LunchUP: Land Use and Environmental Planning in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Perspectives from Faculty and Students

LunchUP: Land Use and Environmental Planning in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia:  Perspectives from Faculty and Students

Presenters: Larissa Larsen, Alex Waltz, and Kip Darden

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city, is believed to be one of the fastest growing cities in Africa. Surface water pollution (due to minimal wastewater treatment and erosion) plus seasonal flooding challenge the viability of development in many parts of the city and threaten residents’ health. Locating decentralized green infrastructure facilities could improve water quality and quantity issues.  In the last three years, Dr. Larsen and her students from the Urban and Regional Planning program have collaborated with Dr. Kumelachew Yeshitela and his students at the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction, and City Planning (EiABC), (part of Addis Ababa University) on identifying stormwater and green infrastructure opportunities. In addition to presenting the results of this land cover assessment, Larsen will discuss the larger lessons she has learned about urban planning from this city in the Global South.  Students Alex Waltz and Kip Darden will share the video they created and discuss their perspectives as young planners.

Lunch is provided. Please bring a drink.

These sessions are a response to requests from faculty and students to learn more about what’s going on in the field in an informal environment. We hope this can inspire emergent thoughts and connections that will inform our scholarship.