Africities is the materialization of a choice and of a will. The aim is to strengthen the role of local and regional governments in the development of the continent and to help build the integration and unity of Africa from its territories.

Africities summit is the largest democratic gathering organized in Africa. It is the main platform for dialogue on decentralization and local governance that brings together every three years, African ministers; mayors, leaders and elected officials of local and regional governments; civil society organizations; traditional authorities; representatives of the African diaspora; economic actors ; experts, researchers and academics; financial institutions; and development partners.

The theme of the 9th Africities Summit, which was held from 17 to 21 May 2022 in Kisumu, was: “The Role of Intermediary Cities of Africa in the Implementation of Agenda 2030 of the United Nations and the African Union Agenda 2063”. Kisumu is the first ever intermediary city to host the Africities Summit. The previous 8th Africities edition, held in Marrakesh from 20 to 24 November 2018 in Morocco, registered attendance topped a record of 8,300 participants.

The Africities Summit has two major goals:

• To define appropriate shared strategies in order to improve the living conditions of people at the local level.
• To contribute to the integration, peace and unity of Africa from its territories.

Organized every three years for the past 20 years, the Africities Summit has been held under the banner of UCLG Africa since 2006, alternately in each of the five regions of the continent.