Highlights/ Report on Ethiopian National Urban Forum General Ethiopian cities week, formerly called Ethiopian cities day, was established in 2009 with the objective of promoting the urban agenda to the public at large, including urban residents and relevant stakeholders, and create awareness on urban development initiatives. In addition, it serves as a platform for experience sharing and learning among cities to encourage a healthy and competitive atmosphere among Ethiopian urban centers. Since the establishment of the event, the National Government has designated 30 Nov. 5 December as Ethiopian Cities week. Based on lessons learnt during the WUF 7, Hon. Minister of Urban Development, Housing and construction (MUDHCo) has decided to convert or modify the existing Ethiopian Cities week towards Ethiopian National Urban forum. This implies that for the last five years, it has been celebrated as Ethiopian cities week, unlike the current one which is called the 6 th Ethiopian National Urban Forum. Before the experiences from the WUF 7, the previous events were not that organized, in the sense that the process was just a competition platform for cities through presenting and displaying their cases. Unlike activities of Ethiopian cities week, the WUF has been a learning and experience sharing platform which impressed the minister and his management to go for the National Urban Forum. After deciding on adjusting the existing event towards the National Urban forum, MUDHCo has requested UN-Habitat for technical support on framing the event and bringing an international experiences. This year s- the 6 th Ethiopian National Urban Forum was celebrated with a moto our cities being centers for Enterprises Development, will ensure the Renaissance of Ethiopia was celebrated from 15 th to 22 nd November 2014 at Dire Dawa city. The Forum was attended by many government officials and urban specialists from all over the country and 120 cities. Government s high level officials including H.E Dr. Mulatu Teshome president of the Federal Democratic republic of Ethiopia, Deputy prime Minister, Ministers, regional officials and mayors were among the participants of the forum. The opening Ceremony, 15 November 2014 Official opening by H.E Dr. Mulatu Teshome, president of the Federal Democratic republic of Ethiopia
The forum was organized by MUDHCo, Dire Dawa City Administration and Ethiopian Cities cooperation platform. I. Events with in the Forum The forum s organized in three separate events; Panel discussion, plenary discussion and exhibition. Panel and plenary discussions were led by different urban specialists from different universities in the country where UN-Habitat has also taken part. Exhibition s an even where about 120 cities have shown their cases in their separate booths. II. Objectives of the Forum: Minister of Urban Development, Housing and construction has articulated the objectives of the forum as follows: To create an opportunity for knowledge transfer among stakeholders in the area of urban development and management and then pinpoint important ideas for policy development and implementation _targeting poverty reduction in urban centers To create common understanding on urban Development policy and institutional capacity building issues among governmental, non-governmental and international bodies To adopt best practices of other countries on ways of implementing fast urban sectoral development use the lessons for revising, planning and implementing policy directions To organize a forum that gathers different stake holders engaged in the sector such as federal and regional urban managers and political leaders, NGOs, CBOs and institutions, influential community leaders, academic institutions and the private sector To create public forum on urban development issues so as to promote public decision on a new and innovative ideas and concepts
III. Role of UN-Habitat UN-habitat has been supporting the process since the starting date, through advising the government especially the organizers to the extent of mobilizing specialists from Nairobi-Head quarter. Apart from all other supports, even introduction of the concepts of urban forum, UN-Habitat organized a mission to brief/train members of the organizing committee on how to frame the whole event of the National Urban Forum; which was done in the ministry on 27 August 2014. In addition, UN-Habitat has mobilized about four urban specialist to present and share best experiences in different thematic areas of the Ethiopian National Urban Forum. Participants from UN-habitat: 1. Prof. Fantu Cheru (Consultant) 2. Fernanda Lonardoni 3. Roi Chiti 4. Aklilu Fikresilassie UN-habitat has participated on two panel discussions and two plenary sessions. Urban Good Governance and Housing were the two thematic areas where prof. Fantu Cheru and Dr. Fernanda Lonardoni have presented principles and best practices on their respective areas. In each sessions, more than 120 leaders and urban agenda specialist have attended the panel discussion. a) Panel Discussions Panel discussion I On the first session of panel discussion, Prof. Fantu has presented principles and best experiences on Urban Good Governance. Professor Fantu presenting principles and best practices on Urban Good Governance Participants on principles and best practices on Urban Good Governance
Panel discussion II On this session UN-habitat represented by Dr. Fernanda Lonardoni. She shared best practices on how to deal with housing challenges focusing on principles of adequate house for all and ways how to guide Ethiopia s Housing Development program. Dr. Fernanda presenting on Housing b) Plenary Discussion Participants on Housing More than 850 people attended the plenary discussion. Basic principles of Cities prosperity indexindicators adopted to the Ethiopian context was presented by Prof. Fantu Cheru. On the other hand, linking national urban practices with global urban agenda (Habitat III) presented by Roi Chiti. Prof. Fantu presenting CPI Mr. Roi presenting about Habitat III
Conclusion: Feedback from different attendants of the forum shows that this year s forum has brought about better results than any other events happened before. Participants have gained better knowledge and experiences on each thematic areas such as good Governance, Housing, MSE Development and others. It s clearly underlined that in Ethiopia, the urbanization practice has no monitoring and evaluation tool, where all attendants appreciated the CPI as a best measurement tool. In addition to sharing best experiences on panel and plenary sessions, several side meetings with regional leaders and city mayors, including the Mayor of the hosting city-dire Dawa were so fruitful. Regional and city leaders appreciated our role and support to the urbanization process in the country and elsewhere in the globe. They also indicated that they are more than willing to work with UN-habitat. Moreover, several meetings with National and regional officials and mayors of different cities, were an eye opening which have uplifted our visibility in the country. Lesson learned (for UN-habitat) Ethiopian National Urban is the country s best tool to advocate urban agenda and share best practices It is learned that regions and cities should be the areas that deserve due attention Apart from the world class experiences shared, the forum has served as a best tool for our visibility and expand our intervention towards regions and cities Foot prints of UN-Habitat at Harar City Water for African Cities, phase II program