The Second African Smart Cities Lab Initiative
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Introduction
The annual African Smart Cities Lab was held at the University of the Witwatersrand from October 1-3, 2025. This was the second edition of the initiative following the inaugural Smart Cities Lab held in August 2024. The Lab is a signature event under the Africa-US Cities Project in the African Centre for the Study of the United States, organized in conjunction with multiple partners representing academia, policymaking and government, think tanks, and the private sector. The Lab officially launched Urban October, a month-long campaign by the UN-Habitat that dedicates October’s 31 days to promoting a better urban future. The 2025 Urban October was linked to the G20 Summit’s Urban20.
