Community-Based Learning Innovation for Sustainable Urban Development in Africa

African communities in the urban environment experience complex problems involving poverty, solid waste, climate change, water and sanitation, infrastructure, governance, health, food security, and energy. The UN DESD 2005-2014 is a response to this challenge to promote changes in approaches to education so as to integrate the principles, values and practices of sustainable development. Most universities are constraint from the achievement of sustainable urban development by conventional courses, teaching methodology and lack of adequately trained instructors in the interdisciplinary nature of ESD. This can be addressed though re-tooling of teaching methodologies from theoretical to more practical learning; development of curriculum responsive to community needs through urban community based processes; recognize the potential of communities for urban sustainable development with all stakeholders valued equally; participatory methods to promote local ownership and support communities through bottom-up development approaches with communities in control of initiatives; through action research and innovation where communities are encouraged to embrace experimentation as a means of consistently improving welfare. Experiential learning with a practical change project approach from the initial needs analysis is required to promote the use of indigenous knowledge. Kenyatta University and United Nations University together with other universities in Africa and Japan are developing a Master’s programme, Community-Based Learning Innovation for Urban Sustainable Development for the African Region. The programme will equip learners with innovative skills and the capacity to solve community development needs through sustainable technology and community research for enhanced social-economic development, enabling them to integrate sustainable innovative practices for enterprises and wealth creation with poverty eradication and environmental sustainability. Community change agents are targeted to become more innovative planners, organizers, instructors, engineers and project managers to contribute solutions to improve urban community livelihoods. Focusing on Community Resource Development, Sustainability Innovations, Sustainable Development Planning, Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Renewable and Sustainable Energy, and Sustainable Urban Agriculture, the courses will be highly practical-oriented through triple helix with universities working in partnership with the governmental, non-governmental organizations and private sectors.