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Empowering Universities to Shape Smarter Cities

SHAPE strengthens higher education institutions in East Africa by developing innovative curricula, building academic capacity, and fostering international collaboration to prepare the next generation of smart city leaders.

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Driving Innovation for Inclusive and Sustainable Urban Development

Through education, research, artificial intelligence, open data, and innovation, SHAPE supports the development of resilient, people-centered, and sustainable smart cities across Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda.

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Connecting Europe and East Africa for a Smarter Future

SHAPE brings together nine universities and regional stakeholders to promote knowledge exchange, strengthen institutional capacity, and establish a sustainable EU–East Africa Smart City Alliance.

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SHAPE — Quick Facts (Flip Cards, White)

Quick Facts

An Erasmus+ Capacity Building initiative connecting European and East African universities to advance smart, sustainable city development.

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36months
Project Duration
2025 – 2028
Project Duration

Three years, from curriculum design and staff training through to a self-sustaining regional alliance.

ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE-STRAND-2
9partners
Partner Institutions
EU & East Africa
Partner Institutions

Nine universities, coordinated by Moi University, pairing European technical expertise with East African context.

Coordinator: Moi University
3countries
East African Focus
Direct impact zone
East African Focus

Higher education institutions and city stakeholders in Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda are the primary beneficiaries.

Kenya · Somalia · Uganda
12areas
Thematic Focus
AI to urban planning
Thematic Focus

From AI and open data to smart mobility, energy, health, and community engagement in city planning.

12 smart city domains
Erasmus+
EACEA Funded
Capacity Building
EACEA Funded

Backed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency under Capacity Building in Higher Education.

Strand 2 · CBHE
1alliance
Regional Alliance
Beyond the project
Regional Alliance

A new EU–East Africa Smart Cities Alliance keeps universities, industry, and government collaborating long-term.

Lasting beyond 2028
SHAPE — News

Latest News

Updates, events, and milestones from the SHAPE programme across East Africa and Europe.

SHAPE — Project Partners

Project Partners

Nine universities across Europe and East Africa working together to shape smarter, more sustainable cities.

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Kenya flag
Moi University Coordinator
Moi University

Kenya — Project coordinator, leading overall implementation of SHAPE.

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Estonia flag
University of Tartu Academic Partner
University of Tartu

Estonia — European partner contributing digital innovation and research expertise.

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Germany flag
Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg Academic Partner
Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg

Germany — Technical partner supporting AI and smart city engineering.

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Somalia flag
Red Sea University Academic Partner
Red Sea University

Somalia — Academic partner strengthening higher education and local capacity.

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Kenya flag
Open University of Kenya Academic Partner
Open University of Kenya

Kenya — Distance-learning partner expanding access to smart city education.

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Somalia flag
Mogadishu University Academic Partner
Mogadishu University

Somalia — Academic partner advancing smart city curricula and research.

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Uganda flag
Makerere University Academic Partner
Makerere University

Uganda — Leading research partner within Uganda's higher education sector.

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Uganda flag
Kampala International University Academic Partner
Kampala International University

Uganda — Academic partner building institutional capacity and skills.

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Lithuania flag
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Academic Partner
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences

Lithuania — European partner contributing smart health expertise.

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Smart City Higher Education Advancement Program in East Africa, funded by the EU through European Education and Culture Executive Agency EACEA

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

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