Urban Development in Ethiopia: Challenges and Policy Responses
The IUP Journal of Governance and Public Policy, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 59-65, March 2012
Posted: 1 Oct 2012
Date Written: October 1, 2012
Abstract
Since 1991, Ethiopia’s record of economic growth has been very impressive. This paper critically examines the role of policies and institutions in addressing the developmental challenges of urban centers in Ethiopia. The paper highlights the importance of improving the quality of institutions and governance to consolidate the developmental gains of the past years and work towards further progress. Development and good governance activities in Ethiopian urban centers have been identified as propriety and are being implemented taking the country’s urbanization level and growth into account. As part of policy intervention in addressing the challenges of urban development in the country, activities such as investment promotion, improvement of governmental services in land and infrastructure, job creation, and housing provisions have been carried out. As a result, large and medium urban centers have exhibited a remarkable growth in construction, manufacturing, and tourism sectors. Moreover, job creation for the urban workforce has proliferated. The housing development programme has helped, besides creating job opportunities, the low and middle income urban dwellers to own property and have equitable wealth redistribution.
Keywords: urban development, policy response, job creation, housing development, decentralising
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