Addis Ababa University has undertaken a full day panel discussion on Urban Development in a Federal Setting at Eshetu Chole Hall on May 10, 2016.

Government officials, political parties and experts from various offices have attended the workshop.

This conference, focusing on urban human settlement issues, policies, and efforts, dealt with the problems that arise with the acceleration of urbanization and the further escalation of urban problems. It also intended to assess expropriation and promote the socioeconomic vitality of environmentally sound cities through alignments between each city and their development partners. Its aim was to offer a positive vision of sustainable human settlements and review of international trends on urban regional development.

Admasu Tsegaye (PhD), President of the AAU, in his opening speech noted that the university undertakes various researches on national strategic plan and policies besides facilitating stages for dialogue on national and international current affairs to significantly contribute inputs for policy makers. He added that higher institutions play immense role in national development through the provision of scientific based and problem solving research outputs.

Moderated by Prof. Woldeamlak Beweket, Dean of College of Social Sciences, the workshop entertained three paper presentations. The first paper presented by Prof. Tegegn G/Egziabher addressed the concept of urban regional planning and governance: basic ideas, international experiences and some lessons. The other two papers presented by Muradu Abdo (PhD) and Negeri Lencho (PhD) were “Legal and institutional framework for expropriation in the Ethiopian context,” and “reconsidering participatory communication approach in urban development: transforming rhetoric to reality” respectively.

Appreciating the initiative that Addis Ababa University has taken to facilitate such an important stage for dialogue, the participants raised various questions on expropriation and the challenges and opportunities expansion of cities brings about.

The workshop was concluded with closing remarks by Kasa T/Berhan, Minister of Federal and Pastoralist Affairs and Board Chair of the AAU. He indicated that such an initiative undoubtedly bridges the gap between scholars and policy makers to openly deal with challenges faced in different aspects.