Addressing Rapid Urbanization in Sudan with Special Reference to Greater Khartoum

Sudan is witnessing rapid urbanization from massive rural-urban migration, and continuous IDPs’ influxes flooding urban centers. Greater Khartoum (8 million people), Nyala (2 million people), and Damazine, (one million people) are growing extremely fast bearing the rapid urbanization brunt.This event portrays Sudan’s experience in addressing rapid urbanization by presenting four experiences:(i) Khartoum State Structure Plan, 2008-2033; a long-term planning that addresses major urban issues.(ii) Khartoum State Localities and Administrative Units Strategic Development Plan, 2012-2033, involved a comprehensive analysis of Khartoum environment resulting in identification of concrete programs and projects to safeguard the ecosystems and better manage the State’s natural resources. The program’s key features are: strategic planning; public participation; and local environmental measures embodied in international agreements.(iii) Blue Nile State Strategic Urban Planning efforts aimed to strengthen peace and social cohesion in one of the post-conflict regions of Sudan, where Habitat-Khartoum University partnership was established to prepare strategic urban plans for Roseiris and Damazine cities. These plans promote IDPs’ integration, environmental enhancement, ecological protection and landuse control. (iv) Greater Khartoum applied revolutionary measures for mitigating rapid urbanization impacts. Five concurrent remedial programs were implemented:1. Urban Management Reformation that involved effective urban management equipped with knowledge, popular authorization and supported by legislations and spatial planning tools.2. Surplus Population Absorption that aimed to provide shelter for all. The land plots and housing units distributed benefited 2.84 million people3. Treatment of slums and informal settlements through regularization and upgradingof hundreds of informal settlements/slums. The program legalized the status of1.8 million people4. Replanning of traditional villages and old neighborhoods that improved their built environment and incorporated them into the urban fabric. The program benefited 0.70 million people5. Sustainable urban restructuring that involved urban distortions’ correction, reallocation of incompatible urban functions, and urban networking improvement.