Private Sector & Development magazine articles

According to the International Telecommunications Union and the UN, a smart city is, “... an innovative city that uses … ICT and other means to improve quality of life, efficiency of urban operation and services, and competitiveness, while ensuring ... economic, social, environmental as well as cultural aspects”. Back in 2019, ASToN programme sought to implement this vision. Questions arising included: how does this apply in real contexts, specifically African cities, often in the face of scarce infrastructure and urgency? The following feedback is from this flagship initiative.

The UN estimates that cities are responsible for 75 percent of global CO2 emissions. If we are to have any hope of keeping to the Paris Agreement and limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees then it’s what happens in cities which is critical. While many cities across the world are already reducing their emissions quicker than their respective countries there is one major blocker standing in the way of further progress: access to finance.

South Africa’s private sector participates in real estate projects that provide low-cost, sustainable housing for the poorest sections of the population and for students. These building programmes reduce socio-spatial segregation and improve the living conditions of programme beneficiaries.