ECSU Holds National Stakeholders Consultative workshop
Ethiopian Civil Service University Center for Urban Management and Transformation Training and consultancy /UMTTC/ held its second national stakeholders consultative workshop on “Ethiopian Urban Population Growth and Cities’ Job Creation Capacity” on March 18, 2019 at Hidasse Hall. On the workshop Federal, Regional and City’s Administrations representatives participated.
In his opening speech Dr. Waqgari Negeri, Vice president for Training and Consultancy Service, welcomed the participants and said that such consultative workshops have an important role in advancing the awareness on urban situations. The objective realties show that our country has been affected by increasing trends of urban population growth and urbanization. Unbalanced increment in urban population and the capacity in provision of basic utilities incur great challenges in employment opportunities, and sustainable food sufficiency of the country. The issue People displaced due to urbanization also needs appropriate consideration. For these reasons, a proper management of urbanization is important. Workshops like this are essential to seek solutions and deal with these challenges, Dr. Waqgari noted. He also requested the participants to get out of the traditional way of thinking and discuss on this timely issue to bring about a better and sustainable solution.
Dr. Belay File, a presenter in the consultative workshop, presented the issues related to urban population growth and cities job creation capacity in context of Global, African and Ethiopian. In this presentation, Dr. Belay pointed out that urban population in Ethiopia will be double in the next fifteen years. In comparison with other African countries, the level of urbanization of Ethiopia is found at the lower level. But it exhibits slippery slope. This in turn brings about great pressures such as lack of basic social service, access to affordable housing, unbalanced urban system etc. in the future.
Urbanization without industrialization cannot bring the intended result. Due to this fact rapid urbanization in Ethiopia poses high unemployment rate while job creation process remained stagnant and regional variation in urban unemployment, Dr. Belay noted. He also said that it is time to act now to address the challenges.
Participants on their part discussed on issues of industrial linkages between industry and urban local ownership of industrial parks, housing supplies for the industrial workers, issues of planning , agro industrial development and other related issues.
The workshop was organized by Center for Urban Management and Transformation Training and consultancy /UMTTC/. UMTTC offers short-term training programs and consultancy services on various topics which are pertinent to urban secto