Research Initiatives
Find here initiatives, publications, projects, events, etc. that inspire the Unruly project.
Research-action centre
Dedicated to connecting, sharing, and advancing knowledge, and growing expertise related to African public space. The Centre on African Public Spaces (CAPS) is a home and a resource hub for public space advocates, urban practitioners, community groups, spatial justice activists and scholars dedicated to connecting, sharing, and advancing knowledge, and growing expertise related to African public space.
International organisation - Research centre
Africapolis contributes to the New Urban Agenda in Africa and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 to “make cities and human settlement inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” by providing policy makers and researchers with a unique insight into the African urban landscape and a strong basis for the analyses and strategies needed to support sustainable and co-ordinated urban development.
Research centre
The African Urban Research Initiative (AURI) is a pan African interdisciplinary and applied urban research network. Our membership is comprised of universities, think tanks, research institutions and practitioner agencies concerned with urbanisation and its impacts across scales on the African continent.
Research pool
Urban Hub is a competence center for the study of cities and urban societies ttached to the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Geneva. It brings together experts whose research and teaching focus on the worlds of the urban, at the crossroads of disciplines such as geography, political science, sociology and political economy
Research centre
ACC is an interdisciplinary hub at the University of Cape Town with a mandate to conduct meaningful research on how to understand, recast and address pressing urban crises. Since most urban challenges—for example, food security, climate change adaptation, economic inclusion, cultural vitality and tolerance—are inherently interdisciplinary and spatially layered, ACC nurtures the co-production of knowledge between academia and other social sectors.
Research pool
The Geneva Africa Lab is a center of competence and research attached to the Global Studies Institute of the University of Geneva. It brings together experts working on African societies and issues concerning the African continent, from disciplines such as political science, geography, history, anthropology, archaeology, law, sociology and many others.
Research centre
The Urban Ethnography Lab builds institutional links between departments and scholars that are interested in fostering an international and interdisciplinary network of labs dedicated to spreading the value of ethnographic and qualitative urban research. The long-term objectives have been identified as to:
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Enhance ethnographic research methods at the intersection of urban anthropology, human geography and design.
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Create opportunities for research on urban comparisons,
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Promote the creation of a research network by facilitating the exchange of students and researchers internationally.
Research pool
Maintenance Corner for Southern Urban Practitioners is designed to nurture and expand the ongoing discourse on Southern Urbanism, with a particular emphasis on the dimensions of ‘practice.’
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The Maintenance Corner is an ongoing endeavour and will be updated and resourced as those involved continue our practice journeys through ideas of Southern Urbanism and action.
Collaborative Platform
Infrahub.africa, a collaboration between the African Centre for Cities and Utrecht University, highlights sustainable infrastructure projects across Africa to inspire more equitable urban futures.
As Africa’s urban population is expected to triple by 2050, cities face challenges in providing essential services. The platform showcases formal and informal initiatives that offer innovative solutions, moving beyond fossil-fuel-based models.
By sharing case studies, Infrahub.africa aims to inspire governments, businesses, and communities to experiment, adapt, and collaborate in creating more sustainable urban environments.
Reasearch & Teaching Center
The Africa Urban Lab (AUL) is a research center based at the African School of Economics-Zanzibar, dedicated to understanding and shaping rapid urbanization across Africa. Its mission is two-fold: conducting cutting-edge research on the challenges and solutions of urban growth, and training the next generation of African city builders, planners, and leaders to harness urbanization for human prosperity.
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Currently, AUL’s research focuses on four clusters: Urban Expansion & the Periphery; Innovative Urban Governance; Urbanization & Industrialization; and Cities, Culture, & Technology. Alongside this, the Lab offers short-term capacity building for current city officials and longer-term educational programs for emerging urban professionals.
Tribute to Mamy Tall
Architect
Mamy Tall was more than an architect; she was a visionary who believed that design should serve humanity. Passing away in July 2025 at the age of 32, she leaves behind an unfinished yet deeply symbolic body of work.
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Her work was never just about concrete or steel. It was about storytelling, heritage, and dignity. Whether leading national projects to restore public buildings or creating striking public art, she infused everything with purpose and beauty. Beyond architecture, she was an artist, a designer, and a connector, weaving bridges between disciplines and people.
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Her journey was brief but luminous, leaving behind ideas that will continue to shape minds and cities. Mamy believed that architecture could change lives – and in her short time with us, she proved it.