Special Economic Zones developments and Affordable Housing programs will be the centre stage during the New Cities Summit 2025 to be held in Nairobi on June 12–13.
The summit will bring together developers, investors, and policymakers from across Africa to focus on urban development challenges and opportunities.
According to the organisers, the highlight of the summit will be the “Cities Catapult” pitch competition, which aims to spotlight emerging city-scale projects seeking financial and strategic support.
The Cities Catapult, organized by the Charter Cities Institute (CCI) in partnership with the Africa Infrastructure Development Association (AfIDA), is designed to accelerate the development of new urban areas, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and industrial zones across the continent.
The Summit organizer and Head of Communications for CCI, Michael Holstein said that the program targets early-stage projects that often face difficulties moving from concept to implementation.
“While the demand for well-planned, economically vibrant, and scalable cities has never been greater, many promising projects struggle to transition from vision to reality. The Catapult is designed to help bridge this gap,” said Holstein.
“It is structured as a mentorship initiative culminating in a high-stakes pitch competition at the New Cities Summit, with the winning project receiving exclusive mentorship and capital raising opportunities.”
Eligible projects include new city initiatives, SEZs, and core infrastructure ventures such as affordable housing, public transport, and climate adaptation, with preference given to developments under 300,000 people or covering more than 500 hectares.
Selected participants will present their proposals to a panel of financiers, urban planning experts, and government officials during the summit.
Past participants in the 2023 edition held in Kigali included Kigali Innovation City (Rwanda), Enyimba Economic City (Nigeria), and Fumba Town (Zanzibar), among others. This year’s summit is expected to feature more than 400 attendees, including urban specialists, infrastructure developers, and government representatives.
Session topics will cover a broad spectrum of urban issues, including rapid urban growth, risk mitigation for city-scale projects, and the role of technology and education hubs in economic development.
Panels will also explore supply chains for critical minerals and emerging models for Special Economic Zones.
Confirmed speakers include researchers, city developers, and representatives from major institutions, such as Patrick Lamson-Hall of Fitted Projects, Willie Vos of Waterfall City, and Preston Mendenhall of Rendeavour. Other contributors include policymakers, think tank leaders, and journalists.
The event is supported by various organizations including Kenya Airways, which is offering discounted flights to registered attendees, along with Emara Ole-Sereni, Tatu City, Lesus Executive, and Students for Liberty Africa.
The New Cities Summit is being organized in partnership with the Smart Cities Council, KenInvest, and the Kenya Development Corporation.
