Addis Ababa Wins Global Recognition as Cities Compete on Sustainable Development

November 3, 2026 | By Semahegn Nigatu

Addis Ababa has been named among five cities recognised at the 2026 Shanghai Global Award for Sustainable Urban Development, adding an international accolade to the capital's efforts to position urban transformation as a driver of economic and social development.

Mayor Adanech Abiebie announced the recognition, placing Addis Ababa alongside Santiago de Cali in Colombia, Istanbul in Türkiye, Jingdezhen in China and Katowice in Poland.

The award marks the second international recognition for Addis Ababa's urban development efforts in three years. The capital received the Seoul Smart City Award in 2024, while its school feeding programme and solid waste management initiatives also attracted international recognition in 2023.

The latest recognition comes as the city pursues an urban development model that seeks to turn its natural, social and economic resources into sources of prosperity. Adanech said the administration's approach places residents' well-being at the centre of development and aims to translate the city's assets into economic value.

The mayor described the award as recognition of efforts to improve living standards and the quality of urban life, while cautioning that international accolades should bring greater responsibility rather than signal the completion of the city's transformation.

She said the administration intended to extend its development approach to other Ethiopian cities, arguing that urban centres should serve as foundations for economic prosperity and improved living conditions.

The recognition also comes against the backdrop of growing attention to the economic role of cities in Ethiopia's development. Addis Ababa, as the country's political and commercial centre, faces the challenge of accommodating urban growth while improving infrastructure, public services and the living environment.

Adanech attributed the city's development philosophy to Medemer, which emphasises combining human potential with natural and economic resources to achieve shared prosperity.

Source: FSX Business News