WUF 12: Event

A Just Transition for African Cities: A Strategic Exchange on Urban Resilience 

Africa faces severe impacts from climate change, threatening its socio-economic stability and deepening inequalities, particularly in urban areas. These densely populated regions are vulnerable to climate-related hazards. Join us for an event on “Just Urban Transition,” where African city officials will discuss the intersection of climate change and urban justice, drawing on experiences from BMZ-funded projects. The event will explore strategies to integrate climate adaptation into urban planning and advance the SDGs, featuring a panel discussion and Q&A on inclusive, resilient urban development across Africa. 

Panel Discussion 

 

Moderator: 

Efua Dadze Arthur

Efua Dadze Arthur, Head of Project, Capacity Building through Urban Infrastructure Development (CBUID) and Sector Coordinator Urban Development, GIZ Egypt Efua Dadze Arthur

Efua Dadze-Arthur is an accredited Urban Planner with over 20 years of experience in urban planning and development, gained in public, private and third sector environments as well as international development cooperation across Ghana, the UK, Libya and Egypt. 

Carl Moritz Leifgen

Carl Moritz Leifgen, Depute Head of German Cooperation, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Egypt Carlo

Following previous experience at UNDP and in the private sector, Carl Moritz Leifgen joined the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development in 2016 and serves as Deputy Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Egypt since 2024.

Speakers: 

Eng. Dr. Maha Fahim

Eng. Dr. Maha Fahim,Chairperson of the General Organisation for Physical PlanningMaha Fahim

Dr. Maha Fahim, a seasoned architect, urban and regional planner with three decades of experience, heads the General Organization for Physical Planning (GOPP) in Egypt.  

As Chairperson, she oversees the development of comprehensive policies and plans that promote sustainable human settlement development throughout the country. Her work extends to national, regional, and local levels, ensuring that Egypt’s urban growth aligns with broader development goals. Dr. Fahim collaborates closely with international partners to foster sustainable development and plays a pivotal role in reviewing and approving local plans for cities and villages. 

The Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities represented by GOPP is one of the national partners of the Capacity Building through Urban Infrastructure Development project (CBUID). Within this context, Dr. Maha is the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Project Management (CPM) overseeing the national coordination and facilitation of the CBUID project.

Eng. Khaled Seddik

Eng. Khaled Seddik ,Chairman Urban Development Fund Khaled Sedek

Engineer Khaled Seddik is the Chairman of the Urban Development Fund (UDF), an entity affiliated to the Egyptian Cabinet. In this capacity, he oversees the formulation of strategies and policies of the UDF and leads the implementation and supervision of national urban development projects. 

He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and military sciences from the Civil Department of the Military Technical College, Egypt. With over 30 years of experience, Engineer Seddik has been instrumental in the planning and execution of a broad spectrum of projects, including housing, commercial developments, public infrastructure, roads, and networks. His leadership is marked by a strong focus on public participation and effective problem-solving.  

UDF is one of the national partners of the Capacity Building through Urban Infrastructure Development (CBUID) Project. Within this context, Engineer Seddik chairs the Committee for Project Management overseeing the national coordination and facilitation of the CBUID project.

Jack Ngarambe

Jack Ngarambe, Director General of Urbanisation, Housing, and Human Settlement at the Ministry of Infrastructure in RwandaJack Ngarambe

Jack Ngarambe is a building physicist with expertise in building science, sustainable urban environments, and affordable, climate-resilient infrastructure. He holds a doctorate in Architectural Engineering from Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea.

Albano Carige

Albano Carige, Mayor of Beira City, MozambiqueAlbano Carige 1

Born in Beira and with a degree in Chemistry, Albano Carige became Mayor of the coastal city of Beira, Mozambique in 2021 after he served as City Councilor for construction and urbanization. He was re-elected for another term in 2023.

Mohamed Sefiani

Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor of the City of ChefchaouenPhoto sefiani

Mayor of Chefchaouen since 2009, Special Envoy for Food Systems (UCLG), President of World Forum of Intermediary Cities, GCOM Ambassador for Africa. Vice President of ICLEI, Vice President of Mediterranean Climate House. President of AN^MAR Federation. Engineer. 

Follow the event in the World Urban Forum’s livestream: