Tech Front · Smart Cities
Smart Cities Front.
Civic data, service delivery and the public realm.
The challenge
Why this Front exists.
Africa's cities are urbanising faster than anywhere on earth. Service delivery, civic data and the operational layer of cities are the binding constraint on quality of life.
The Smart Cities Front backs builders working with municipal authorities on data, service delivery and the public realm.
Where we're focusing
Briefs we're scoping with partners.
Civic data
Open data, dashboards and decision tools for city authorities.
Service delivery
Permits, payments, complaints and the everyday transactions of city life.
Public realm
Tools that improve how streets, parks and shared spaces work.
Climate-resilient cities
Adaptation, water and energy systems at the city scale.
How it runs
Six to nine months, from brief to deployment.
Challenge brief
Co-authored with sector partners who own the problem.
Cohort build
Selected teams prototype in context — not in a slide deck.
Field trial
Solutions tested with real users in real settings.
Procurement bridge
Working products handed to the partners who can buy them.
Who we're looking for
Partners that can help us build this Front.
- City and metropolitan authorities
- Urban planning bodies
- Civic-tech operators
- Foundations and DFIs
- Universities and research institutes