Effects of Urban Land-Use Policies on Urban Services Structure in Africa: A Review of Current Research

Abstract

The urban environment is a complex system shaped by a variety of factors such as land-use change and allocation and the provision of urban services, which constitute an important asset to urban living. Nevertheless, the need for urban services and a diversity of land uses seems to be accelerating competition for land. Unequal land-use also seems to be making it more difficult for the urban poor to acquire essential services required for their livelihoods. Lack of sufficient mobility and widespread urbanisation also hinder inner-city inhabitants’ access to essential urban services. This paper was aimed at investigating how institutional frameworks and land tenure systems in Africa affect spatial land-use arrangements interacting with patterns of access to fundamental urban services in Africa. The study used an evidence-systematic review strategy, involving screening and classifying studies, to evaluate a diversity of research and policy papers aimed at addressing key recurrent issues and regulatory gaps that hinder fair urban development. Key results of this paper show a close relationship between urban planning and community well-being in which effective service delivery and inclusive development in Africa are seriously hampered by overlapping authorities, fractured planning processes, and insecure land title. The paper suggests that eliminating these gaps by embracing efficiency in the utilization of urban land is critical to developing equitable urban environments that benefit everyone’s wellbeing. The assessment underlines the need for integrated land-use and service planning, enhanced policy coordination, and increased institutional ability to achieve more sustainable and equitable urban futures throughout Africa. The results also suggest that through efficient land-use planning, accessibility to urban services can be tremendously improved, indicating the need for policies that give integrated planning approaches a top priority.