.
This is fantastic. How easy can one deploy the Ai tool without the financial resources to support investment in the infrastructure?
Hi Wisdom! Thank you for your insightful comment. Yes, robust infrastructure typically requires substantial investment to make AI deployment as accessible as possible—even in resource-constrained settings. One way communities can address the financial hurdle is to begin with smaller, cost-effective implementations, then gradually expand as additional funding become available from public and private sources.