Urbanisation: challenges and opportunities for the Australian Aid Program

Abstract

Between 1990 and 2030, the UN estimates that global population will increase by nearly four billion. Ninety per cent of this increase will be in developing countries, of which ninety per cent will be in urban areas. Such a radical transformation in the way that most of the world's people live will place huge strains on basic services such as water; sanitation and shelter. However; rapid urbanisation creates great potential for economic growth and development. This potential must be managed to minimise the urbanisation of poverty. As the majority of the world's poor will soon live in urban rather than rural areas, Australia's overseas aid program must respond to this shift. Although the primary sources for urban investment will be from the national governments and the private sector, aid can act as an important catalyst in improving urban living standards. The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) facilitates the use of Australian expertise and materials to address these challenges through better urban management.