African Paradiplomacy in Practice: Why Sub-National Government Must Lead Africa’s Development Future

For decades, Africa’s development architecture has been dominated by state-centric diplomacy, where national governments serve as the primary actors in international relations and development cooperation. However, this centralised model is increasingly under pressure due to the scale, complexity, and localisation of contemporary development challenges (Omiunu, Nganje and Aniyie, 2026: p.2). Issues such as rapid urbanisation, climate vulnerability, infrastructure deficits, and fiscal constraints are now most acutely experienced at the subnational level. In response, paradiplomacy, the international engagement of cities, municipalities, and regional governments, has emerged as a critical but still underutilised instrument for sustainable development in Africa (ibid: p.5).

The urgency of this shift is grounded in Africa’s unprecedented urban transformation. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD, 2025), Africa’s urban population is projected to double from approximately 700 million to about 1.4 billion by 2050, making it the fastest urbanizing region globally. Similarly, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat, 2024) projects that over 60% of Africans will live in urban areas by mid-century, fundamentally reshaping development planning and service delivery frameworks.

This transformation is not only demographic but economic. African cities already generate close to 60% of the continent’s GDP, positioning them as central engines of growth (OECD, 2022). Yet, despite this economic significance, subnational governments remain structurally constrained. Local governments in Africa control only about 16% of public revenues and account for roughly 19% of public investment, far below global averages (OECD & UCLG, 2019). This mismatch between responsibility and resources underscores the need for alternative governance mechanisms.

Within this context, paradiplomacy becomes a practical necessity rather than a theoretical concept. African cities and other subnational levels of government are increasingly engaging in decentralized cooperation, forming partnerships with foreign counterparts, development agencies, and international organizations. These partnerships provide access to technical expertise, funding opportunities, and policy innovation that are often more responsive to local needs. City-to-city cooperation has already supported initiatives in urban planning, renewable energy, and waste management across several African municipalities.

Recent studies also show that African cities are becoming more visible actors in global governance. According to the Institut français des relations internationales (IFRI, 2024), city diplomacy in Africa is expanding as municipalities engage in transnational networks addressing climate finance, migration, and urban development challenges. This reflects a broader shift where subnational actors are no longer passive implementers of national policy but active contributors to international development agendas.

However, the effectiveness of paradiplomacy in Africa remains uneven. While many countries have adopted decentralization frameworks, implementation gaps persist due to limited fiscal autonomy, institutional capacity constraints, and political centralization (UN-Habitat, 2020). As a result, cities are often expected to deliver development outcomes without the necessary authority or resources to act independently.

Despite these challenges, paradiplomacy in Africa represents a significant opportunity. It complements national diplomacy by enabling localized, flexible, and context-specific responses to global challenges. As scholars such as Fritz Nganje (2017) have argued, subnational diplomacy strengthens rather than undermines national foreign policy by expanding the scope of international engagement.

Ultimately, the future of Africa’s development will depend on how effectively cities are integrated into global governance systems. Strengthening paradiplomacy requires deeper fiscal decentralisation, stronger institutional frameworks, and recognition of subnational actors as legitimate development partners. Without this shift, Africa risks overlooking one of its most dynamic and strategic assets, its cities.

In conclusion, paradiplomacy in Africa is no longer peripheral. It is central to addressing the continent’s development challenges in an era defined by urbanisation, climate pressures, and evolving global governance structures.