Integrated Urban Land Management for Climate Sensitive Cities - Constraints, Opportunities & Lessons from Ethiopia

Jul 19, 2026

Upload by Patrick

Rapid urbanization in Ethiopia is driving rising informal settlement growth, higher greenhouse gas emissions, and greater exposure to climate hazards, alongside pressure on land and governance systems. The report assesses how integrated urban land management can unlock urban development potential under climate sensitivity, identifies key barriers across the legal, policy, and institutional landscape, and outlines practical tools and reform directions to strengthen implementation. It also highlights climate-oriented co-benefits and future actions for durable progress.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages48

Reading Time2 h 1 min

AccessFree to download

Acknowledgements

Summary and Key Messages

Introduction

The Urbanization Challenge

Unlocking the Potential of Integrated Urban Land Management

Climate and Urbanization in Ethiopia

Barriers to Integrated Urban Land Management in Ethiopia

Legal and Policy Framework

Institutional Set-up and Mandates

Implementation

Toward Integrated Urban Land Management in Ethiopia

Current Reform Activity

Tools and Instruments for Integrated Urban Land Management

Future Directions

Key Actions for Integrated Urban Land Management

Annexes

Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized INTEGRATED URBAN LAND MANAGEMENT FOR CLIMATE SENSITIVE CITIES CONSTRAINTS, OPPORTUNITIES & LESSONS FROM ETHIOPIA © 2025 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development The World Bank 1818 H Street NW Washington DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000 [Internet:](Internet: www.worldbank.org)[ www.worldbank.org](Internet: www.worldbank.org) This work is a product of the staff of the World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Rights and Permissions The material in this work is subject to copyright. Because the World Bank encourages dissemination of its knowledge, this work may be reproduced, in whole or in part, for noncommercial purposes as long as full attribution to this work is given. Any queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to World Bank Publications, The World Bank Group, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA; fax: 202-522-2625; e-mail: [pubrights@worldbank.org](pubrights@worldbank.org) Cover Photo: View of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia © Lukas Loeschner/World Bank (2024) TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ____________________________________________________________IV SUMMARY AND KEY MESSAGES _____________________________________________________ V I – INTRODUCTION ________________________________________________________________ 1 THE URBANIZATION CHALLENGE__________________________________________________________________ 1 UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF INTEGRATED URBAN LAND MANAGEMENT_____________________________________ 4 REPORT STRUCTURE __________________________________________________________________________ 6 II – CLIMATE AND URBANIZATION IN ETHIOPIA _________________________________________ 8 III – BARRIERS TO INTEGRATED URBAN LAND MANAGEMENT IN ETHIOPIA__________________ 11 LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK ________________________________________________________________ 11 INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP AND MANDATES ___________________________________________________________ 17 IMPLEMENTATION __________________________________________________________________________ 19 IV – TOWARD INTEGRATED URBAN LAND MANAGEMENT IN ETHIOPIA_____________________ 22 INTRODUCTION ____________________________________________________________________________ 22 CURRENT REFORM ACTIVITY ___________________________________________________________________ 22 TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS FOR INTEGRATED URBAN LAND MANAGEMENT ____________________________________ 25 V-FUTURE DIRECTIONS___________________________________________________________ 31 INTRODUCTION ____________________________________________________________________________ 31 KEY ACTIONS FOR INTEGRATED URBAN LAND MANAGEMENT _____________________________________________ 32 CONCLUSIONS _____________________________________________________________________________ 35 REFERENCES ____________________________________________________________________ 36 ANNEX I: INTEGRATED URBAN LAND MANAGEMENT TO ACHIEVE CLIMATE GOALS ___________ 38 ANNEX II: TYPOLOGIES OF URBAN LAND MANAGEMENT AND CLIMATE CO-BENEFITS _________ 39 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was prepared as part of the Advisory and Analytical Service (ASA) Ethiopia: Resilient Integrated Land Management (P177667) . It was led by an interdisciplinary team comprising Lukas Loeschner (Senior Urban/DRM Specialist, IAEU3), Mercede

FAQs

Why does Ethiopia’s urbanization create climate-sensitive land management challenges?

Ethiopia is experiencing rapid urban growth that expands informal settlements, increases greenhouse gas emissions, and heightens vulnerability to climate hazards. These pressures demand better coordination of land systems, governance, and implementation capacity.

What barriers limit integrated urban land management in Ethiopia?

Key constraints include gaps in the legal and policy framework and weaknesses in institutional set-up and mandates. The report also reviews implementation challenges that affect how reforms translate into practice.

What tools and future actions does the report recommend for integrated urban land management?

The report outlines tools and instruments for integrated urban land management and emphasizes current reform activity as a basis for scaling up. It concludes with key actions and direction to strengthen implementation toward climate goals.

Jul 19, 2026

Upload by Patrick