What is MijiBora?

Miji Bora means 'Better Cities' in kiSwahili, and that’s exactly what we’re here to build together. This platform brings together city leaders, civic tech innovators, and urban experts from across Africa and beyond to connect, share ideas, and collaborate on making our cities more livable, resilient and data-driven. This means using real, reliable data to make informed decisions - whether that’s improving public services, planning urban development, or increasing transparency with city residents. This urban stack of solutions is for you as a city official, civil society, or simply passionate about urban transformation. MijiBora is a space for you to join forces with others who are working towards sustainable change and a better quality of life for all African city residents.

Africa, the youngest and fastest-growing continent, is urbanising rapidly as youthful populations flock to cities. With most of Africa’s urban growth taking place in informal settlements, city governments must urgently innovate to enhance service delivery and build infrastructure for long-term resource mobilisation, self-sufficiency, and resilience. By effectively deploying data and digital technologies, Africa’s city governments can harness urban informality to dramatically improve quality of life for urban residents. Scaling these efforts will require sustained strategic support for city leaders and officials to upskill and leverage their cities’ rich resources.

MijiBora, supported by Open Cities Lab, is built to be a resource led by African cities themselves. Local officials and contributors play an active role in shaping the platform, ensuring it grows to meet the real needs of each city. By providing access to essential tools and resources, MijiBora helps African cities build long-term resilience and improve the quality of life for everyone.