Joseph M. Macarthy

Dr Joseph Mustapha Macarthy is a leading urban research expert and scholar in urban development and planning in Sierra Leone. He is the Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre (SLURC) and holds a PhD in Urban Planning and Management from Newcastle University (UK). He previously lectured at Njala University in Sierra Leone.

 

At SLURC, Joseph leads projects on land, housing, climate change, transport, energy, and urban health. He has worked as an urban planner on several EU, World Bank, and AfDB projects, including the preparation of Spatial Plans for six secondary cities, Lungi Spatial Development Framework, Flood Risk Management Plan for eight cities, and the Urban Diagnostic Report for the EU’s ACP Development Cooperation. He was also part of a technical team that prepared a Feasibility study to both the City of Zurich and the FCC with understanding of the wider city-to-city cooperation project regarding Freetown’s CBD regeneration and the implementation plan.

 

Joseph is broadly published and maintains strong networks with local and international urban development scholars, as well as municipal and national governments. His expertise encompasses urban policy and plan design, with significant experience in capacity building for urban planners. His research consistently explores the link between urban growth and inequality, especially in informal settlements. His work covers urban development, transport, housing, water, energy, and health, addressing critical issues related to sustainable urbanization in Sierra Leone.