Mapping Africa Transformations

Mapping territorial transformations in africa

Africa is undergoing enormous territorial transformations driven by a number of factors such as climate change, rapid urbanisation and a growing population. This makes it all the more important for policy makers to have access to reliable and informative tools that can help them to define their policies and strategies.

The Mapping Territorial Transformations in Africa (MAPTA) platform will explore both the challenges facing the African continent and the transformative levers that can be activated to build a future that is more peaceful, resilient, and inclusive.

Security

Instablity has been growing in the Sahel and West Africa as transnational violent extremist organisations have proliferated. As a result, violent events have become more frequent and civilian casualties have increased. Our tools help policy makers to better understand the spatial dynamics of violence which leads to better designed, place-based and contextualised policies.

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Climate

MAPTA-Climate enables users to track the sustainability and resilience of African urban agglomerations. It combines new and innovative spatial data on green spaces, pollution, street networks, and urban forms for nearly 7 200 urban agglomerations with 10 000 inhabitants and above in 54 countries. This data improves our understanding of functional environmental realities and identifies current and future vulnerabilities as well as levers of action for transformative change.

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Gender

In conflict-affected areas, gender inequalities are exacerbated. Women and girls experience different forms of violence in addition to structural discrimination against their political representation and economic and social empowerment. They are deliberately targeted by Islamist organisations and militias and are victims of government forces during counter-insurgency operations. Within communities, they are also exposed to violence related to the sharing of water, land, and other resources.

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Featured content

Forthcoming: New dimensions of the Spatial Conflict Dynamics indicator

SWAC/OECD is developing new parameters for the Spatial Conflict Dynamics indicator (SCDi) to better map and monitor the spatial evolution of armed conflicts in North and West Africa

Presenting the Spatial Conflict Dynamics indicator – SCDi

Learn about the SCDi through this short, animated explainer video

City shapes and climate change in Africa

Africa is undergoing an unprecedented urban and climate transition; yet, given the right conditions, compact urban forms can encourage greater sustainability, resilience and liveability in coming decades

Urbanisation and Conflicts in North and West Africa

While cities and urban areas have always been sites of conflict, given their political and economic importance, many insurgencies, rebellions and separatist movements are associated with rural areas

Reports

Read in depth studies and publications

Stories

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