ECSU College of Urban Development and CUMTTC Holds Workshop
Ethiopian Civil service University College of Urban Development together with Centre for Urban Management and Transformation Training and Consultancy in collaboration with Farm Africa and Mercy Corps Ethiopia held a one day stakeholders discussion workshop on Green-Urban Planning and Management on 30 November 2016 at ECSU Hidasse Hall.
On his opening speech Dr. Daniel Lerebo, Director for College of Urban Development welcomed all the stakeholders and the participants of the workshop. He also said this workshop is essential to combat the challenges of climate change and lead us in the right path. Representatives of Farm Africa and Mercy Corps Ethiopia on their part expressed their pleasure to have discussion with the stakeholders.
The workshop is organized with the objective to strengthen Green- Urban planning and Management to improve the resilience of urban systems to climate change in seven municipalities Arbaminich and Jinka, from SNNPR , Semera and Awash from Afar region and Kebridehar , Degehabour and Gode from Somali region. On the workshop the preliminary findings of the research conducted on the seven municipalities and proposals for each of the targeted municipalities to strengthen their respective capacity in Green –Urban planning, implementation and management were presented in two sessions by the research team. The thematic areas of the research were focused on geological and climate condition, waste management practice and green infrastructure development.
On the workshop it is pointed out that little attention is given to Green Urban planning and development and it is not going in a good way. Lack of green and clean development activities, lack of awareness of green and clean town development, lack of materials and man power for green and clean town development as well as poor soil quality and water supply in some areas were stated as challenges for Green-Urban development. It is also known from the research findings that in the targeted municipalities less attention is given to parks, open space in residential areas, sports fields and facilities. The researchers also presented a project proposal for each of the towns to alleviate these problems and recommended community participation and active involvement of all the stakeholders.
Finally the participants held discussions on the points raised and the preliminary results of the research.
We have learnt that Ethiopian Civil Service University, Farm Africa and Mercy Corps Ethiopia signed memorandum of understanding on working in partnership, coordination and collaboration to achieve the objective of strengthening Green-Urban Planning and Management.