African cities are increasingly reclaiming degraded land, restoring wetlands, and recovering waste to address environmental pressures of rapid urban growth. Local authorities are treating green spaces and waste systems as essential infrastructure for healthier, more resilient cities. From a former dumpsite in Kenya to restored wetlands in Rwanda and urban forests in Sierra Leone, cities are experimenting with ways to combine environmental restoration, public space, and economic opportunity.
In Kisii County, Kenya, a former dumpsite has been transformed into a public park, part of a wider effort to turn an environmental liability into a community asset. The county government spent KSh 35 million, approximately US$270,000, on the project. A 2020 study found elevated concentrations of heavy metals in soil around the dumpsite, raising concerns about potential contamination of nearby water bodies. The site had long been associated with smoke, foul odors, and health concerns for surrounding communities.
Kenya generates an estimated 22,000 tonnes of waste daily, equivalent to about 8 million tonnes annually. An estimated 60-70% is organic, presenting opportunities to convert discarded material into compost, fertilizer, and other useful products. A materials recovery facility established at the Kisii Agricultural Training Centre can process up to 50 tonnes daily, while a Black Soldier Fly unit has been designed to process 10 tonnes of organic waste into animal feed and fertilizer.
Kisii County is also linking environmental improvement to employment through its 'Kazi Mashinani programme', engaging about 2,000 people monthly on a rotational basis to clean streets, clear drainage channels, and maintain public spaces. County officials project that 24,000 people will benefit from the programme. Similar efforts are taking shape elsewhere on the continent, where degraded land and ecosystems are increasingly being reconsidered as part of cities' infrastructure rather than as vacant space for development.
In Kigali, Rwanda, the Nyandungu Eco-Park demonstrates how wetland rehabilitation can combine environmental protection with recreation and livelihoods. Opened in July 2022, the 121.7-hectare park incorporates restored wetlands, forest, ponds, and walking and cycling routes. The project restored natural habitats and planted 17,000 trees representing over 55 indigenous species. The park is part of a wider programme to restore urban wetlands, with plans for five additional wetland ecosystem parks covering nearly 500 hectares across Kigali.
The World Bank projects that the five parks in Kigali could attract more than one million visits annually by 2031, create 7,500 jobs, and help avoid between US$45 million and US$90 million in flood damage. In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Beautifying Sheger initiative is applying a similar principle to river corridors. Launched in 2019, the programme aims to rehabilitate 56 kilometres of rivers and surrounding areas, combining environmental improvements with parks, walkways, and flood-control infrastructure.
In Freetown, Sierra Leone, the TreeTown initiative is using community participation and digital tracking to restore degraded landscapes and reduce environmental risks. Launched in 2020, the programme initially targeted one million trees by 2023 before expanding its ambition to five million trees by 2030. By 2024, about 977,000 trees had been planted and digitally tracked, restoring approximately 1,000 hectares. The initiative has also generated around 1,500 green jobs, with young people accounting for about 80% of those employed and women 48%.
Key points
- African cities are reclaiming degraded land to build more liveable and resilient cities.
- Cities are experimenting with ways to combine environmental restoration, public space, and economic opportunity.
- Initiatives in Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone demonstrate the potential for urban development that prioritizes environmental restoration and job creation.
