UN to host workshop on sustainable urban development in Ethiopia

Abstract

The workshop, which will be held in Addis Ababa on the theme of Transformational Leadership for Sustainable Urban Development, is expected to prepare city officials to contribute towards the building of democratic good-urban-governance and to promote active engagement of the urban population. “It is also intended to support the leadership and public servants to gain the skills they need to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development; provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels towards Goal 16 of the sustainable development goals,” says Economic Commission for Africa’s Eunice Ajambo. Ms. Ajambo, an Economic Affairs Officer in the ECA’s Macroeconomics and Governance Division, says strong public sector institutions and structures, capacity-building and institutional reinforcement are needed to steer urban development on the continent. Urbanization in Ethiopia is increasing and projected to triple, reaching 42.3 million by 2037. Not only is population expected to increase, but big cities are to densify, land to be expanded by including nearby peri-urban areas or by converting rural surrounding to urban settings. This level of urbanization and urban development is currently at its infant stage, providing an opportunity to support the growth, industrialization and sustainable development agenda of the country.