Urbanization in African cities, including Guinea-Bissau, has been rapid over recent decades, leading to an increase in informal settlements and a need for effective social welfare governance. Theoretical synthesis will be employed, drawing from existing literature on urbanization, informal settlements, and welfare systems in Africa. The theoretical framework will provide a foundation for understanding and addressing challenges related to social welfare provision in rapidly urbanizing African cities. Future research should focus on developing practical policy mechanisms that can be implemented by local authorities to improve service delivery in informal settlements.