4th National Conference on “Cities as Engines of Growth and Transformation in Ethiopia” held
The Ethiopian Civil Service University, Institute for Housing and Urban Development (HIS) - Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) and Ministry of Urban Development and Construction of Ethiopia jointly organized the 4th National Conference on Managing Ethiopian Cities in Era of Rapid Urbanization “Cities as Engines of Growth and Transformation in Ethiopia”. The Conference was held on June 28 and 29, 2011 at Ethiopian Civil Service University main campus.
Ato Yinebeb Tizazu, Lecturer at the Research and Publication Coordination Office of ECSU in his welcoming speech said that
" Municipal /city governments have key roles to play in urban development policies, urban planning, housing, social and emergency services and resource management. "
This conference aims at providing an opportunity to share knowledge, experience and perspectives on cities development in contributing to the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) of Ethiopia, he said.
Dr. Samson Kassahun, Academic Vice President of the university on his part welcomed the participants to the 4 National Conference. He also said, Ethiopia is a rapidly but newly urbanizing country, facing grave challenges regarding urban poverty, high unemployment rates, and low levels of infrastructure and services. "At the same time" , he added,
" the government has recognized both the role that urban economies can play in accelerating growth ,as well as the need to address issues of deprivation within urban areas. "
Before the presentation of the papers, a book entitled Decentralization and Service Delivery in Ethiopia was launched. The book is a compilation of 12 well-researched presentations from the 3rd national conference conducted in July, 2010. Mr. Aloysius Bongwa, Samson. Kassahun (Dr.) and M.P Van Dijk (Prof.) are editors of the book.
In the 4th national conference twenty papers focusing on among other areas Urban Development, Development Linkage, Service Delivery, Micro and Small Enterprises, Urban Agriculture, Public Private Partnership were presented. All the research papers were supported by discussion. Among these 14 best papers will be selected and published in a book.
About 80 researchers, policy makers, and town planners drawn from different government organizations and Ethiopian Civil Service University academic staff participated in the conference.