Urban Infrastructure Planning: Nairobi Water and Sanitation Case Study

Rapidly growing cities in developing countries face critical challenges in delivering basic services to their residents. Understanding how to plan, finance, and implement sustainable water and sanitation systems is essential for modern urban planners and development practitioners. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to urban infrastructure planning, using the real-world context of Nairobi to explore practical solutions and modern planning frameworks. You will start by mastering foundational concepts in urban development, infrastructure finance, and public health requirements. Through detailed written analyses and case studies, you will explore how technical, social, and political factors intersect when designing utility networks in informal settlements and rapidly expanding metropolitan areas. What you'll learn: - Understand the core principles of water and sanitation infrastructure planning in developing urban contexts. - Analyze the socio-economic and spatial challenges of service delivery in informal settlements. - Evaluate modern planning frameworks, including decentralized systems and community-led infrastructure models. - Assess financing mechanisms, tariff structures, and public-private partnerships for urban utilities. - Apply integrated water resource management principles to climate-resilient urban design. This course begins with basic definitions of urban utility systems and structural planning before moving into complex institutional frameworks and policy design. You will study practical scenarios, policy documents, and planning models to build a robust toolkit for addressing urban service deficits. This course is designed for beginners, aspiring urban planners, development students, and public policy enthusiasts. No prior background in engineering or urban planning is required to succeed. Start building your knowledge of sustainable urban development today.