Our Nodes
A distributed centre for healthy, climate-resilient urban futures
The model
The UrbanBetter Academy operates as a distributed centre anchored by university-based nodes in Africa and across the diaspora. Rather than a single headquarters, it functions as a coordinated institutional network in formal partnership with UrbanBetter.
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Each node is embedded within a university or research institute and contributes to shared programme pillars through its own disciplinary strengths, regional expertise and applied partnerships. Together, the nodes form an interconnected system that mobilises research, skills training and coalition-building across geographies, advancing an Africa-focused and globally connected approach to healthy, climate-resilient urban development.
UrbanBetter serves as the coordinating secretariat, ensuring strategic alignment, shared standards, cross-node learning and joint delivery of programmes. This distributed architecture operationalises our Africa-led Global approach by mobilising Global Africa’s intellectual capital as infrastructure for urban transformation.
How the nodes work
The node model connects locally grounded expertise to a globally networked platform. It enables:
Value for host institutions
Hosting a node positions an institution within a distributed academy advancing Africa’s healthy, sustainable urban development.
Nodes gain structured pathways to consolidate and expand research, skills, training and coalition-building in urban health and climate resilience.
Through the Cityzens platform, host institutions connect directly with youth-led civic networks, decision-makers and civil society partners across African cities.
This partnership ensures that research and training are grounded in lived realities, informed by citizen-generated data, shaping solutions, aligned with policy priorities and connected to global health and climate agendas.
