Paper short abstract:

This study identifies key analytical dimensions and proposes a typology of urban reform coalitions based on an analysis of multi-stakeholder collaboration initiatives in ten African cities. It provides a framework for further in-depth analysis of reform coalition-building in Southern cities.

Paper long abstract:

Addressing Africa’s intricate urban problems requires challenging adverse relations through building solidarities across class and other social divides. In this regard, urban reform coalitions, i.e., multi-agency collaboration for a specific goal, provide a viable strategy for pushing inclusive urban reforms depending on the local political context. This paper aims to contribute to the emerging literature on urban reform coalition-building in Southern cities by expanding our conceptual understanding of the form, purpose and content of coalitions. Based on a desk review of the African Cities Research Consortium's urban development domain study reports supplemented by internet search, this study identified and analysed urban reform coalition initiatives in ten African cities. The study shows that coalition form, temporality, goal, degree of formalisation, class composition and key outputs are key dimensions in analysing urban reform coalitions. The findings also suggest that reform coalitions aiming to benefit a wider segment of the urban population and target marginalised groups, as well as reform coalitions that facilitate dialogue and knowledge exchange platforms, tend to foster cross-class alliances. Nonetheless, building inclusive reform coalitions is predicated on a well-organised disadvantaged group. Using goal orientation and class composition as typological dimensions, the paper proposes five distinct types to invite in-depth analysis of urban reform coalitions in the global South.