A two day, high-level workshop, the Resources and Urban Africa Workshop, is taking place at the Sustainability Institute in Stellenbosch this week.
Professor Eugene Cloete, Vice-Rector: Research and Innovation, opened the workshop, organised by the African Urban Metabolism Research Network (AUMRN) and aimed at initiating discussions on resource consumption in African cities, on Wednesday (17 June).AUMRN is a collaboration between the Urban Metabolism Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), directed by Professor John E. Fernández, researchers at Stellenbosch University led by Dr Josephine K. Musango of the School of Public Leadership and multiple local partners from several major African cities.
Professor Cloete indicated the value of such collaborative networks for the purpose of exchanging ideas and knowledge in relation to aspects of water, energy, agriculture, land, technology and health. He further pointed to the need for universities and research institutions to address related issues pertaining to women empowerment, access to energy, the economy, employment and basic services as well as a focus on leadership, transformation and housing.
The workshop participants were selectively invited key individuals who are researchers, independent consultants, academics, government representatives at various levels, and representatives of International Organisations (UNDP and UNESCO). They hail from different cities in Africa including Cairo in Egypt, Lagos in Nigeria; Kinshasa in the DRC, Nairobi in Kenya, Luanda in Angola, and Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria in South Africa. In addition, researchers and students from MIT and Stellenbosch University were part of the workshop.
Having delved into the current and future state of African cities, Professor Fernández introduced the workshop goals as enhancing the research agenda, establishing long-term partnerships and creating research networks around urban metabolism and resource use, especially in the context of the global South.
The workshop will conclude with a public presentation on the main conclusions and results. This session will take place at the Sustainability Institute from 17.00 to 19.00, and all interested parties are invited to attend.
- For more information on the AUMRN visit http://www.urbanmetabolism.org/projects/resources-and-urban-africa/ and on Twitter follow #RAUA15.
Caption: Prof John Fernandez
of the Urban Metabolism Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dr Josephine Musango of the School of Public Leadership and Prof Eugene Cloete, Vice-Rector:
Research and Innovation at Stellenbosch University (Photo: Anton Jordaan)
