This course will revolve around the main features and issues that characterise cities and regions located in the so-called global south. In particular, it will focus on the role played by urban planning and design in addressing historical and contemporary challenges such as rapid urbanisation, lack of affordable housing, informality, environmental degradation and, more recently, climate change. By employing a postcolonial approach, the course will explore different theories, contexts, case-studies, and best practices to provide an overview of past and recent trends through which planning and design have addressed these persistent issues.