Beautifying Sheger

Beautifying Sheger
Title	Beautifying Sheger
Location	Addis Ababa
Established	2019
Founder	Abiy Ahmed
Type	Urban renewal, river restoration, infrastructure

Beautifying Sheger is an urban regeneration and river rehabilitation initiative centered on the Little Akaki River and the Entoto Mountains corridors in Addis Ababa. Launched under the administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed with support from municipal authorities such as the Addis Ababa City Administration, the project sought to integrate landscape design, infrastructure, and public space improvements. The initiative connected to regional development priorities involving actors like the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development, the African Union, the United Nations Environment Programme, and international partners such as the World Bank.

Background and objectives

The project emerged amid urban challenges in Addis Ababa associated with rapid expansion, pollution of the Little Akaki River, informal settlements along the Akaki watershed, and pressures from institutions like the Ethiopian Railway Corporation and the Ethiopian Roads Authority. Prominent national leaders including Abiy Ahmed and municipal authorities from the Addis Ababa City Administration framed objectives to improve public health, enhance tourism linked to sites like Entoto Natural Park and Menelik II Palace, and stimulate investment from entities such as the Ethiopian Investment Commission and the African Development Bank. International figures and organizations referenced in discourse included representatives from the United Nations Office for Project Services, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, and the World Health Organization.

Project components and activities

Major components encompassed river cleanup along tributaries such as the Little Akaki River and infrastructure works near landmarks like Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and the Meskel Square corridor. Activities involved landscaping, construction of pedestrian promenades adjacent to the Blue Nile, installation of public lighting inspired by projects in Copenhagen and Singapore, and cultural programming coordinated with institutions like the Addis Ababa Music and Dance Cultural Center and the Ethiopian National Theatre. Technical partners included consultancies with links to firms experienced in projects for the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and municipal projects in cities such as Nairobi, Kigali, and Cape Town. Works partnered with utilities including the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation and EEPCO-operated grids, while coordination occurred with transport agencies like the Addis Ababa Transport Bureau and the Ethiopian Roads Authority.

Funding and governance

Funding sources combined municipal allocations from the Addis Ababa City Administration, national budget inputs from the Ministry of Finance (Ethiopia), and contributions from development partners including the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the European Union External Action Service, and bilateral partners such as the Government of China, the Government of Japan, and the Government of the United States. Governance mechanisms involved task forces with representatives from the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority, the Addis Ababa Bureau of Finance and Economic Development, and advisory input from universities such as Addis Ababa University and the Ethiopian Civil Service University. Implementation contracts were awarded to domestic firms as well as international contractors familiar with projects in Dubai, Doha, and Istanbul.

Public reception and controversies

Public responses were mixed, with endorsements from cultural figures and artists linked to institutions like the Ethiopian National Theatre and civil society organizations including Ethiopia Constitutional Debate Project-affiliated groups, while critics raised concerns voiced by local activists, journalists from outlets such as the Addis Standard and the Ethiopian Reporter, and human rights NGOs including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Controversies centered on displacement of informal settlements along the Akaki waterways, heritage impacts near the Entoto Maryam Church and Menelik II Palace Museum, procurement transparency questioned by auditors from the Ethiopian Audit Service, and environmental claims debated with experts from Mekelle University, Bahir Dar University, and Jimma University.

Environmental and urban impact

Environmental assessments considered effects on riparian ecosystems along tributaries feeding the Blue Nile and impacts on endangered species studied by researchers from Addis Ababa University and the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority. Urban impacts included changes to public space usage near Meskel Square, traffic flow adjustments involving the Addis Ababa Light Rail, and green-space planning influenced by precedents in Seoul and Bogotá. Scholars from the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences and international academics affiliated with institutions such as Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Cape Town evaluated outcomes in peer forums hosted by bodies like the African Union and the United Nations Environment Programme.

Legacy and future plans

Planners and policymakers from the Addis Ababa City Administration and the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing have discussed scaling elements through regional initiatives linked to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and urban networks like C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. Future proposals invoked collaboration with donors including the World Bank and the African Development Bank and continued technical exchange with cities such as Kigali, Nairobi, Cairo, and Johannesburg. Academic partners including Addis Ababa University, University of Gondar, and Jimma University remain positioned to monitor socioeconomic and environmental indicators in coordination with international research centers like the International Water Management Institute.

Category:Urban renewal projects Category:Addis Ababa