Accessibility and Inclusiveness of Public Open Spaces in Fragile Contexts: A Case Study of Kaya, Burkina Faso

Martin Alira Aweh (), Daouda Sana and Tossou Atchrimi
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Martin Alira Aweh: Regional Center of Excellence on Sustainable Cities in Africa (CERViDA-DOUNEDON), University of Lomé, Lomé 01BP1515, Togo
Daouda Sana: Dynamic of Spaces and Societies Laboratory, Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, Ouagadougou 09BP1635, Burkina Faso
Tossou Atchrimi: Regional Center of Excellence on Sustainable Cities in Africa (CERViDA-DOUNEDON), University of Lomé, Lomé 01BP1515, Togo

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-21

Abstract: Public open spaces enhance urban sustainability by promoting social inclusion and supporting the right to the city. Somehow, in fragile contexts, knowledge of the accessibility and inclusiveness of these places, especially in the African context, is scarce. In alignment with the SDGs advocating for equal access to public open spaces, this study investigates how the fragile context impacts the accessibility and inclusiveness of public open spaces in Kaya, Burkina Faso. Employing a mixed-methods approach grounded in urban fragility and spatial justice theories, data were collected through GIS tools, group discussions involving 73 participants, and a questionnaire survey with a quota sample of 515 residents. Thematic and contextual analysis and Key Influencer tools were used to interpret the data in depth. The findings reveal that the fragile condition of Kaya impacts social groups in different ways. People living in informal housing, internally displaced people, women, aged people, people living with disabilities, and young people are more likely to experience spatial injustice and social exclusion from public open spaces. This study concludes that innovative measures to enhance governance, planning, and investments promote spatial justice, thereby reducing fragility.

Keywords: accessibility; inclusiveness; public open spaces; urban planning; urban fragility; spatial justice; SDG (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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