1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
The main objectives of the intervention include:
1. To prevent erosion on the banks of the Shega river, a river that meanders through the entire Addis Ababa.
2. To transform a previous derelict and dumping space into a green area fit to serve a local population and enhance ecological services.
3. To inform the broader rehabilitation and revitalisation of the Shega River, thereby realising one of the city’s aims of creating a greener, more inclusive Addis.
4. To help prevent landslides, provide shade and restore previously damaged ecosystems attracting a wide range of birds and insects.
5. To restore the riverfront and its urban agriculture component that will provide green job opportunities for residents.
6. To raise awareness regarding the benefits of nature in cities, and to involve as many residents as possible, residents of different genders, cultural backgrounds, and ages.
7. To protect recreational areas for the local population and procure title deeds for public spaces to protect them from illegal encroachment.(1,2,3,4)
1. To prevent erosion on the banks of the Shega river, a river that meanders through the entire Addis Ababa.
2. To transform a previous derelict and dumping space into a green area fit to serve a local population and enhance ecological services.
3. To inform the broader rehabilitation and revitalisation of the Shega River, thereby realising one of the city’s aims of creating a greener, more inclusive Addis.
4. To help prevent landslides, provide shade and restore previously damaged ecosystems attracting a wide range of birds and insects.
5. To restore the riverfront and its urban agriculture component that will provide green job opportunities for residents.
6. To raise awareness regarding the benefits of nature in cities, and to involve as many residents as possible, residents of different genders, cultural backgrounds, and ages.
7. To protect recreational areas for the local population and procure title deeds for public spaces to protect them from illegal encroachment.(1,2,3,4)
Quantitative targets
Conducting 1 workshop with local inhabitants to discuss the intervention
Serving approx. 160K citizens, inhabitants of the Harar neighborhood, where the intervention is implemented (1,2,3)
Serving approx. 160K citizens, inhabitants of the Harar neighborhood, where the intervention is implemented (1,2,3)
Monitoring indicators defined
Number of people benefiting from the intervention
Number of workshops implemented (1,2,3)
Number of workshops implemented (1,2,3)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Implementation activities
In 2017, UN-Habitat selected the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, to perform a citywide assessment of public spaces. The organization partnered with the Addis Ababa City Administration Beautification, Parks and Cemetery Development and Administration Authority to complete two assessments of all districts, called woredas, through 2018.
The assessment identified 2,040 public spaces in the city. However, some areas lacked features to serve the public, such as a hilltop school for the blind accessed by an aged, uneven staircase. The assessment also considered the safety perception of specific areas and found that nearly 20% of public spaces were perceived as “not safe.” Given the priorities of improving accessibility and safety (especially for women and girls), the city became a clear choice for site selection.
UN-Habitat and partners then set out to conduct an analysis of urban legislation, by-laws, and plans in Addis Ababa. By understanding the city's layout, the team aims to create a city-wide public space strategy and action plan. By using a workshop methodology developed by UN-Habitat involving the computer game Minecraft, the collaborators managed to get a diverse local community, including women and youth, involved in redesigning this public open space. A four-day workshop was held where city officials and community stakeholders were briefed about the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services for human well-being and invited to think creatively and outside the constraints of the current site. By the end of the workshop, 12 designs in Minecraft were submitted to the Addis Ababa City Administration, and they formed the basis of the final design for the site.
The river tributaries were uncovered, trees were planted, gabions were built to prevent erosion, as well as a playground, lawns, benches, bins, and a bike lane. (1,2,3,4)
The assessment identified 2,040 public spaces in the city. However, some areas lacked features to serve the public, such as a hilltop school for the blind accessed by an aged, uneven staircase. The assessment also considered the safety perception of specific areas and found that nearly 20% of public spaces were perceived as “not safe.” Given the priorities of improving accessibility and safety (especially for women and girls), the city became a clear choice for site selection.
UN-Habitat and partners then set out to conduct an analysis of urban legislation, by-laws, and plans in Addis Ababa. By understanding the city's layout, the team aims to create a city-wide public space strategy and action plan. By using a workshop methodology developed by UN-Habitat involving the computer game Minecraft, the collaborators managed to get a diverse local community, including women and youth, involved in redesigning this public open space. A four-day workshop was held where city officials and community stakeholders were briefed about the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services for human well-being and invited to think creatively and outside the constraints of the current site. By the end of the workshop, 12 designs in Minecraft were submitted to the Addis Ababa City Administration, and they formed the basis of the final design for the site.
The river tributaries were uncovered, trees were planted, gabions were built to prevent erosion, as well as a playground, lawns, benches, bins, and a bike lane. (1,2,3,4)
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
The intervention used a Minecraft technology to design the park, integrated into a stakeholder process (5).
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
