Identifying the Spatial Coverage of Informal Settlements in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for Better Management and Policy Directions

Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia and one of the fastest-expanding cities in Africa, is undergoing rapid urbanization which has led to acute housing scarcity and a growth of informal settlements. The growth of informal settlements seems unstoppable and needs appropriate policy direction to create a sustainable city. Despite the significance of the challenges posed by informal settlements, their coverage is not well-documented or known spatially. The aim of this research is to identify the spatial coverage of informal settlements after restructuring the boundary of the city. This study reviewed the existing literature and different spatial data including city wide line maps, land use plan, all cadaster data, and other spatial maps collected from different sources including city sectoral offices. Furthermore, observation and interviews with experts in the field were conducted to better understand the context of informal settlements. The data were analyzed by ArcGIS 10.8 software to identify the location of informal settlements by overlying those data and verifying this with field observation at selected areas using recent satellite images. The results show that about 50 percent of the settlements are informal. It was revealed that the existing data are fragmented, inconsistent, and difficult to access or retrieve. In this regard, informal settlements are still a critical and growing issue with regard to fast urbanization. Therefore, the results can be used for academic research, devising appropriate policy direction, and in decision-making for sustainable development.