Addis Ababa:Ethiopia is intensifying its efforts to address urban housing and infrastructure challenges as it faces an annual urbanization rate of 5.4 percent, according to Minister of Urban and Infrastructure Mohammed Abdurahman.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the minister, speaking at the World Cities Day 2026 High-level Dialogue held at the UNECA in Addis Ababa, highlighted the government's integrated approach to urban development. This approach aims at expanding affordable housing, strengthening municipal capacity, and transforming cities and towns into centers of economic growth, employment creation, and innovation.
The minister elaborated on the Grand Medemer Strategy, which provides a strategic framework for accelerating urban transformation through coordinated planning, domestic resource mobilization, and sustainable development interventions. He emphasized viewing adequate housing not just as constructing buildings but as a foundation for dignity, security, opportunity, and inclusive social transformation.
As part of broader efforts to expand housing opportunities and respond to the growing needs of urban populations, the government has set a five-year target to build 1.5 million housing units. Mohammed also noted the Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure's advancement of the Urban Agenda Platform for 2025-2030, aimed at improving policy dialogue, program coordination, resource mobilization, joint monitoring, and knowledge sharing. The platform will operate under the ministry's leadership, with the World Bank as co-chair and UN-Habitat serving as secretariat, uniting partners around Ethiopia's urban development priorities.
The minister called on government institutions, development partners, financial institutions, the private sector, academia, and communities to contribute expertise, financing, technology, and institutional capacity to the country's urban transformation agenda. He also stressed the importance of integrating climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and preparedness for climate-related risks into housing and urban development investments, as Ethiopia prepares to host COP32 in 2027.
Oumar Sylla, Director of the Regional Office for Africa at UN-Habitat, acknowledged the strengthened partnerships with Ethiopian ministries and other institutions. He praised Ethiopia's leadership in harnessing the green economy of cities for economic, social, and environmental transformations and welcomed the government's ambition to deliver 1.5 million housing units over the next five years. Sylla reaffirmed UN-Habitat's commitment to supporting this agenda by mobilizing investment and enhancing the environment for delivering adequate and affordable housing.
The World Cities Day 2026 High-level Dialogue, themed 'Regenerating the City Adequate Housing for All in Ethiopian Cities,' concentrated on housing and the challenges and opportunities tied to the country's rapid urbanization.
