Paper short abstract:

The global urban development policies aim at improving people’s lives around the world. However, despite the global policies initiatives, African cities are still not measuring up to fulfilling the narratives.

Paper long abstract:

The global urban development policies aim at improving people’s lives around the world, the Sustainable Development Goals and New Urban agenda, do much more in tackling the root causes of poverty, and developmental issues. It embraces the need for economic development that leaves no one behind and gives every child a fair chance of leading a decent life. However, despite the global policies initiatives, African cities are still not measuring up to fulfilling the narratives. This is because many of the states sees it as a foreign idea that has no place for their value. This work, will explore three interrelated questions: why is the global urban policies not well mainstreamed into the African development framework? What type of urban issues are made salient for African urban future? Which roadmap will transform African’s urban future? The discourse will bring into fore the political leadership and practical policies needed for the African cities future.