Bridging research and policy for sustainable urban development in Sub-Saharan Africa
The Centre for Urban Research and Planning (CURP) is a trans disciplinary research centre at the University of Zambia. CURP seeks to invest and undertake policy-relevant knowledge generation on important developmental themes in Zambia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
CURP prioritizes research topics and questions that are central to achieving sustainable urban and territorial development goals in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Southern Africa, with Zambia as the starting point. We prioritize collaborative research with communities, industry, civil society, government agencies, and international partners.
CURP was formed in 2014 and launched in 2015 by the Minister in charge of urban planning and housing at the time. The Centre was founded by Dr. Gilbert Siame.
The initial grant to set up this centre was provided by DFID via Comic Relief under the Programme called People in Slums: People-led Slum Upgrading Project in Lusaka.
The centre has grown exponentially, attracting research collaboration with major international and regional institutions.
African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI)
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
British Academy
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
International Development Research Centre of Canada (IDRC)
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Slum Dwellers International (SDI)
Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD)
UK Met Office
UN-Habitat
African Centre for Cities (ACC) - University of Cape Town
University of Lagos
University of Malawi
Lusaka City CouncilMinistry of Green Economy and EnvironmentMinistry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban DevelopmentBridging between policy and research on strategic themes of climate change research for adaptation and resilience, sustainable urban development, urban informality, and data/evidence-driven planning.
Promoting and undertaking transdisciplinary research and urban creativity for sustainable urban development in Zambia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Providing a platform for policy-engaged postgraduate scholarship and hosting of international visiting scholars/fellows and students.
To serve as an advisory and capacity building centre for sustainable development in the public sector, civil society, and communities in strategic areas/sectors in Zambia.
Generate data and information to address major data gaps in urban planning and development in Africa.
Building strategic partnerships to enhance research for impact and policy engagement.
Founder, Centre for Urban Research and Planning (CURP), University of Zambia. Conference lead for UNZA.
Gilbert is the founder and coordinator of CURP, and a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Geographical Sciences, Environment and Planning at UNZA. With over ten years of research on urban food systems, local governance, climate change and urban development and urban informality, he has led projects by many international organisations, and been a lead consultant and advisor for urban development and food systems governance projects in Africa.
Email: Gilbert.siame@unza.zm
Phone: +260 979457414
Get in touch to learn more about our research, collaborate on projects, or discuss partnership opportunities
Address
Centre for Urban Research and Planning
University of Zambia
Great East Road Campus
P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia
Phone
+260 211 293 579
info@curp.unza.zm
Office Hours
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sunday: Closed