UN Habitat head praises transformation of Addis Ababa as example for African urbanization

Addis Ababa, September 6, 2024 (FBC) – The UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Executive Director, Anacláudia Rossbach said Addis Ababa has gone through very strong urban transformation, exemplary for Africa’s rapid pace of urbanization.

Addis Ababa has been undertaking the Corridor Development Project, aimed at uplifting the image of the city by meeting international smart city standards which has been yielding remarkable results.

During a three-day African Urban Forum, Rossbach noted that conducting the first-ever continental urban forum in Addis Ababa is very strategic and example of African urbanization.

For the Executive Director, Addis Ababa as the capital of Ethiopia as well as the seat of the African Union (AU), is undergoing visibly strong transformation.

“It is a very relevant space. It is the first time that Africa has held a forum after so many years. It is very strategic to have this forum under the umbrella of the African Union in Addis Ababa. Addis Ababa has gone through very strong urban transformation in the last years, and this is visible,” she revealed.

Recalling her experience that she had been here 10 years ago, Rossbach expressed concern on the current pace of urbanization that will be affecting citizens of Africa for the next decades, ENA reported.

Thus, the Executive Director stressed the need for cities in the continent getting prepared to face this urbanization alongside opportunities. She also urged for balanced taxation as a key strategy for funding urban development and infrastructure.

Moreover, Rossbach emphasized the potential of land-based mechanisms, such as property taxes, to generate sustainable revenue streams.

Addis Ababa has made significant strides in recent years by increasing its independent tax collection, thereby contributing to the funding of its own development, it was learned.

This approach aligns with Rossbach’s call for African cities to take control of their financial resources.

“Balanced taxation is critical to fund the investments that we need, the infrastructure investments we need, but also the maintenance of infrastructures. I believe we have potential not only in Africa but in the whole global south to maximize and to leverage the participation of land based mechanisms especially the property tax should sustain revenues.”

The African Urban Forum provided a platform for discussions on a wide range of urban issues to promote sustainable urbanization and enhance the quality of life for African citizens.

Addis Ababa, which hosted the form, has received great appreciation from participants for its transformative development initiatives currently underway, particularly, for the corridor development that would be exemplary to the other cities in Africa.