Addis Ababa Wins 2026 Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities

Addis Ababa, October 31, 2026 (ENA) — Addis Ababa has won the 2026 Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities, also known as the Shanghai Award, UN-Habitat Shanghai Award, for being one of the five cities worldwide recognized for their efforts in promoting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban development.

The Award, led by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and China, was launched in 2023 to recognize cities' outstanding progress in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda.

Presented annually to five cities, the award recognizes achievements in advancing sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban development, with a focus on cities' contributions to these global development agendas.

In a social media post announcing the achievement, Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abiebie said the recognition was a source of pride not only for the city but also for Ethiopia as a whole.

She noted that the latest accolade follows the city's 2024 Seoul Smart City Prize, organized by UN-Habitat and the city of Seoul, South Korea, describing the consecutive international awards as evidence of the strides made in urban development and the city's growing global competitiveness.

According to her, the Shanghai Award particularly recognizes the effectiveness and sustainability of Addis Ababa's urban development initiatives, especially those undertaken during the reform years, and their direct benefits to residents.

She identified several key development areas that contributed to the achievement, including integrating human-centered approaches into urban renewal to prioritize residents' needs and expanding housing supply.

The city's urban corridor and riverside development projects have also promoted inclusive and integrated urban development, while efforts to improve public transportation services and accessibility have contributed to making the capital more livable.

Other initiatives include expanding green spaces, improving cleanliness, and enhancing urban aesthetics to create a more comfortable urban environment.

The Mayor said these initiatives demonstrate how the city's potential has been translated into tangible results, improving residents' well-being and strengthening Addis Ababa's position as a globally competitive city.

She particularly highlighted the city's urban renewal model as a practical lesson and an inspiring example for other cities, noting that urban renewal remains a major challenge for many developing nations.

Mayor Adanech described the award as a testament to tangible action, collective effort, and shared achievement, congratulating the city's residents and the country on the international recognition.

Besides Addis Ababa, Santiago de Cali (Colombia), Istanbul (Türkiye), Jingdezhen (China), and Katowice (Poland) were the other four cities selected for the 2026 Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award).