Abstract:
Cities are already the locus of 80% of global GDP and home to
more than half of the world’s population. Further, the United
Nations (UN) anticipates that the world’s urban population will
grow to 6.7 billion in 2050 from a base of just 4.2 billion in 2018,
with close to 90% of this increase taking place in Asia and Africa.
This means populations across major cities will grow at
unprecedented rates. But it is not just capitals and megacities
that face great challenges and opportunities. Often
overshadowed by their more renowned counterparts, the
multitude of smaller cities are poised to play a critical role in the
unfolding demographic shift.
Second cities provide a cultural and economic bridge between
rural areas and big cities. They are often levers for regional and
global trade. In the African context, the narrative of urbanisation
is rapidly evolving, with second cities emerging as dynamic hubs
of innovation, opportunity, and resilience.
Africa’s second cities embody a rich tapestry of diversity,
reflecting the continent’s multifaceted identity and historical
legacy. From vital logistics and shipping hubs like Mozambique’s
Beira, to the academic centre that is Rabat in Morocco, to
the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s mining fulcrum of
Lubumbashi and the tourism gem in South Africa’s crown that is
Cape Town, second cities take a multitude of forms, while sharing
important traits.
In partnership with the GIBS Centre for African Management
and Markets (CAMM), DHL Express SSA has embarked on
this research paper to understand the complexities of and
opportunities that lie in these urban centres across sub-Saharan
Africa. The paper captures the unique potential for Africa’s
second cities to take advantage of the so-called demographic
dividend and generate prosperity for the continent.
This paper rounds out with a selection of evidence-based
approaches that business leaders and policymakers can wield
to address the challenges that second cities face and, indeed,
FOREWORD
leverage powerful demographic, social and economic forces to
build a better continent for tomorrow.
I extend my sincere appreciation to the authors of this research
paper for their dedication, insight, and scholarly rigour. Their
work represents a significant contribution to our understanding
of Africa’s urban landscape, laying the groundwork for further
analysis and action. This paper is designed to open dialogue,
collaboration, and positive change, inspiring us to unlock the full
potential of Africa’s second cities.
