Background: On October 9, 2003, 11 government and non-governmental organizations, represented by 15 officials met at the downtown City Hall of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to discuss various urban environmental issues and programs. One of the goals of the meeting was to identify specific needs within each agency/organization and strategize on possible methods of meeting the needs. As a result of the meeting, the following sub-tasks have been determined:

• Professional Development Programs

  Ethiopia's government agencies like the Addis Ababa Environmental Protection Authority and the Federal Environmental Protection Authority lack the necessary number of trained personnel to undertake their mandates. There is a great need to partner with teaching institutions in the United States whereby selected employees can receive training in their respective fields.

  We are collaborating with the the Gerogia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) to meet Addis Ababa's professional development need. This collaboration is part of our partnership with the Ethiopian African American University (EAAU) initiative that looks to establish a world-class teaching institution in Ethiopia. The possibility of implementing the Addis Ababa Professional Development Program (AAPDP) within EAAU is currently being discussed with the architects of EAAU, the Vice Provost for Distance Learning and Professional Education at Georgia Tech’s Global Learning and Conference Center (GLCC) (Dr. Nelson Baker), the Chairman of Georgia Tech’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department (Dr. Joe Hughes), and the Director of GTRI’s Sustainable Facilities and Infrastructure Program (Dr. Annie Pearce).
   

• Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management

  The city of Addis Ababa does not have a bona fide MSW management program. Currently, solid waste generated per day in the city is estimated at 2,297 m³, out of which approximately 65% is collected. Consequently, a large proportion of the solid waste is left unmanaged and disposed in open spaces, ditches and rivers. The lack of proper MSW management leads to pollution of waterways and soil cover. (Excerpted from Clean and Green Addis Development plan Initial Draft 2004-2025). In an effort to facilitate the implementation of a viable MSW management program, the use of plasma arc technology is being researched. Plasma technology allows for the conversion of solid waste into non-hazardous solid material that can often have commercial value.
   

• Urban Growth Management

  Addis Ababa is a city that has expanded to accommodate a growing population without enough emphasis on sustainability and sound planning. For instance, several sections of the city are not serviced by sewer lines due to improper zoning practices. The Georgia Tech Research Institute conducts an urban planning program called the Center for Sustainable Urban Revitalization (CSUR). CSUR provides expert analysis and consulting services to municipalities with regards to urban growth. A possible collaborative effort with CSUR is being pursued.
   

• Air Quality Data Acquisition

  Addis Ababa is heavily affected by air pollution. Though this pollution is visible and evident, no environmental agency has collected any data on the extent of the pollution. The Addis Ababa EPA is pursuing a data gathering program to establish a baseline on the level of air pollution in the city. To that end, the necessary hardware and software is required.

  Project goal: To promote and facilitate the implementation of urban environmental programs that address crucial needs for the city of Addis Ababa and other urban centers around the country.

  Estimated Cost: Pending feasibility study
  
  Time Line: Ongoing
  
  Project Contact Person: Yosef Kebede ykebede@enahpa.org
  
  How you can help: Identifying funding sources, grant writing, providing technical expertise