Challenges to the Practice of Good Governance in Urban Land Use Planning: The Case of Two Selected Ethiopian Towns

Abstract

The main objective of urban land management is to support efficient land use and supply tracking techniques. The various decision-making stages of the planning process should allow urban land management affected by development projects to participate. In the towns of Gelan and Lega Tafo Lega Dadi, this study attempted to assess the difficulties in the practice of urban land use planning from a governance perspective. To find the gap in land use planning descriptive data analysis was used. Both qualitative and quantitative research techniques were employed. Data were collected using surveys, interviews, focus groups and secondary sources. Descriptive analysis was then used to examine the results. The research showed that citizens’ preferences or existing urban land rights were not taken into account throughout the process of infrastructure construction and urban growth. In addition, urban land expropriation occurred without sufficient consultation and agreement with affected parties. Urban land valuations and property compensation did not represent market values. Urban zoning and law also have not kept pace with urban growth, to control urban sprawl, protect cultural monuments and heritage regions and prevent the spread of informal settlements in metropolitan areas. The general conversion of the land use planning did not exist before the demand from the municipal actors. Last, but not least, the process of obtaining a building permit was lengthy and expensive, and in places of informal tenure, there was no viable concept of protecting urban tenure.