Equal Partnerships Policy Paper

As Africa witnesses a profound transformation from rural to diverse urban societies, the spotlight has primarily focused on human mobility towards major urban centers. Yet, the crucial role of intermediary cities —bridging rural and metropolitan areas— remains overlooked in academic and policy discussions. In this policy paper, Janina Stürner-Siovitz and Lasse Juhl Morthorst from the Equal Partnerships Project, shed light on the vital yet neglected space of intermediary cities in Africa and explore what is needed on the local, national and international level to create sustainable multi-stakeholder partnerships to address urban migration processes.