Member City of the Month: Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is one of the largest and oldest cities in Africa, with a historic and leading role on the continent. It has also undergone massive population growth which has put severe pressure on the city’s infrastructure and environment. The city of Addis Ababa has recently endeavoured to balance the pressure on the environment through the embrace of sustainable development practises.
The historic city of Addis Ababa, largest city of the “Horn of Africa” and capital of Ethiopia, has officially become the newest member of ICLEI Africa.Addis Ababa is often referred to as “the political capital of Africa”, mainly because of its historical and diplomatic importance for the continent.
The city is host to the headquarters of both the African Union, as well as the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) as well as many other continental organisations.
With its ethnically and religiously mixed population of over 3 million, as well as its rapidly growing population, city management is inevitably a complicated and sensitive task, especially with regard to service delivery and the building of infrastructure. Solid waste management, as well as water and sanitation are especially pressing issues.
The Addis Ababa Environmental Protection Authority has taken a leading role through innovative programs, quality service and broad public participation in support of clean air, land, water, vegetation, animals and a balanced urban ecosystem.
This is a challenge as the city government has committed itself to the development of industries, and these are frequently established in the vicinity of rivers around the capital. The city government has endeavoured to balance these pressures on the environment through the embrace of sustainable development practises. By joining ICLEI, the city has shown its commitment to sustainability and we are very proud to welcome this unique and important city to our world-wide network.
