Special issue: Towards resilient urban communities

...In Africa, urban life is often perceived to be better than the rural situation of widespread poverty, hunger and hard labour, relying on subsistence rain-fed agriculture in the face of unpredictable rainfall and climate change. Urban areas are seen as offering greater amenities, better employment opportunities and better services. However, urban areas concentrate risks and health hazards. The heterogeneity in urban communities can mask inequities and severe deprivations when its indicators are averaged across the poorer and richer urban communities. Goods and services in urban areas are commoditised and are often too expensive for the urban poor to afford.....