Addis Ababa, April 8, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia has called for urgent and accelerated urban transformation across Africa, emphasizing the need for inclusive, well-planned, and resilient cities, during the 2nd Africa Urban Forum currently underway in Nairobi.
The 2nd Africa Urban Forum has officially opened in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together policymakers, urban planners, and development experts to address Africa’s rapidly urbanising landscape and the need for adequate housing.
Addressing the Forum, Ethiopia’s Minister of Urban and Infrastructure, Chaltu Sani, highlighted that Africa’s rapid urbanisation presents both a challenge and a historic opportunity. She stressed that cities must be designed to be green, youth-centered, and inclusive, and that urbanisation should be leveraged as a transformative driver for economic growth, social cohesion, and political stability.
Reflecting on progress since the inaugural Africa Urban Forum held in Addis Ababa in 2024, which produced the Addis Ababa Declaration, the minister noted that the forum marked a turning point for Africa’s urban agenda.
While many member states have strengthened national urban policies and advanced territorial planning, challenges remain, including weak institutional coordination, fragmented data systems, urban financing gaps, low local revenue mobilization, and insufficient inclusion of informal settlements and vulnerable communities.
She underscored that momentum must now be translated into accelerated implementation to deliver tangible results.
The minister framed Ethiopia’s own experience as a demonstration of structured urban transformation. Despite being among the least urbanized countries, Ethiopia is one of the fastest urbanizing nations in Africa, with an annual urban growth rate of 5.4 percent and more than 32 million urban residents.
Under its 10-year development plan (2020–2030) aligned with Africa’s Agenda 2063, Ethiopia has advanced programs including a mega housing initiative aiming to deliver 1.5 million units over five years, slum reduction from 74 percent to 51 percent, river and lakeside redevelopment projects to restore ecosystems and create public spaces, urban safety nets across 88 cities, and the Green Legacy initiative, which has planted over 48 billion trees since 2019, including in urban areas.
During her presentation, the minister showcased Ethiopia’s sweeping urban corridor development, highlighting the transformative impact on cities across the country. A video presented at the forum underscored Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s emphasis on advancing the urban sector, illustrating the country’s latest glowing city landscapes and the tangible results of integrated corridor development works.
The visual demonstration provided a practical example of how strategic planning and investment can reshape urban environments, improve livability, and boost economic opportunities.
She highlighted Africa’s broader urban growth, noting that the continent is the fastest urbanizing region in the world, and stressed that urbanisation must be integrated with climate resilience, water security, sanitation, and social and economic priorities.
These linkages, she said, are critical to achieving sustainable development and ensuring that urban growth is a source of opportunity rather than inequality or conflict.
The minister also reiterated Africa’s need for collective action, emphasizing three priority areas: mobilizing financing and innovative resources to empower sub-national governments, strengthening governance and institutional coordination across all levels, and fostering partnerships to implement African solutions to African challenges.
Ms. Chaltu stressed that no country can address these challenges alone, calling on all member states to unite in pursuit of shared urban development goals.
Praising the African Union Commission for leading the forum, she recognized Kenya’s historic role in advancing the urban agenda, including hosting the first World Urban Forum and now the second Africa Urban Forum.
She reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to Pan-Africanism, highlighting that unity and collective action are essential for transforming Africa’s cities. In a metaphor underscoring this collective strength, she noted that, as an Ethiopian proverb states, “When spiderwebs unite, they can tie up a lion.”
The 2nd Africa Urban Forum, convened under the theme “Adequate Housing for All: Advancing Socio-economic Transformation towards the Realisation of Agenda 2063,” provides a platform for African leaders, experts, and policymakers to chart the continent’s urban future, focusing on accelerated implementation, partnership, and scaling up reforms initiated since the first forum in Addis Ababa.