Abstract:

African cities face unprecedented urbanisation challenges, with the continent’s urban population projected to increase from 40% to 56% by 2050. In this context, sustainability extends beyond environmental considerations to encompass integrated approaches that simultaneously address economic productivity, environmental resilience, and social inclusion. Smart cities have emerged as a contemporary response to rapid urban growth, leveraging technology integration, data-driven governance, and innovative infrastructure. However, the sustainability trajectory of these initiatives remains contested and requires rigorous examination to ensure optimal resource allocation and equitable development outcomes. This paper examines critical sustainability issues in African smart city projects while exploring strategies capable of catalysing transformational change. Drawing on evidence from six major initiatives across Kigali, Lagos, Nairobi, Cairo, and Accra, the analysis demonstrates that although smart city projects can generate tangible economic and environmental benefits, their social implications require more robust and nuanced governance frameworks. Effective change leadership, integrating stakeholder participation, institutional capacity building, and context-sensitive policy implementation; emerges as essential for advancing comprehensive sustainable smart cities innovation. The business case for this research rests on three foundations. First, there is the strategic importance of ensuring that more than $10 billion in current African smart city investments deliver sustainable outcomes. Second, there is an urgent need to address sustainability tensions that risk undermining long-term development gains. Third, policymakers, urban planners, and development practitioners require evidence-based frameworks to navigate Africa’s accelerating urban transformation effectively.

Please choose your submission type: Full Paper

Primary Track: Strategy-as-Practice

Keywords: Business models;Global, regional, or local level strategy;Reshaping strategic practice;Strategy-as-practice;Sustainability practices

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Mr. Godswill George

Biography