Gov’t says it is scaling up rural corridor dev’t to bridge the urban–rural gap

Addis Ababa, November 1, 2025 (FMC) – The government is actively scaling up Ethiopia’s rural corridor development program, transforming farmers’ livelihoods and ensuring inclusive prosperity by promoting balanced growth between urban and rural areas, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Government Communication Service (GCS) said today.

The program is building on the successes of urban corridor development, starting with Addis Ababa, and is now extending to 68 major cities and towns across the country. The initiative is shaping cities as model urban centers, providing equitable development that can serve as an example regionally and internationally.

However, GCS emphasized that urban transformation alone is not sufficient to achieve nationwide prosperity, since the majority of Ethiopians are residing in rural areas.

The government, according to the statement, is replicating urban successes in rural communities, ensuring that the benefits of corridor development reach farmers and local residents.

As part of this effort, the government is implementing rural corridor development projects, including the construction of model rural villages, which Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) launched in early June 2025. These villages were built with affordable local resources and are designed to provide farmers with dignified living conditions, access to modern infrastructure, and opportunities for diversified income.

The initiative is supporting rural communities to adopt modern production techniques, while preserving culture, traditions, and the environment. Farmers are developing productive home gardens, raising livestock, and producing honey, dairy, fruits, and vegetables, thereby enhancing self-sufficiency and sustainable livelihoods.

GCS highlighted that rural corridor development is also reducing migration pressures on urban centers by creating economic and social opportunities closer to home, fostering balanced and inclusive growth across the country.

The program is bringing multiple benefits—economic, social, and ecological— that are contributing to sustainable development and a stable society. By modernizing rural areas and introducing balanced urbanization, Ethiopia is enabling farmers to live healthier, dignified lives while participating actively in the country’s broader development goals, GCS noted.

“Rural corridor development is driving comprehensive social transformation and creating a modern lifestyle in rural communities, while ensuring that farmers are living sustainably and prosperously,” GCS stated.

Through this ongoing initiative, Ethiopia is advancing its vision of equitable national growth, empowering rural citizens, and strengthening the foundation for a prosperous and resilient society, it was further stated.