Addis Ababa has emerged as the leading African city in urban financial governance, outperforming six major cities across the continent, according to a survey revealed at a regional peer review workshop on January 22nd.

The achievement underscores Ethiopia’s growing role in demonstrating sustainable urban management for rapidly transforming African cities.

Organized in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and chaired by Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abiebie, the workshop brought together officials, mayors, and representatives from multiple African countries. Participants exchanged best practices to strengthen financial governance, transparency, and resource mobilization across urban centers in Africa.

The survey, supported by UNECA, ranked Addis Ababa above Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Lusaka, Kigali, and Yaoundé, with top scores in five of six key indicators, including revenue management and financial resource allocation.

Mayor Adanech highlighted that Africa’s urban transformation—driven by rapid population growth and rising demand for services—requires robust financing systems, political commitment, and accountability frameworks.

Through peer-to-peer learning forums, Addis Ababa is sharing its experience as a model for sustainable urban planning. The city allocates roughly 70 percent of its revenue to development projects, demonstrating how African cities can leverage strong financial governance to drive economic growth, improve public services, and support long-term resilience, with ongoing guidance from UNECA.