Addis Ababa University organized a full day workshop on Addis Ababa Rivers and Riversides Development Project at Asham Africa Hotel and Resort in Bishoftu on June 4, 2016.

A multi-disciplinary team from the AAU and other institutions categorized into five groups presented their overview of the project activity on the workshop.

Diriba Kuma, Mayor of Addis Ababa City Administration, in his opening speech noted that being the political capital of Africa, Addis Ababa is among the top cities hosting various international conferences. “With soaring urbanization and population size of the city, we need to carefully work on green development to make the city more livable and attractive. The role of intellectuals is crucial in this intervention,” he added.

While presenting an overview of the activities, the Project Communication team representative Ahmed Hussein (PhD.), stated that the rapid urbanization and industrialization in Addis Ababa has negatively affected the environment as the lack of a proper sewerage system means industries directly dispose their organic and inorganic waste products to nearby rivers. He also reminded participants of the five years memorandum of understanding the AAU signed with Addis Ababa City Administration to clean and redevelop Addis Ababa Rivers and riversides.

As the execution of the project needs multi-disciplinary approach, five committees comprising of people with various educational backgrounds from the AAU and other institutions were established on five thematic areas: Riversides Urban and Landscape Design, Rivers Catchment and Riversides Vegetation Management, City Rivers Pollution and Sanitation, Socio-Economic Assessment and Policy, and Legal and Institutional Arrangement to carry out the project. Representatives of each team have presented their overview of activities.

The waste disposed in rivers and riverbanks is becoming a major threat to public and animal health in addition to its assault on the exquisiteness of the city. The rapidly increasing urbanization, industrialization and lack of properly planned sewers exacerbate the problem. Currently, numerous households in the city have connected their toilets with nearby rivers in addition to the industries that dump their waste in them.