Participatory democracy is a promising solution to the shortcomings of the traditional approach to urban planning. However, in Ho (Ghana) and Kpalimé (Togo), it raises questions about the effective involvement of citizens in decision-making processes. This study examines the mechanisms put in place to encourage their participation. To explore this issue, we used a mixed-methods approach that included interviews with municipal officials and other urban actors, surveys of residents, and direct observation. The Arnstein approach was used as a framework to shed light on the degree of control and influence that citizens actually exercise in planning and decision-making processes. This approach allows us to determine whether citizens are merely informed (levels 3–4) or actively involved in decision making (levels 6–8). This allows us to highlight the shortcomings of participatory mechanisms in both cities. Colonial legacies and political approaches influence how authorities manage participation, while traditions and cultural norms shape citizens’ expectations and behaviors. In Ho, a culture of collaboration and transparency favors participatory methods, while in Kpalimé, respect for hierarchies and a more centralized approach limit forms of direct engagement. These differences highlight the importance of taking these dimensions into account to better understand and improve local governance practices in these two contexts.

In Greater Nokoué (Benin) and Greater Lomé (Togo), there is a lack of access to formal and affordable housing. The objective of this paper is to examine the daily resilience strategies developed by tenants in Greater Nokoué and Greater Lomé to gain access to housing. It is based on a mixed methodological approach combining tenant surveys (159 in Greater Nokoué and 251 in Greater Lomé) and semi-structured interviews (28 in Greater Nokoué and 17 in Greater Lomé). The results reveal various coping mechanisms used to secure housing, maintain livelihoods, and foster a sense of belonging in environments marked by exclusion and informality. The field results also show that, in Greater Nokoué, strategies are based on occupying precarious housing characterized by poor hygiene and sanitation. In Greater Lomé, in addition to occupying makeshift housing, cohabitation is marked by tense relations and neighborhood conflicts. These findings show that, while these strategies allow for short-term adaptation, they often reproduce spatial inequalities and expose these populations to social and economic instability. Given this imperative, it is urgent to take into account these difficulties in accessing housing when promoting resilient and accessible cities for all, an important criterion in the definition of a sustainable city.