Cities that Respond to People's Needs
Prof. Hangwelani Hope Magidimisha-Chipungu is a Professor of Town and Regional Planning at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, SARChI Chair for Inclusive-Cities, and Academic Leader for Planning and Housing. We explore the challenges keeping us from inclusive cities, what can be done to solve the challenges, improving the role of local authorities in inter-governmental dialogues and how to build cities that respond to the people’s needs.
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This episode answers:
- Her definition of an inclusive city?
- The major challenges keeping us from moving forward to more inclusive cities?
Spoiler: Rapid Urbanisation growth is not accompanied by economic growth. Climate Change. - How can we tackle these challenges, what steps must be taken right now, and by who?
- How can we improve the role/visibility of local authorities in inter-governmental dialogues and decision-making since they are at the core of implementation for most developmental projects?
- How town and regional planning will change in a post-pandemic world?
Spoiler: Things have changed permanently. She explains how. - What she would change with her magic wand.
Spoiler: Create cities that respond to the people's needs (not only cities that are good at competing with other cities) - How African cities might change over the next 5 years?
About Prof. Hope Magidimisha-Chipungu
Prof Hangwelani Hope Magidimisha-Chipungu is an NRF-rated researcher, DST/NRF/SACN South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair in Inclusive-Cities, and the academic leader for town planning and housing disciplines in the School of the Built Environment and Development Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She is also a practitioner who sits on various national and international boards.
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