Join urban changemakers across the continent. The UTA-Do African Cities Summer School 2026 in Addis Ababa explores sustainable urban futures. Applications now open for students, professionals, and city leaders.
Introduction
Urban transformation in Africa is no longer a choice it is a necessity. With soaring population growth, mounting infrastructure pressure, and rising inequality, African cities are facing complex challenges. The UTA-Do African Cities Summer School 2026, to be held in Addis Ababa, invites ambitious thinkers and doers to imagine and implement sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban futures.
From immersive workshops to real-world fieldwork, this programme equips the next generation of urban leaders with the tools, context, and vision to shape cities that work for everyone. Here’s everything you need to know to apply and make your mark on the future of African urbanism.
Why a Summer School on African Cities?
Africa is the most rapidly urbanising region in the world. Cities like Lagos, Kinshasa, Nairobi, and Addis Ababa are doubling in size, often without commensurate planning or investment. The result? Overstretched infrastructure, informal settlements, climate vulnerability, and governance gaps.
However, these same cities are also innovation hubs. Across the continent, young architects, planners, policy-makers, activists, and researchers are reimagining urban futures rooted in local knowledge, equity, and sustainability.
The UTA-Do Summer School responds to this moment by creating a space for African city stakeholders to collaborate, learn, experiment, and lead.
Addis Ababa: A City in Motion
Addis Ababa is more than just the capital of Ethiopia. It is a living laboratory of African urban change. Home to the African Union and over 5 million residents, the city represents both the challenges and potential of urban development.
From newly built mass transit corridors and government housing schemes to spontaneous neighbourhoods shaped by informal economies, Addis Ababa offers participants a rich, real-time classroom.
The city’s elevation, diversity, and political significance make it an ideal setting for interrogating the continent’s urban trajectory. The lessons learned here are transferable to cities across Africa.
Who Is This Programme For?
The UTA-Do Summer School 2026 welcomes applicants from across Africa and beyond. The ideal participant is passionate about urban transformation and brings academic, professional, or lived experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Urban planning or architecture
- Public policy and governance
- Environmental sustainability and climate resilience
- Housing and land use
- Infrastructure and mobility
- Social justice and community participation
- African studies or development studies
Whether you are a student seeking hands-on experience, a professional looking to expand your perspective, or a researcher committed to applied impact, this programme is for you.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should meet the following criteria:
- Hold at least a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent professional experience)
- Demonstrate a clear interest in urban development in Africa
- Have fluency in English (spoken and written)
- Be available to participate in the full duration of the programme in Addis Ababa in summer 2026
- Be willing to engage actively with a diverse, interdisciplinary group
Diversity is a core value of the summer school. Participants of all nationalities, genders, and backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Curriculum and Learning Format
The Summer School combines theory and practice through a carefully curated structure:
1. Thematic Modules
Participants explore foundational and advanced themes, including:
- African urban theory and historical legacies
- Urban infrastructure systems (transport, water, energy)
- Affordable housing and land governance
- Informality and everyday urbanism
- Gender, migration, and spatial justice
- Climate action and green cities
2. Interactive Skills Workshops
Learn practical tools such as:
- Participatory mapping and community engagement
- Urban data collection and analysis
- Spatial planning and design charrettes
- Policy design and advocacy techniques
- Resilience assessments and scenario building
3. Field-Based Learning
Participants will visit a range of urban sites in and around Addis Ababa, including:
- Informal settlements and upgrading projects
- New mass housing developments
- Transport nodes and road systems
- Market areas, civic centres, and public parks
- Institutions managing planning, land, and housing
This grounded learning ensures academic concepts are contextualised and actionable.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
A signature of the UTA-Do model is the collaborative approach. Participants are placed in diverse working groups to tackle real urban problems, co-develop proposals, and present their ideas to expert panels.
You’ll work alongside professionals and students from different countries, disciplines, and sectors. This peer-to-peer learning model reflects the complexity of African cities and fosters lasting networks.
Faculty and Guest Experts
The programme is facilitated by leading African and international scholars, planners, urban designers, and civic leaders. Participants benefit from access to:
- Faculty members from top African universities
- Practitioners from local government and NGOs
- Visiting lecturers with deep expertise in urban development
- Alumni from previous UTA-Do cohorts
- Experts in data, housing, finance, and environment
Guest speakers share candid reflections on their own work failures and successes alike providing insights you won’t find in textbooks.
Key Dates and Duration
- Programme dates: Expected to run from mid-June to mid-July 2026 (exact dates TBC)
- Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Format: In-person residential programme, 4 weeks
Participants should plan to arrive in Addis Ababa at least two days before the start date to acclimatise and attend orientation.
Accommodation and Living Arrangements
All participants are provided with accommodation close to the programme venue. Options include:
- Shared university guest houses
- Private hostel rooms (subject to availability)
- Meal plans or kitchen access for self-catering
Support is available for airport pickups, visa guidance, SIM cards, and local transportation. The city is well-connected and safe for visitors, with vibrant markets, cafes, cultural sites, and green spaces.
Summer School Tuition and Scholarships: Supporting Inclusive Participation
Although the Summer School requires a tuition fee, the programme strongly prioritizes accessibility and equity. To ensure that talented individuals from diverse backgrounds can participate, a range of scholarship opportunities is available. These scholarships may cover full or partial tuition, accommodation costs, and, in some cases, living stipends depending on individual needs and circumstances.
Priority for financial support is given to African applicants, especially those from low-income regions or underrepresented countries.
Applicants are also encouraged to seek support from their employers, universities, or development partners.
What You Will Gain
By the end of the programme of Summer School , participants will:
- Understand how global urban debates relate to African realities
- Gain tools to design and implement inclusive urban solutions
- Learn how to analyse policies, conduct fieldwork, and engage communities
- Build networks with future city leaders across Africa
- Receive a certificate of participation and project documentation
More importantly, you’ll return to your context with renewed vision and practical strategies for transformative urban work.
How to Apply
The application process includes:
- Online application form
- CV or résumé
- Motivational statement (500–600 words)
- Academic transcripts (if applicable)
- Two letters of recommendation
- Optional financial aid request
Applications open in early 2026, with two rounds: early admission (more scholarship availability) and final round.
Selection is based on merit, motivation, diversity, and demonstrated potential for impact in the urban field.
Summer School for Africa’s Urban Future: A Call to Rei magine Cities
The future of African cities depends on bold thinkers ready to design new pathways of inclusion, sustainability, and justice. The UTA-Do African Cities Summer School is more than just a seasonal programme it is an invitation to become part of a movement for urban transformation.
If you envision cities where every individual has a voice, where solutions grow from the ground up, and where urban planning serves people before systems, then this Summer School was created with you in mind.
Conclusion
In a time when cities define the destiny of nations, learning how to shape urban futures is more important than ever. The UTA-Do African Cities Summer School 2026 in Addis Ababa offers that rare mix of critical reflection, applied learning, and continental collaboration.
For past programme snapshots, alumni stories, and detailed updates, you can explore what previous participants experienced via this archived overview, which reflects the transformative potential of such immersive learning.
