The Knowledge Exchange is a response to an identified need for increased information exchange in the Southern African region. It has been developed as a broad collaboration of partners, with the CSIR acting as the custodian.

The purpose of the Urban Knowledge Exchange is to improve the delivery of better quality human settlements, towns and cities by making reliable, evidence-based knowledge more widely accessible. It encompasses thematic areas such as sustainable human settlement development and management, better infrastructure and services, access to well-located land, efficient shelter production, a more functional residential property market, improved transport networks, more equitable urban development, good governance, building resilience and responding to climate change, and promoting more affordable housing finance.

The knowledge repository is devoted to promoting innovation and good practice for cities, towns, and villages through offering links to an online library, knowledge directory, upcoming events, moderated debates, portal (links to further hubs), and content uploading facility. With the aim to collaborate with existing platforms on various locational scales the project will further provide opportunities for global information sharing.