By 2050 , 68 % of the world ’ s population is expected to live in urban areas . This is up from 55 % in 2018 . According to the same research published by the UN , sustainable development will depend on the successful management of urban growth , especially in low-income and lower-middle-income countries where the pace of urbanisation is projected to be the fastest .
The UN believes that many countries will face challenges in meeting the needs of their growing urban populations , including housing , transportation , energy systems and other infrastructure , as well as employment and basic services such as education and healthcare .
For Govender , this means the focus must be on stimulating the economy in localised spaces – one city block at a time . This is a critical intervention to uplift people from poverty .
“ TUHF is committed to investing in urban regeneration and creating an enabling environment where service delivery can be significantly
improved . This requires the involvement of multiple stakeholders across the public and private sectors . For instance , local municipalities need to do more to maintain infrastructure in these communities . In turn , this will result in the areas becoming more attractive for potential investors ,” says Govender .
“ This is what TUHF often refers to as ‘ impact through scale ’ – developments that offer real benefits in transformation through diversity , accessibility , and economic inclusion ,” concludes Govender .
Sivan Govender
Operations Executive TUHF
SA Real Estate Investor Magazine JUNE 2022 75