Her Excellency Semereta Sewasew held a productive meeting with the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Ms. Anacláudia Marinheiro Centeno Rossbach, who led the delegation.

The discussion focused on advancing inclusive, resilient, and well-planned urbanization in response to Ethiopia’s rapid urban growth. Particular attention was given to scalable approaches to affordable housing delivery, including structured public-private partnerships, innovative and blended financing mechanisms, and the use of housing development as a driver for job creation and broader economic growth.

Her Excellency emphasized the Government’s commitment to creating livable and economically vibrant cities, highlighting ongoing efforts to strengthen urban governance, enhance institutional coordination, and improve service delivery. She underscored the importance of establishing a strong delivery framework, including clear institutional leadership, an active and well-capacitated coordinating mechanism, and streamlined processes for land access and project implementation.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of integrated planning approaches that link housing development with infrastructure, transport systems, and access to basic services. Both parties underscored the value of efficient land management systems, transparent allocation processes, and the use of digital tools to enhance accountability and scale.

The Executive Director reaffirmed UN-Habitat’s continued support to Ethiopia and welcomed the Government’s focus on practical, results-driven approaches to accelerating housing delivery. Both sides agreed on the importance of tailoring these approaches to Ethiopia’s context while maintaining a strong focus on affordability, inclusivity, and sustainability.

The UN-Habitat delegation included Mr. Oumar Sylla, Director of the Regional Office for Africa.

The meeting further explored opportunities for strengthened collaboration on technical assistance and capacity building, including support for innovative financing models and institutional frameworks that can accelerate delivery at scale.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen cooperation, translate these approaches into actionable programs, and maintain close engagement in addressing Ethiopia’s evolving urban development needs.