Urban Growth and the Challenge of Infrastructure Provision

Urbanization in the last twenty years becomes one of the most important trends in human settlement. Developments and prospects of all developing countries have been continuing to deeply influenced by this rapid urbanization. This rapid rate of urban growth in less developed countries was largely fueled by natural increase and rural to urban migration. inadequate infrastructure provision and fragile public institutions. This rapid urban growth has brought with it a host of problems like deterioration of infrastructure and limited capacity to supply urban services. The problem is compounded by weak urban government structure, limited capacity to stimulate growth and mobilizing resources as a basis for urban infrastructure delivery.Rapid growth of towns has an implication for steady increase in the demand for infrastructure.Thus, for the provision of infrastructure to keep pace with the growing town, major efforts should be done on strengthening financial bases of the municipality. Moreover, the municipality needs to have the skill to effectively oversee the planning of infrastructure through community participation.