Towards Sustainable Urban Land Governance in Ethiopia: A Cross-Regional Analysis of Institutional Capacity and Best Practices

Abstract

Urban land governance is a critical component of effective urban development, particularly in rapidly urbanizing countries like Ethiopia. However,  the increasing demand for urban land, coupled with limited  institutional  capacity,  poses  significant  challenges  to  land  provision  and  administration. Despite these challenges, there is limited research on how Ethiopia can learn from international best practices to strengthen its urban land governance systems. This study addresses this gap by examining the  institutional capacity challenges  in Ethiopia’s urban  land governance and proposing solutions informed by  best practices from  selected Asian  and African  countries.  Employing  a  comparative qualitative approach, the research analyzes case studies from South Korea, Singapore, Kenya, and Ghana  to  extract  lessons  and strategies for  improving  land governance.  The findings  reveal  that Ethiopia’s  urban  land  governance  is  constrained  by  weak  inter-agency  coordination,  insufficient leadership  and  technical  capacity,  and  bureaucratic   inefficiencies,  which  hinder  effective  land management  and  urban  development.  Based  on  these findings,  the  study  concludes  with  policy recommendations for  strengthening  Ethiopia’s  urban   land  governance.   These  include  enhancing institutional coordination through the establishment of inter-agency platforms, investing in technology and human resource capacity, integrating technology into land management processes, fostering active community participation in decision-making, and implementing comprehensive training programs for local  officials.  Additionally,   the  research   emphasizes  the  need for  clear  legal frameworks  and streamlined land registration processes to improve efficiency and transparency. These insights not only contribute  to  Ethiopia’s  urban  development  policies  but  also  provide  a  roadmap for  achieving sustainable  urban  land  administration,  with potential  implications for  other  developing  countries facing similar challenges.