ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳

This project investigates the governance of urban infrastructure interfaces in two Ethiopian cities, the capital Addis Ababa and the second largest city Dire Dawa. The interfaces or connection points bring together different technical characteristics (e.g. large/small scale), governance regimes (e.g. formal/informal) and disciplinary expertise (e.g. engineering/social policy).

Understanding the boundaries between infrastructure interfaces tends to be neglected in urban research. Yet it is here where many critical questions for cities arise: who governs, who decides, who funds? Based on comparative case study methods, this project will examine two interfaces: transport (rail/local transport) and sanitation (city-wide/local) infrastructures in each of the two case study cities. Combining socio-spatial analysis with institutional analysis of infrastructure governance, it aims to better understand the relationship between development goals and the contribution made by infrastructure rollout.

This project investigates the material infrastructure interfaces within transport and sanitation systems respectively and how these are constituted by non-technical, administrative and political governance regimes. The project recognises the fundamental role of both systems as drivers of urban growth and as critical determinants for poverty reduction and people’s well-being. It also acknowledges urban infrastructure as a hard policy instrument linked to discrete decision-making and a unique opportunity for the purposive design of cities.

Long-term urban growth and poverty elimination includes improved transport for the movement of both goods and people.  The aspiration of reducing urban poverty and inequality, embraced by Ethiopian national policies, through the African Union’s 2063 vision and via the Sustainable Development Goals, hinges on the institutional capability of making cities more attractive places to live, visit and invest in.

Project Team

Principal Investigators
Philipp Rode, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities
Jo Beall, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities

Senior Advisors
Zegeye Cherenet, EiABC, Addis Ababa University
Sue Parnell, University of Bristol 

Project coordinator
Nuno Ferreira da Cruz, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities

Researchers
Nuno Ferreira da Cruz, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities (Project coordinator)
Liza Cirolia, African Centre for Cities
Biruk Terrefe, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities
Rebecca Craig, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities
Marco Di Nunzio, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities
Julia King, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities

Events

30 November 2018: Developing Urban Futures, Session 6, Ethiopia’s Urban Transformation 

28 February 2019 | Public Lecture hosted by ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Festival 'New World (Dis)orders |

22 March 2019 | PhD Debate -

16 October 2019 | , Emerging City Lab in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 

19 November 2019 |

Publications

Journal articles

Cirolia, L., Hailu, T., King, J., da Cruz, N.F., Beall, J. (2021). . Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space, Volume 39, Issue 7, pages 1606-1624.

Rode, P., Terrefe, B., da Cruz, N.F. (2020). . Transport Policy, Volume 91, June 2020, pages 76-94.

Beall, J., Cherenet, Z., Cirolia, L., Da Cruz, N., Parnell, S., and Rode, P. (2019). : Journal of the British Academy, London.

Policy Briefs

Rode, P., da Cruz, Nuno F. and Terrefe, B. (2020). 'Governing Infrastructure Interfaces for Ethiopian Cities: How to connect cities and transport infrastructure'. Policy Brief 2020, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities

Working papers

Cirolia, L. and Rode, P. (2019). 'Urban infrastructure and development'.

da Cruz, Nuno F. (2018). 'Urban Infrastructure in Political Science and Public Administration'. Governing Infrastructure Interfaces, .

Rode, P. (2018). 'Urban Infrastructure in Transport Studies and Planning'. Governing Infrastructure Interfaces, .

Di Nunzio, Marco. (2018). Anthropology of Infrastructure '. Governing Infrastructure Interfaces, . 

Essays 

Rode, P. (2018). ‘’ in Burdett, R., Rode, P. & Griffiths, P. (Eds.) Developing Urban Futures, pp. 16-17. Urban Age: London.     

Blogs

Terrefe, B., (2020). "When infrastructures meet: Cities, transport and placemaking in Ethiopia". ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities, 8 May 2020.

Transport Infrastructure Outputs

 Introductory Video

 Journal Article

Rode, P., Terrefe, B., da Cruz, N.F. (2020). . Transport Policy, Volume 91, June 2020, pages 76-94.

 

Policy Brief

Rode, P., da Cruz, Nuno F. and Terrefe, B. (2020). 'Governing Infrastructure Interfaces for Ethiopian Cities: How to connect cities and transport infrastructure'. Policy Brief 2020, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities

 

Working paper

Rode, P. (2018).  (September 2018). ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities Working Papers.

Blog

Terrefe, B., (2020). "When infrastructures meet: Cities, transport and placemaking in Ethiopia". ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Cities, 8 May 2020.