Accra:Ethiopia's people-centered urban transformation is enhancing living conditions, generating business opportunities, and providing important lessons for cities across Africa, according to Ibrahima Guimba-Saidou, CEO of the Partnership for Digital Access in Africa.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Guimba-Saidou, who also advises the African Mayoral Leadership Initiative (AMALI) Program, expressed astonishment at the scale of Ethiopia's urban development. He highlighted the focus on improving citizens' living conditions as the most impressive aspect of the transformation.
He emphasized that infrastructure development should benefit citizens by enhancing living conditions, access to services, and economic opportunities. During a site visit, he observed a former slum area that had been redeveloped, allowing residents to move into social housing and rent shops, facilitating economic benefits for the community.
Guimba-Saidou described Ethiopia's approach as comprehensive and people-centered, combining improved infrastructure with opportunities for local residents to engage in and benefit from development. He also noted the importance of making cities accessible to people of all income levels, ensuring that even low-income residents can live in cities and enjoy the services and opportunities available.
Residents' enthusiasm for completed projects and awareness of future plans demonstrate their connection to the transformation and the ongoing progress of their cities. Guimba-Saidou urged African city leaders to visit Ethiopia to observe its urban transformation and form partnerships for experience exchange, stating that firsthand observation is essential to fully appreciate the developments.
He particularly pointed to green urban spaces, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and environmentally friendly planning as key lessons for other African cities. He stressed that green infrastructure can motivate people to protect nature and that communities need the skills and capacity to maintain these green spaces and preserve the environment.
Guimba-Saidou concluded that direct visits and partnerships could help African cities identify and adapt approaches from Ethiopia's experience to meet their own urban development needs.
