Nesru H . Koroso

Ethiopia's rapid urbanization over the past two decades has led to the conversion of agricultural land to urban use. However, this expansion has been largely unplanned, resulting in numerous urban land management challenges. These gaps have hindered efficient urban land use, a critical component of sustainable urban development. This study examines the impact of current institutional environment on urban land use efficiency (ULUE) in Ethiopia and explores why urban land policies have not been translated into effective land management and sustainable practices. Using a case study approach and qualitative method, the research identifies institutional factors that influence ULUE, drawing on the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework and the Institutional Credibility thesis. The study identifies several factors that contribute to low ULUE, including an inefficient land transfer market, tenure insecurity and land hoarding. These problems are exacerbated by gaps in policy formulation and implementation, including inadequate human and technical capacity, unrealistic spatial planning, and weak urban land governance. To improve ULUE, an effective land transfer market, tenure security and land policies that discourage land hoarding are essential. Addressing shortcomings in the legal framework and strengthening urban land governance and institutional capacity are key steps.

Ethiopia has an urban land lease policy in place to facilitate the transfer of land for residential, commercial and industrial purposes. Because of the lease policy, many cities have experienced significant expansion through massive conversion of agricultural land. Although the lease policy has been in place for nearly three decades, little is known about its effectiveness in promoting sustainable urban land use. This paper examines the effects of the lease policies on urban land use efficiency (ULUE). Building on the institutional credibility thesis, this paper investigated the performance of land institutions using the urban land use efficiency approach. Remote sensing data was used to investigate urban land use efficiency through spatiotemporal analysis of land use change. Analysis of satellite imagery was performed using ArcGIS. Moreover, quantitative and qualitative data from secondary sources were studied. The study findings show that in almost all study areas, urban land use efficiency is low, which is mainly reflected in the forms of land hoarding, land banking, illegal land grabbing, informal settlement, land use fragmentation and urban sprawl. A significant portion of the land transferred for various urban uses has remained vacant or underutilised for years, in direct violation of the provisions of the lease policy. This means that the lease policy has hardly been enforced to ensure efficient urban land utilization. This demonstrates the ineffectiveness (dysfunctionality) of the existing land institutions. It is concluded that some elements of the lease policy have evolved into an empty institution, i.e., a symbolic institutional arrangement that is largely ignored by socioeconomic and political actors.

Ethiopia has experienced rapid urbanization over the past three decades. Several cities expanded rapidly and many satellite towns sprung up around the major cities. The high rate of urbanization and urban growth resulted in high demand for urban land, mainly for industrial, commercial, and residential purposes. In order to meet the demand, an enormous amount of land has been made available for urban use, mainly through land conversion. However, we know very little about how efficiently cities use urban land. This paper investigated the urban land use efficiency (ULUE) of sixteen cities in Ethiopia. Remote sensing data (Landsat 7/8) was analysed with ArcGIS to assess spatiotemporal land use changes between 2007 and 2019. Built-up environment footprints were computed from Google Earth imagery. The ratio of land consumption to population growth rate, and the rate of urban infill were assessed. The findings revealed a prevalence of urban land use inefficiencies in all cities. In most cities, the rate of land consumption far exceeds the population growth rate. Densification (urban infill) is low and slow. A considerable part of the converted agricultural land sits idle within the built-up area for many years. Low ULUE is what fuels urban sprawl, fragmentation and informal settlements. This study emphasised the need to implement urban policies and practices aimed at improving ULUE. Improving ULUE is imperative to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals; ensuring sustainable urban land use; addressing land prices and housing shortages; protecting farmland and ecosystems; tackling land hoarding, urban sprawl and informal settlements.

In Ethiopia, since 1993, urban land lease policy has been in place to facilitate land transfer for residential, commercial and industrial purposes. As a result, many cities, including Addis Ababa, have witnessed enormous boundary expansion mainly through farmland conversion. Over the past two decades, though Addis Ababa experienced rapid spatial boundary expansion, very little is known about urban land use efficiency (ULUE) of the city. This paper analysed ULUE using remote sensing data. Emphasis was given to the assessment of spatiotemporal land use changes since 2004. Satellite imagery analysis was done using ArcGIS software. Besides, quantitative and qualitative data from secondary sources were studied. Moreover, field observation was conducted. Research findings showed that in almost all expansion frontiers (Bole and Akaki-Kaliti sub-cities) there is a prevalence of urban land use inefficiencies, i.e. pervasive practices of land hoarding and land use fragmentation. Urban sprawl is rampant with a significant part of the land transferred being left vacant or underutilised for years. The problem of ULUE in the country could be mainly attributed to institutional weaknesses, i.e. urban land lease policy gaps, particularly, in areas of lease policy implementation. To improve land productivity, limit eviction and ensure sustainable urban growth, the city should emphasise on improving ULUE. This study highlighted that a mere policy formulation is not enough to ensure efficient urban land use. To achieve land lease policy goals, strengthening institutions, working towards improving institutional functionality, is what policymakers should focus on.

