Abstract

Urban growth is one important aspect of Third World development. In Africa, cities have grown faster than anywhere else in the world over the last twenty years. Until now, few Africans have been qualified to do research on the institutional, administrative and financial aspects of urban growth. This project in conjunction with project Ecoville at the University of Toronto will study urban growth management in the Ivory Coast. The researchers will study the impact of heavy migration from rural areas to the city and the concomitant problems in employment, housing, urban services infrastructures and food distribution. Research on the institutional, administrative and financial structures of communities will be conducted in the capital city Abidjan and in 10 other municipalities.

Post-Project Summary

This project was part of the African Ecoville network, funded by IDRC, including: 83-0176 (Kenya), 83-0183 (Nigeria), 83-0255 (Tanzania), 84-0005 (Sudan), 84-0009 (Zaire), 84-0011 (Senegal), and 84-1005 (Africa). In the Ivory Coast, problems caused by urban growth were analyzed, and the historical development of institutions responsible for demographic management was examined. The research team distributed two questionnaires, i.e. "The attitude of the taxpayer to property taxes and related taxes" and "Profile and behaviour of the municipal councillor". The political and administrative functions and structures as well as human, material, technical, and financial resources of communities and of the city of Abidjan were subsequently analyzed. In addition, a financial analysis of budgets and accounts of the communities and of Abidjan was performed. In addition, organizational weaknesses were identified; existing structures, the financial management of communities, and the implementation of urban reform objectives were assessed; reasons for the low property tax returns were analyzed and general recommendations offered for their improvement. The project generated interest from some government agencies as a result of presentations made by the project leader during several seminars and courses on management and urban finances, which he had been invited to develop.

Recipient Institution(s)