Rural-Urban Linkages for mutual gains Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

Africa has been one of the most rapidly urbanizing continents in the world. The Sub-Saharan African region has been projected to be one of the highest urbanizing regions in Africa by the year 2050. Most scholars have often focused on the negative impact of urbanization in the region. This paper provides evidence to show that there are positive impacts of urbanization in the region. Some rural-urban linkages such as access to markets and access to service centers provide mutual benefits for both people living in rural and urban areas. These linkages can therefore be exploited positively to accelerate development in the region.