Background and Objectives:
The Ministry of Federal Affairs (MOFA) and the Addis Ababa City Government have identified upgrading as one of its major priorities. MOFA has requested advisory support to its urban management capacity-building programme, focusing on integrating local development planning and slum upgrading in urban policy in Ethiopia.
The expressed desire by both national and city governments provides an ideal opportunity to test innovative urban management approaches to slum upgrading at the city-level and translate such experiences towards formulating a national policy for upgrading.
The Urban Management Programme (UMP) of United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) secured funding from the Department for International Development (DFID) to assist national governments in preparation of an urban policy and to help municipalities adopt pro-poor urban management methodologies.
The objective of the project is to allow the Urban Management Programme (UMP) to assist the GoE in developing a national policy and strategy for slum upgrading by mainstreaming innovative urban development methodologies. For example, participatory planning, community-led upgrading initiatives, innovative financing mechanisms for upgrading, appropriate land tenure options, etc.
Activities:
The main activities include;
Producing study for Ethiopia - ‘Inner City Slums and Neighbourhood Upgrading in Addis Ababa;’
Implementing training of trainers workshop on ‘Making Urban Planning Regulations Work for the Urban Poor,’ and a training of trainers workshop on planning regulations, standards and procedures;
Organizing a study visit to India for senior government officials;Developing Conceptual Framework, Terms of Reference and Management Framework for the preparation of the National Urban Upgrading Manual.
Results:
The project is completed;
A national strategy for Slum Upgrading produced. Availed the services of two local consultants to develop competencies and responsibilities of the central government in urban management processes and to assist in developing policies to ensure effective urban management;
Outputs from various studies and workshops created which have provided urban professionals in government with the tools and skills for undertaking regulatory audits in order to improve access to legal and affordable housing. It has also enabled them to devise and institutionalise mechanisms and tools for building public participation in the neighbourhood planning process for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery programmes;
Visit to India organized, which enabled a team of nine government officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Urban Development Urban Development and Capacity Building Office (UDCBO), and city administrations to familiarise themselves with successful slum upgrading interventions. It also provided a range of options for developing successful slum upgrading interventions in urban centres of Ethiopia;
Urban Upgrading and Renewal manual containing policies, strategies and guidelines created for planning implementation-orientated upgrading and revitalization schemes.
