Ethiopia’s State Minister for Urban and Infrastructure Development, Fenta Dejen, discussed the country’s efforts to advance human-centered smart cities by utilizing digital platforms to improve service delivery and urban management.
The Ethiopian delegation, led by State Minister and Ambassador Bacha Debele Buta, attended the opening session of the 2nd Executive Board meeting of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
In his speech, State Minister Fenta praised Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s leadership for advocating innovative strategies to promote sustainable and resilient urban development in Ethiopia.
He highlighted key initiatives aimed at enhancing resilient urban mobility, such as the development of urban green corridors featuring pedestrian-friendly walkways, urban tree canopies, dedicated bicycle lanes, and modern road infrastructure.
The State Minister also discussed Ethiopia’s efforts to advance human-centered smart cities by utilizing digital platforms to improve service delivery and urban management.
He expressed gratitude to the participants of the First African Urban Forum, which concluded with significant outcomes aimed at addressing urbanization challenges both on the continent and beyond.
The State Minister called on international partners to support the implementation of the Forum’s key outcomes, notably the Addis Ababa Declaration.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the declaration emphasizes capacity building, knowledge sharing, resource mobilization, and policy alignment as key priorities for achieving sustainable urban development.
