By Dr Melody Mandevere and Dr Roselyn Cheruiyot
Resilient Urban Communities is a collaborative African-German project that addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of “sustainable cities and communities” and “quality education” through research and dissemination of knowledge related to the subject areas “good governance” and “local government”. Encompassing a research, networking and education component, RUC aims to improve urban supply systems and infrastructure for vulnerable groups in deprived local communities and enhance the governance of African megacities. The research programme of RUC focuses on social enterprises (SEs) and non-profit organisations (NPOs) as subsidiary social service providers and vehicles for participation and integration that contribute to the resilience of urban communities.
CAPSI, in partnership with three other universities, started the project in the last quarter of 2021.
Below are the activities including those for the year 2023:
| Milestone | Description | Achievement/s |
| WP1 | Consortium Kick-Off Meeting in Johannesburg | Partners from Muenster University, Weimar University, Frankfurt University, Strathmore University, City of Johannesburg and East Africa Philanthropy network (EAPN), converged at Wits University being hosted by CAPSI for the planning meeting which was successful. |
| WP3 | Write literature review on key parameters of a supportive eco-system for SEs and NPOs in urban Africa | Literature review for a supportive ecosystem was compiled and the document has been shared with other partners. |
| WP5 | Reality Check: Analyses of the eco-systems of SEs/NPOs in Johannesburg | A total of 15 interviews in the 1st phase and 8 in the 2nd phase were contacted with City Officials, NPOs and SEs. The report is being finalised. |
| ISTR | A report focusing on the Sustainability of Social Enterprises and NPOs in South Africa was presented at a roundtable discussion in Montreal, Canada in July 2022. | |
| WP4 | Pathway to Success I: Conference, PhD Seminar, and Research Workshop at Strathmore University in Nairobi | A conference to be attended by all RUC partners in Nairobi. CAPSI presented WP3 and WP8 preliminary results. |
The plans for 2023 are as follows:
- Together with other partners, the WP5 report will be finalised.
- WP8, which aims at providing firsthand expertise for the foundation, management, leadership and sustainability of community-based SEs and NPOs in African megacities through two case studies in South Africa, will be implemented. The plan is to observe, interview and analyse at least two Social Enterprises in South Africa to understand the challenges and to overcome these.
Dr Melody Mandevere and Dr Roselyn Cheruiyot are CAPSI’s first Post Doctoral Researchers.
