Inner-city development experiences of Germany: Lessons for Pakistan, Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda in urban development

Inner-city development is a key part of urban development strategies in Germany for sustainable urban development. Using comparative urbanism as a methodological and theoretical lens, this review paper reflects on Germany’s experiences with inner-city development. It contextualizes the experiences as “potential lessons” for four developing countries in Asia and Africa—Pakistan, Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda—taking into account the intricacies of inner-city development in these countries. The study identifies the principles (in the light of challenges) of inner-city development in Germany and argues that they can be spearheaded in Pakistan, Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda for sustainable urban development. However, there must be strong commitment and firmness in planning and policy direction, grounded by sensitivity to the context realities that shape urban planning and policy analysis. The study contributes to the emerging discourse on the nexus between inner city and urban planning in developing countries and grounds future studies on inclusive urban planning interventions in the focal countries.