Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Coursera

Financing Infrastructure in African Cities

United Cities and Local Governments of Africa , African Local Government Academy , Erasmus University Rotterdam and Institute for Housing and Urban Development via Coursera

Overview

Prepare for a new career with $100 off Coursera Plus
Gear up for jobs in high-demand fields: data analytics, digital marketing, and more.
The world is urbanizing fast. In less than a century more than 1 billion people have been urbanized. That translates into the fact that more than half of the world’s population is already living in cities. Experts forecast that very soon Africa will become one of the most urbanized continents. However, almost 70% of world’s urban population is living in the cities where governments are struggling to provide basic services like sanitation, schools, hospitals, and adequate clean water.

The reason is that, their governments do not have enough money. This may also be true also for the city where you live or work. Poor infrastructure affects your daily life. Local governments struggle with mobilizing finances so that they can improve your quality of life but many times they are not aware of the right mechanisms.

Imagine that your government wants to know how can they finance cities and they want you to advise – where will you begin with? Our finance experts are bringing their experience right at your Desk through this MOOC. This MOOC has five modules and in five weeks you will learn:
• Financial decision making environment in urban systems
• Mechanisms for mobilizing local revenues
• Innovative mechanisms for financing infrastructure projects through partnerships, and
• Financial decision making under uncertainties and risks

We will provide you a carefully selected set of literature, quizzes and interactive discussion forums. So join our MOOC and find out the ways to make your city a better place to live in for yourself and for your next generations.

(This MOOC was developed in collaboration with the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG-Africa), African Local Governments Academy (ALGA), and Erasmus University Rotterdam)

Syllabus

  • Welcome to the Course
  • Introduction to Urban Finance
  • Financing Current Expenditures
  • Financing Capital Expenditures
  • Financial Decision Making for Municipal Governments
  • Capstone Project

Taught by

Somesh Sharma, Jaap Spronk, Meine Pieter van Dijk and Bernadette Ssanyu

Reviews

4.6 rating at Coursera based on 54 ratings

Start your review of Financing Infrastructure in African Cities

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

Someone learning on their laptop while sitting on the floor.