Kigali, Rwanda, 7 March 2025 (ECA) —Senior officials and experts from six city councils of Africa— Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, Kigali, Nairobi, Lusaka and Yaoundé — met in Kigali from March 4-7 to discuss strategies to bolster municipal finance as a cornerstone for fostering resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities.
As local governments increasingly confront complex urban challenges like rapid population growth, climate change, and economic disparities, the need for robust municipal financing becomes more critical. Ensuring cities have the financial resources required to meet these challenges head-on is essential for driving local development and securing a sustainable future.
Speaking at the event, Mr Ozonnia Ojielo, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, highlighted the timeliness of these discussions amidst ongoing global financial shocks. He emphasized, “Expanding municipal finance is not just about increasing revenue; it is about empowering cities to tackle present and future challenges with innovative and sustainable.
Ms Urujeni Martine, the Vice Mayor in charge of Socio-Economic Affairs of Kigali praised the gathering as an invaluable opportunity for knowledge and experience sharing. “Bringing together officials from diverse cities—each with unique challenges and opportunities—creates a platform for learning and collaboration, strengthening the capacity of municipalities across the region,” she stressed.
Ms Atkeyelsh Persson, Chief of the Urbanization and Development Section at the ECA elaborated on the context of the discussions. She said that this project is specifically designed to empower African city governments to implement strategic policy reforms aimed at expanding and strengthening urban fiscal capacity. “The project’s primary goal is to enable municipalities to improve their financial management to address both immediate challenges and long-term development objectives. By identifying and analyzing financial strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities, the project provides a comprehensive framework for enhancing local fiscal health,” Ms Persson noted.
Throughout the four-day event, participants discussed actionable strategies and explored successful case studies to address the financial needs of their cities, ensuring their readiness to build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban environments.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org