Associational Life in African Cities; Popular Responses to the Urban Crisis

THIS BOOK EXPLORES the growing importance of civil society in Africa. Case studies from 16 countries provide evidence of the growing role of associational life in Africa. Rather than concentrating on a specific city, country or region, this book argues that the trend is continental. The definition of civil society is explored and considered within the context of Africa. The rise in citizens’ associations is traced to dual processes of rapid urbanization and the declining role of the state. Lacking support for the unprecedented growth, cities are suffering from increased poverty, environmental hazards and health risks. Simply put, cities lack the infrastructure and organization to support growth. Consequently, civil society has organized to fill in some of the gaps left by the government. In some cases, the services provided by associational life extend beyond the traditional roles of the state. The book consists of papers that address the structure, contributions and challenges of the rise of associational life in Africa. They are grouped into five main categories:

Informal networks. Case studies explore nearly invisible informal sectors that operate within cities and across borders. These mutual-help networks contribute to the alleviation of poverty through providing assistance in securing both material and immaterial benefits.

Religion and identity. These contributions explore the role that religious institutions have played in providing an identity to populations unsettled through urbanization and colonialism. In addition, the capacity of religious organizations to funnel money for welfare provision is explored. The rising role of religious institutions as service providers is changing institutional identity.

Land and housing. This section explores the related rise of informal settlements and civil society, as citizen organizations tackle issues such as land acquisition. The studies also investigate the position of local government and the relationships that are formed between civil organizations and the state.

Infrastructure and services. The neglect of basic service provision such as road repair and waste removal has led to the mobilization of communities. Rather than protest the neglect, citizens have organized to provide for their own communities.

Emerging initiatives. In this section, the complex relationships that exist between associational organizations, donors and the government are explored. Contributions consider the future of service provision within Africa and parameters within which civil organizations can successfully operate.

Citizen organization, as defined in the book, encompasses every type of organization within the range of the family and the state. Case studies include the contributions of non-government organizations, community-based organizations and informal networks. Arising from diverse needs, civil organizations serve a wide spectrum of populations. Whilst some groups are defined by specific affiliations, others loosely serve people within a certain locality. The book argues for the incorporation of civil organization into planning efforts, since cooperation amongst the different levels of actors can contribute to a more effective means of service distribution throughout Africa.