SARChI Chair in Urban Governance and Energy in Africa
This SARChI Chair in Urban Governance and Energy in Africa focuses on addressing Africa’s urban challenges with a commitment to social justice and sustainable development. The Chair aims to generate transformative research on urban innovations that advance the Just Transition in African cities. It explores sustainable solutions to the complex challenges of urbanisation, including poverty, gender inequality, and environmental degradation, within a political economy framework.
The Chair emphasises innovations in energy, water, waste, and infrastructure systems that are tailored to the African context, moving beyond conventional, centralised approaches. Key areas include decentralised renewable energy systems, low-energy water and sanitation solutions, and innovative urban governance practices.
Prof Mark Swilling
Held by Prof. Mark Swilling, the Chair adopts a trans-disciplinary approach, and its research goals include building a globally recognised hub for African urban studies, fostering partnerships across the global South, and developing a new generation of scholars equipped to navigate Africa’s urban complexities.
Collaborations with the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town and international networks will bolster knowledge sharing and real-world application. In additional, the Chair will engage with policymakers, businesses, and civil society to embed sustainable practices and support experimental, context-driven urban ecosystems.
This Chair and the projects attached to it will contribute to sustainable urbanism and the Just Transition by advancing theoretical insights, policy innovation, and practical solutions for African cities, with the ultimate aim of improving well-being, addressing gender inequalities, and promoting spatial justice.
