1st African Cities Sustainability Forum Officially Kicks Off in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa: The first African Cities Sustainability Forum officially opened today in Addis Ababa in the presence of high-ranking officials from across the continent.Addis Ababa is hosting the first ever Africa Urban Forum, a groundbreaking event aimed at addressing the challenges and opportunities of urban development in Africa.The three-day forum, is being held under the theme 'Sustainable Urbanization for Africa's Transformation: Agenda 2063,' is bringing together officials, city planners, policymakers, academics, and community leaders from across Africa and beyond.Opening the forum, Mayor of Addis Ababa Adanech Abiebie stressed the need to bolster urbanization to shape the future fate of the continent.The event focuses on exploring sustainable urban growth strategies, improving infrastructure, and enhancing the quality of life in rapidly expanding urban areas.Key topics include climate resilience, affordable housing, and smart city technologies among others.The forum features panel discussions , workshops, and networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration and share best practices.Participants are expected to develop actionable strategies and partnerships to tackle urban challenges.The Africa Urban Forum is a continental platform that promotes sustainable development in African human settlements.It is also a platform through which governments collaborate to enhance African cities, enabling them to fulfill their potential as centers of hope, growth, and prosperity.The event, convened by the Government of Ethiopia, in collaboration with Africa Union and UN-Habitat, among others, is set to play a critical role in realizing the vision of an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa, driven by its citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena.The African Union Commission and its member-states established the Africa Urban Forum in 2022 in response to the rising consciousness of the rapid urbanization in Africa, its opportunities, and challenges, and the need to create a continental scale forum to support an inclusive and holistic approach to unlocking the potential of urbanization in the continent.Source: Ethiopian News Agency