AMN Plus-October 3, 2026
In a message shared on her official social media page of Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abiebie stated tansforming a city requires a clear vision, coordinated efforts, and a development approach that places people and their well-being at its center. Addis Ababa has once again demonstrated on the international stage that it is translating this principle into action.
At the 2026 Shanghai Award for Sustainable Urban Development, held in Shanghai, China, five cities from around the world, including Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, were recognized for their achievements in sustainable urban development.
The five recognized cities are:
1). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2). Santiago de Cali, Colombia
3). Istanbul, Türkiye
4). Jingdezhen, China
5). Katowice, Poland
According to the statement, the Shanghai Award for Sustainable Urban Development is held for the fourth time at the international level. Over the course of its four editions, Addis Ababa has received international recognition on two occasions.
In 2024, the city was honored with the Seoul Smart City Award, followed by the Shanghai Global Award for Sustainable Urban Development in 2026.
Furthermore, in 2023, Addis Ababa received international recognition for its remarkable progress in school feeding programmes and solid waste management. These recognitions are a great honor for our country and serve as a source of encouragement and renewed motivation for the ongoing development efforts. Above all, they provide international affirmation that our people-centered development initiatives are producing tangible and meaningful results.
The awards acknowledge the city’s commitment to improving residents’ living standards and quality of life, while effectively harnessing its natural and social assets to create new development opportunities, generate economic value, and promote sustainable urban prosperity.
According to a statement shared on her official page, the Mayor said that the philosophy of Medemer views development as inseparable from human well-being.
She emphasized that the philosophy calls on cities to emerge as centers of civilization by identifying, harnessing, and developing their inherent assets, while integrating human potential with natural and economic resources to promote inclusive and shared prosperity.
Although the progress we have made in our city’s development journey has laid a strong foundation, we recognize that a long journey still lies ahead. Ethiopia, too, is beginning to reap the benefits of its efforts to overcome the poverty and multiple challenges that have burdened the country for generations, achieve sustainable transformation, and advance toward prosperity.
However, turning this challenging journey into comprehensive and lasting transformation requires the collective effort, commitment, and participation of all citizens. We must therefore continue working together with determination and a shared sense of responsibility.
“We regard the international recognition we have received not as a destination, but as an added responsibility and a renewed incentive to achieve even greater results,” the Mayor stated
According to a post shared on her official page, the Mayor stated that building on the current momentum, the city will continue working to ensure that all Ethiopian cities become pillars of civilization and prosperity.
She emphasized that by harnessing collective capabilities through the philosophy of Medemer and transforming the country’s assets into tangible achievements, efforts will be intensified to realize a level of prosperity that reflects Ethiopia’s dignity, aspirations, and immense potential.
The Mayor further underscored that, through collective commitment and shared efforts, Ethiopian cities will be developed into centers of Medemer civilization, offering comfortable, inclusive, and sustainable living environments for their residents while creating a lasting legacy of prosperity for generations to come.
