Urban Futures in East Africa: Transformation Towards Sustainable Neighbourhoods
3 – 5 June 2026
Kigali, Rwanda
From 3 to 5 June 2026, the University of Rwanda hosts the second LEARN Symposium in Kigali. The first edition took place in Nairobi. This time, the participant base has expanded to include researchers, students, policymakers, civil society organisations and urban practitioners from East & Central Africa and Europe.
LEARN, the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus East Africa Research Network, works on urban challenges across East Africa: climate adaptation, informal settlements, digitalisation, community development. Not from a single city or discipline, but through collaboration between universities, civil society organisations and local partners.
The 2026 theme focuses on sustainable urban development at neighbourhood level. The premise is that lasting change in cities starts locally. Improvements at neighbourhood level can create a ripple effect, contributing to the sustainability and resilience of entire cities and regions. Participants will explore how these strategies can inform broader approaches and discuss what it takes to make urban growth more inclusive and resilient.
The symposium is a collaboration between LEARN and the University of Rwanda.
More information about the programme will follow through the LEARN network. Outcomes and insights will be shared via LinkedIn and the LEARN website.