Africa’s urban land markets: piecing together an economic puzzle

The document describes the complexity of urban land markets in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the roles of various actors and the prevalence of irregular practices. It argues for a shift in policy from state-centric regulation to a model that recognizes multiple regimes of authority, including traditional and unrecognized actors, particularly in peri-urban areas where state management is limited.

• Urban land markets in sub-Saharan Africa involve a diverse array of actors, including governments, private developers, traditional authorities, land owners, slum dwellers, and tenants, who collectively create essential urban infrastructure such as housing, schools, and business premises.
• The study identifies two systemic issues in African urban land markets: the state's frequent involvement in corrupt and irregular land practices that favor an elite minority, and the fact that significant market growth occurs in peri-urban areas where state regulation is limited.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2014). Africa’s urban land markets: piecing together an economic puzzle. https://cdkn.org/resource/africas-urban-land-markets-piecing-together-an-economic-puzzle

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Africa’s urban land markets: piecing together an economic puzzle. 2014. https://cdkn.org/resource/africas-urban-land-markets-piecing-together-an-economic-puzzle.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Africa’s urban land markets: piecing together an economic puzzle |date=10 November 2014 |url=https://cdkn.org/resource/africas-urban-land-markets-piecing-together-an-economic-puzzle |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2014africas, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Africa’s urban land markets: piecing together an economic puzzle}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2014}, month = nov, url = {https://cdkn.org/resource/africas-urban-land-markets-piecing-together-an-economic-puzzle}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }