Addis Ababa Shares Its Urban Transformation Model with African Mayors

Addis Ababa is sharing its urban transformation experience with mayors and city leaders from across Africa, presenting investments in infrastructure, public services and early childhood development as the basis for more inclusive, liveable cities.

The exchange is taking place during the 2026 African Mayors Leadership Initiative (AMALI) Mayors Leadership Forum, hosted in Addis Ababa for the second time and bringing together more than 55 mayors from African cities alongside over 15 mayors from Ethiopian cities.

Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abiebie said the city was translating a forward-looking vision into tangible development results through investments in transport, housing and technology-enabled public services. She said the city's capacity to collect revenue had been increasing by 50 percent annually, strengthening its ability to finance development priorities from its own resources.

Participating mayors are taking part in field visits to the capital's development initiatives, gaining insight into Addis Ababa's transformation journey and exploring approaches that could be adapted in their own cities.

The mayor stressed that sustained attention to early childhood development is essential, saying the city is linking infrastructure development with children's growth, safety, education and well-being, and reaffirming an ambition for Addis Ababa to be Africa's best city in which to raise children.

As part of the forum, Mayor Adanech, AMALI leaders and participants inaugurated a purpose-designed childcare centre in Addis Ababa, named in memory of Lisa Diego in recognition of her contribution to the initiative. She thanked Jemmy Cooper, founder, chair and president of Big Win Philanthropy, and the foundation's chief executive Dr Kesetebrihan Admasu, along with advisers and programme leaders who helped advance the initiative.