Research Highlights
A New Plan for African Cities: The Ethiopia Urban Expansion Initiative
— October 19, 2015

By Shlomo Angel, Patrick Lamson-hall, David Degroot, Richard Martin and Tsigereda Tafesse
The conclusion is clear – a viable new method has been developed for addressing the rapid growth of Africa’s cities.
By Shlomo Angel, Patrick Lamson-hall, David Degroot, Richard Martin and Tsigereda Tafesse
As an alternative, NYU Stern Urbanization Project has developed a methodology entitled “Making Room for Urban Expansion,” which proposes to secure the bare-minimum public goods necessary for orderly growth – a network of arterial roads, and a hierarchy of public open space. In partnership with the Government of Ethiopia, NYU has tested this methodology in eighteen Ethiopian cities. This Ethiopia Urban Expansion Initiative has resulted in the designation and protection of hundreds of kilometers of arterial roads and large reserves of public open space. Beyond paper plans, the Ethiopia Urban Expansion Initiative has led to real changes on the ground, from the construction of many kilometers of road to a dramatic increase in the supply of land on the market in these cities. The conclusion is clear – a viable new method has been developed for addressing the rapid growth of Africa’s cities.
Read the full paper here.