The Charter Cities Institute (CCI) is set on bringing development partners for two days in Nairobi to set a common way forward regarding urban development.

Following the success of CCI’s 2023 Africa’s New Cities Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, this event will serve as the key platform for global leaders to advance the future of urban development.

The summit will bring together governments, new technology founders, private financiers, city developers, entrepreneurs, infrastructure suppliers, and professional service providers to tackle the challenges and opportunities of building new cities.

The summit, held in partnership with the Smart Cities Council (SCC) and in collaboration with Kenya Development Corporation, among others, is an essential gathering for anyone committed to reimagining the future of urban living.

The summit will bring together over 500 leaders entrepreneurs, urban planners, academics, builders, and visionaries – who are driving innovative city developments worldwide.

Attendees will gain firsthand insights into transformative projects that exemplify the summit's theme: Transforming

Ideas into Action, Across Africa & Beyond.

Key discussions will focus on creating jobs, attracting investment, driving innovation, and fostering economic growth across Africa and beyond.

Through strategic panels, pitch competitions, and collaborative workshops, the Summit will build frameworks to de-risk urban investments and establish thriving, sustainable cities that advance human flourishing.

Summit organizer and Head of Communications for CCI, Michael Holstein said whoever is looking to invest, partner, pitch, or understand how new cities are reshaping economic and social landscapes globally, the summit offers an unparalleled opportunity for networking, learning, and collaboration.

According to Holstein, the summit will also focus on planning for rapid urban expansion, risk management and mitigation strategies for new city projects, building a creative community to grow cities, tech and education clusters as Drivers of Ppogress.

“The summit will further present business opportunities with dedicated “deal rooms” and high-level networking events, as well as cultural and tourism experiences, including safaris and more,” he said,

Notable speakers are already confirmed with more signing on every day, including Magatte Wade (Prospera Africa), who’ll lead a fireside chat on “Economic Freedom in Africa” and American entrepreneur, Keith Weaver (Nashwood Entertainment and Uncle Nearest Whiskey), who will talk about using the entertainment and hospitality sectors as tools for African economic growth.

Others include Leslie Ohomele (Associate Director of International Projects, King’s Foundation), Stephen Jennings (Founder and CEO, Rendeavour), Corey Gray (President, Smart Cities Council), Leonard Wantchekon (Founder, African School of Economics), and Kingsley Mbah (Senior Manager Advisory and Capital Market, Afreximbank).

Invitations have been extended to luminaries including Kenyan President William Ruto, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, actor and city-builder Kenyan President William Ruto, and more.

SCC President Corey Gray remarked “The biggest social and economic transformation of the next 50 years will take place in Africa. As a global organization committed to fostering positive social environmental and economic impact, Smart Cities Council is pleased to be strengthening our partnership with Charter Cities Institute who are so active in these areas,” said Gray adding;

“Our activities around capital marketing, technology, research, and policy complement perfectly CCI's role in governance reform, allowing transformational projects to move beyond conception and into implementation.”

A nonprofit dedicated to creating the ecosystem for charter cities, the Charter Cities Institute founded on the idea that a fresh approach was necessary to tackle humanity’s most pressing challenges, such as global poverty, climate change, and rapid urbanization. CCI’s mission is to empower new cities with better governance to lift tens of millions of people out of poverty.