3rd Annual Urban and Regional Planning Conference (URPC- III)

About the Conference

HOST: The Department of Urban and Regional Planning, the University of Nairobi.

THEME: ‘Planning for Resilient Cities in Africa’

DATES: 28th October 2024 – 1st November 2024

Urban and Regional Planning Conference (URPC-III) 2024 provides an international forum for exchange of ideas and recent developments in research activities in universities and industries on topical issues surrounding urban and regional planning across the Africa Region.

The Department of Urban and Regional Planning of the University of Nairobi will convene its third annual conference (URPC-III) in October 2024. This year, the conference seeks to advance local, regional and global conversations on planning for resilient cities to attain sustainable development in Africa. Resilient cities and rural settlements are those that are able to absorb, recover and prepare for future risks and vulnerabilities in areas of infrastructure (physical), environmental, economic, social and institutional structure. As Africa continues to urbanize at a rapid rate amid stresses of pandemics, informality, climate change, environmental degradation, inadequate infrastructure and basic amenities, there is need to build resilience in urban and rural settlements by centering the role of spatial planning in driving sustainable development.

The conference will be a two-day interactive session comprising of paper presentations, key note speakers, plenary discussions and exhibitions.

The Conference invites state agencies, non-state actors, research and academic institutions as well as private entities to collaborate and partner in hosting the conference, sponsoring conference activities and exhibitions.

The call is open to individuals, activists, firms, academics, state, non-state, think tanks, innovators, research institutions, and students from local and international in the fields of Urban Planning, Regional Planning, Urban Management, Development Studies, Real Estate, Architecture, Environmental Science, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Engineering. Contributions are encouraged along the following

Sub-themes:

Urban Risks, disasters and Resilience.
Climate change and resilience.
Mapping vulnerability and coping strategies.
Mainstreaming resilience in spatial plans.
Human settlement and infrastructure resilience.
Green urban economy.
Nature-based solutions.
Urban regeneration/renewal.
Livelihood strategies.
Sustainable development.
Food and Nutrition Security.
Value addition strategies and manufacturing.
Resilience Planning initiatives in response to “Leave no one behind”.

Abstract and Paper Timelines

Abstracts of papers and concept of exhibitions are to be sent by 10th September 2024 to email address: durp@uonbi.ac.ke and copied to: ropiyo@uonbi.ac.ke and ewkanini@uonbi.ac.ke . Accepted abstracts will be communicated by 15th August 2024. Full papers should be submitted by 30th September 2024 with full payments.

Scientific and practice abstracts:

Language: English
Theme (select one from the 9 sub-themes listed)
Title: max 10 words (sentence case)
Abstract: max 350 words. All abstract submissions should target one or more of the conference sub-themes and articulate the objectives, methods, results and conclusions/discussions.
Keywords: max 3 keywords of own choice
Author’s name, country, organization, email. The presenting author (not necessarily the first author) .
Presentation location: Nairobi or in a virtual session

Exhibitions Instructions

Exhibitors should attempt to thematically match their works/displays with the theme of the conference. Organization/individuals can only organize up to one exhibition. All organizers must submit their own requests. All applications should be submitted through the conference organizing committee. Potential exhibitors are highly encouraged to apply as soon as the application period starts and well in advance of the deadline, in order to allow for sufficient time to address and resolve any queries/issues that may arise. Only complete applications received within the deadlines will be considered. Exhibitors to submit their application by 10th September 2024 to email address: durp@uonbi.ac.ke and copied to ropiyo@uonbi.ac.ke and ewkanini@uonbi.ac.ke. Accepted exhibition applications will be communicated by 20th September

2024 and payment to be done by 30th of September 2024 for space allocation.

Spaces for exhibitions will be available in the ADD Building. The maximum space allocated for each exhibitor is 3 meters (length) and 3 meters (width). Due to the limited space in the building, it will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. We anticipate having around 20 exhibitors (Government, private sector, Civil Society Organizations, Professional bodies, Universities, Research Institutes, UN agencies and Development partners and bilateral agencies such as JICA, SIDA etc). All exhibitors are responsible for the mounting of their exhibits. They will be allocated a focal point who will supervise the installation works at all times

Paper Submission Guidelines