The SOCA Project is one attempt to respond to the demand for information by building relationships with universities, local governments, national government and other durable civil society institutions to:

  1.  Compile and analyse data on contemporary African urban systems on a country by country basis
  2. Support capacity building amongst urban practitioners and post graduate students in resource constrained environments by promoting local expertise and use of analysis of local data
  3. Create a knowledge network for urban practitioners and policy makers across the continent in order to promote information dissemination, facilitate knowledge exchange and enhance opportunities for peer learning.

One major outcome of the SOCA Project will be the preparation and development of a series of State of the Cities reports reflecting the dynamics in urban Africa.