Cape Urban Observatory

The Cape Urban Observatory (CUO) is an applied urban research initiative of the
African Centre for Cities (ACC). Work on the CUO began in July 2008 with the
establishment of a coordinating group comprising Prof Susan Parnell and two codirectors,
Dr Julian Smit and Dr Ralph Hamann. In addition, a CUO Forum was
established with representatives of organisations with a direct stake or interest in the
CUO’s purpose and activities. Initially, these were the City of Cape Town, the
Provincial Government of the Western Cape, the South African National Biodiversity
Institute (SANBI), the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON),
and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Subsequently, it was
agreed that the Forum should include representatives from the other municipalities
within the CUO’s geographic scope, described below.

During the first few months of its establishment, numerous discussions within the
coordinating group and the Forum were focused on developing the purpose, identity
and organisational structure of the CUO. This also involved interviews conducted by
the co-directors with the members of CUO Forum, which were meant to obtain a
better understanding of these organisations’ perspectives, interests and concerns
related to the CUO. The outcomes of these interviews were discussed in a dedicated
workshop with the Forum members.