Urban Issues in Rapidly Growing Cities Planning for Development in Addis Ababa Routledge Contemporary Africa Series

This book critically assesses the complex urban issues, planning challenges and development opportunities of rapidly growing cities, using Addis Ababa as a case study.

Just like other developing cities, Addis Ababa is undergoing numerous natural and policy-driven changes. This book analyses the effect of these changes on urban management to allow better understanding of the conceptual frameworks that define the everyday functions of rapidly growing cities. It demonstrates that rapid urban growth has simultaneously created opportunities for economic development in the developing world as well as social, environmental and cultural challenges causing a mismatch between demand and the supply of services. The author argues that, by combining indigenous knowledge and practices and contemporary planning principles, developing countries can overcome challenges concerning environmental and public health, transport congestion, rising rents and house prices and lack of open space. Foregrounding the experience of everyday citizens of the city, this book aids our understanding of the nature of rapidly growing cities and outlines what needs to be done so that the city meets the needs of the people.

A unique contribution to the literature on cities of the developing world, this book will be of interest to students and scholars of Urban Studies, Planning, Development Studies and African Studies.

1. Introduction: Understanding Addis Ababa through African Urbanization 2. Addis Ababa: A City of Opportunities and Challenges 3. Air and Noise Pollution: Existential Problems 4. Plastic Bottles: Plastic Problems 5. In Front of Our Eyes: Indigenous Knowledge and Practices 6. The Moving Coffin: Transportation in Addis Ababa 7. An Informal City: Slums and Squatters 8. The Condominium Boom: A Solution to the Housing Problem? 9. Squeezed: The Disappearance of Open Spaces and Neighborhood Parks 10. Street Vendors: The Hyper Informal Economy 11. The Gap: Social and Economic Inequality 12. Cultural Shift 13. Conclusion: Making and Remaking Addis Ababa

Mintesnot G. Woldeamanuel is a professor of Urban Studies and Planning at California State University Northridge (CSUN), USA.