Institutions shape people’s behavior and perception. This help reduce uncertainty. Institutions play an important role in shaping socio-economic outcomes. For this to happen institutions must be effective and functional. Institutional effectiveness depends, to a large extent, on factors such as the existence of an enabling environment, which includes complementary institutions. Over the years, several developing countries introduced land formalization. The change in institutional arrangements, in many cases, was made in anticipation of a better land tenure security provision. However, it is not clear yet if the change in land institutions produces the intended result, for instance, in the absence of dependable complementary institutions such as politico-legal institutions. By doing a review of the literature and using data from Property Rights Alliance (IPRI 2018) and Freedom House this study analyzed 10 countries to find a correlation between land institutions’ credibility and the quality of politico-legal institutions. This is to assess to what extent the success of land reform depends on the quality of the existing politico-legal institutions. The result of the study reveals that there is a strong correlation between the quality of politico-legal institutions and the quality of land institutions of a given country. This shows that land institutions and politico-legal institutions are highly interdependent. This underscores that in the absence of a strong or effective politico-legal institutions land reform might fail to fulfill its objectives, which undermines its credibility. To establish a credible land institution, it is imperative to put effective politico-legal institutions in place.

One of the challenges Open Access publishing has been facing is a perceived lack of quality. The perception is so rampant that it casts a big shadow not only on Open Access journals but also on authors. It’s a very serious issue which held back many researchers from publishing their research output on fully Open Access journals. However, the research conducted to test changes in perceptions associated with Open Access quality revealed that opinions are shifting.

The increase in so-called “predatory” Open Access publishers is posing a threat to the integrity of Open Access publishing. Predatory Open Access publishers charge authors high publishing fees without providing proper editorial and peer review services. They are abusing the opportunity created by the Gold Open Access publishing model which requires authors to pay article processing charges.
Since 2010 the number of predatory Open Access publishers has shown a sharp increase, according to Finland’s Hanken School of Economics. Authors of the research, Cenyu Shen and BO-Christer Bjork, found out that in 2014 alone predatory Open Access publishers had dumped more than 420,000 articles on the market. This shows a nearly 800% increase from the year 2010. The findings of the research are based on a detailed analysis of 613 Open Access journals.

The primary move towards Open Access is caused by a belief that the results of scientific research are a public good. Therefore, they should be available and accessible to all, regardless of citizens’ ability to pay. Over the years, the Open Access movement has challenged traditional (subscription based) publishers largely through introducing two alternatives: Gold and Green Open Access publishing models. This forced traditional publishers into making changes in their publishing practices.

The development of the internet coupled with the dramatic increase in journal subscription fees in the 90s have triggered the creation of Open Access. This movement in the scientific publishing world promotes universal access to scientific research findings free of charge, challenging the 350 years old world of print that has been largely championed by scholars and librarians. Since inception of the movement, Open Access has grabbed significant attention of many in and outside the academic world and resulted in the appearance of many OA scholarly journal publications.

Siyaasa Oromoo is about Oromo politics and history. It covers major issues in Oromo history and politics. It is about how and why Oromo nation fell under various tyrannical regimes for over a century. The book also emphasizes on the role unity, organization and leadership played in the success Oromo achieved in the past and its role to sustain the gains made.

The book is written in Afan Oromo (Oromo language). This is primarily to improve Qubee Generation's understanding of Oromo politics and history. To create knowledgeable and well-informed generation, this book has a lot to offer.

Developing countries are experiencing rapid urbanization, leading to massive growth and expansion of cities. Rapid urbanization has implications for the built environment and peri-urban areas. In built-up areas, it affects the supply of urban land and housing and urban infrastructure. It also affects agricultural land and biodiversity in peri-urban areas. Uncontrolled rapid urbanization undermines efforts to ensure sustainable urbanization. One way of achieving sustainable urbanization is by promoting compact urbanization. An important part of achieving compact urbanization is ensuring the efficient use of urban land.
In order to know whether a city/country is on the path of sustainable urbanization, it is imperative to understand how urban land is used and the factors that influence it. The aim of this study was to investigate the status of urban land use in Ethiopia. In doing so, we examined the role that urban land policy has played in ensuring or undermining sustainable urban land use in the country. We also examined the role of the overall institutional environment in a country in determining the outcomes of urban land policy.
This study is based on quantitative and qualitative data, mainly remote sensing and secondary data. The efficiency of the urban land use of 17 cities was examined mainly through the analysis of remote sensing data (Landsat 7/8 and Google Earth Pro). Spatiotemporal changes in land use of the cities were calculated using ArcGIS. Furthermore, the suitability and effectiveness of the institutional environment in the country were assessed based on the conceptual framework (Institutional Analysis and Development-IAD) developed by Ostrom and Ho’s institutional credibility thesis.
In Ethiopia, the findings revealed that urban land use efficiency (ULUE) is low. Land hoarding, urban sprawl and land underutilization are widespread. Land policy gaps, primarily in its forms and functions, played an important role in undermining urban land use efficiency in the country. Moreover, there is a positive correlation between the effectiveness of land institutions and the quality of complementary institutions, specifically legal and political institutions. City-level institutional quality effects on ULUE and understanding the correlation between the degree of ULUE and urban state-land ownership should be further explored.