From Policy to Practice - Addis Ababas Journey in Human Centered Urban Transformation

The City of Addis Ababa, representing Ethiopia, is uniquely positioned to lead the African narrative. Ethiopia recognizes that adequate housing serves as the cornerstone for human dignity and urban resilience. Ethiopia’s urban story is one of transformative ambition, marked by the Ethiopian Mass Affordable Housing and Integrated Urban Development Program and nationally-led climate resilience initiatives like the Green Legacy Initiative. This event will showcase how human-centered urban transformation initiatives that include expansion of infrastructure and services, mass housing, climate resilience, and safe urban environments among other things can be advanced simultaneously through multilevel governance, effective partnership, community-driven implementation, and innovative financing and delivery models. Format: 90-minute moderated high-level dialogue + interactive Q&A. Thematic Focus: Sharing first-hand experiences on translating urban transformation vision into local urban action, with a focus on inclusivity and resilience urban development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Moderator: Dr. Belay File Garoma (Urban Economist, UN-Habitat) Key Speakers/Panelists: a. H.E. Adanech Abiebie, Mayor of Addis Ababa (Keynote). Or a high-Level lead focuses on Addis Ababa’s vision, practices and executions strategies about human centred transformative projects b. H.E Chaltu Sani, Minister for Ministry of urban and infrastructure / Dr. Yared Teshome Geneti, - focuses on the policy ecosystem of human centred urban transformation c. Senior leader/Expert from Addis Ababa City Administration- share the experiences of multilevel governance in executions of urban transformation governance d. Member from the private sector- share experiences on innovative leadership, finances and partnerships. e. UN-Habitat Ethiopia Country Office Representative will chair the panel discussion Discussion Point: The Human Oriented Urban Transformation of Addis Ababa: How Addis Ababa’s city transformation projects including corridor and river side developments, mass affordable housing, urban upgrading and others benefit the residents without leaving no one behind through innovative leadership and financing practiced. The discussion includes How do the projects integrate climate-resilient building standards, community participation, job creation and others? How do the private sector and other stakeholders engage and take part? What is the key take ways for the global south urbanization? etc