Over the past decade, Barcelona has made a name for itself as one of Europe’s “smartest” cities. Nearly 12,000 km away, another low-lying coastal city — Maputo, the capital of Mozambique — is also pioneering its own smart city initiative. What can the two cities learn from each other about smart transformation, and how does city-to-city development cooperation work in practice?
Take a trip with Devex from the Catalan capital to the streets of Maputo. Along the way, hear from Barcelona’s Chief Technology Officer Francesca Bria, United Cities and Local Governments’ Sara Hoeflich, Maputo Council’s Head of International Relations Natacha Morais, and Frederico Silva, founder of Mozambican startup UX.
Over six weeks, Devex and our partners will explore what it takes to build a successful smart city, how climate resilient and environmentally friendly infrastructure and technologies are being implemented, and how actors in the global development community are working together toward common goals and engaging local communities in an inclusive way. Join us as we examine what it takes to create our smart cities of the future by tagging #SmartCities and @Devex.
About the authors
Naomi Mihara
Naomi Mihara is an Associate Editor for Devex, working on creative and audiovisual projects. She has a background in journalism and international development, having previously served as an assistant correspondent for Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun and as a communications officer for the International Organization for Migration in Southeast Asia. She holds a master’s degree in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University.
Rebecca L. Root
Rebecca L. Root is a freelance reporter for Devex based in Bangkok. Previously senior associate & reporter, she produced news stories, video, and podcasts as well as partnership content. She has a background in finance, travel, and global development journalism and has written for a variety of publications while living and working in Bangkok, New York, London, and Barcelona.
Helen Morgan
Helen Morgan is a journalist and editor, primarily focusing on climate change, migration, humanitarian crises, and human rights. She was previously an Associate Editor at Devex, where she managed the op-eds section and led a project covering climate resilience in small island developing states. Helen was also features editor at World Politics Review, and editor and writer at the environmental think tank WRI, as well as editing for The New Humanitarian. She lives and works in Barcelona, Spain.