Transforming Urban Systems for Sustainability and Health: The Impact of CUSSH Project.

Abstract

The Complex Urban Systems for Sustainability and Health (CUSSH) project, a six-year Wellcome-funded initiative from 2018 to 2023, employed participatory systems dynamics methods to generate evidence on transforming urban systems in sectors like energy, transport, water, sanitation, and housing to address environmental challenges and improve health outcomes, while prioritizing public engagement, training, co-creation, and capacity building; its core objectives involved developing tracking tools for sustainability and health goals, modeling the impacts of urban pathways on health, inequalities, and the environment, and fostering stakeholder collaboration in partner cities to support evidence-based decision-making. In Kenya, starting from 2020, collaborations with community waste managers, media, and county governments yielded tangible impacts, including approved spatial plans for Oyugis municipality enhancing conservation, capacity building for Homa Bay County planners, high community participation influencing decisions, successful waste recycling initiatives in Kisumu, and broader regional planning advancements, bolstered by APHRC's technical and financial support, media amplification, and adaptations to COVID-19 restrictions through virtual engagements. Despite challenges like pandemic disruptions, attendance issues in trainings, and the need for sustained funding, the project highlighted key lessons on ongoing capacity development, monitoring and evaluation, resource mobilization, patience with governmental processes, transparent communication, and prioritizing spatial planning to tackle issues such as informal settlements, ultimately demonstrating how integrated, participatory approaches can drive sustainable and healthy urban development through strong governance, research, and stakeholder partnerships.