Molla Aynabeba

As a highly accomplished professional, I hold a distinguished academic background, boasting an M.Sc. in Urban Design and Development, a B.Sc. in Urban Planning, and a Diploma in Environmental Science from prestigious institutions, including Addis Ababa University, Civil Service University, and Dilla (formerly Debub) University. My commitment to staying at the forefront of industry advancements is evident in my pursuit of relevant software training, encompassing Advanced GIS, AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, and Adobe Photoshop, among others. My illustrious career spans over 18 years, during which I have garnered extensive expertise in a myriad of domains, including land use planning, urban planning, urban design, regional planning, transport planning, infrastructural planning, environmental planning, and teaching. My proficiency in spatial and territorial planning, design, and management, combined with exemplary project coordination skills, sets me apart as an exceptional practitioner. I have actively contributed to various development plan projects across Ethiopia, assuming pivotal roles as a land use planner, transport planner, infrastructure planner, environmental planner, and project coordinator. My involvement extends to large-scale, nationally and regionally significant projects, such as coordinating and leading the "Urban Expansion Planning for Rapidly Growing Secondary Cities in the Horn of Africa" project funded by Cities Alliance and UNOPS, leading the diagnosis of Local Development Plan Preparation and Implementation for Addis Ababa and Adama under the aegis of the World Bank, and serving as the Regional Spatial Planning Team Leader for the Afar Region in collaboration with UN-Habitat. Notable projects I have spearheaded include pioneering the "State of Ethiopian Cities" project, a groundbreaking research effort covering 27 major Ethiopian cities, guiding urban structure plans, neighborhood development plans, and urban designs for prominent Ethiopian cities such as Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Hawassa, Harar, Jigjiga, Dilla, Godey, Dhagahbur, Humera, Gambella, Semera-Logia, Awash 7-Killo, Aysaita, and others, conducting comprehensive infrastructure asset inventories for 23 cities, and undertaking annual performance assessments of 15 cities as an Asset Management Plan Specialist under UIIDP. Additionally, I have crafted Green Town Plans to bolster the resilience of cities in seven towns across the Somali, Afar, and SNNPR regions, provided invaluable capacity-building and training on diverse urban development issues in partnership with esteemed organizations like the World Bank and GIZ, led the development of urban densification models, national density standards, and implementation strategies across 23 Ethiopian cities, and coordinated a range of urban and rural environmental projects in various Woredas within the East Gojjam Zone as the FINIDA Focal Person. My unique qualities shine brightest in my aptitude for teamwork and project coordination, most notably demonstrated during the recognition of the Gambella City Structure plan as a model plan in 2019. This achievement culminated in its presentation at a workshop organized by the Ethiopian Cities Association and the Ministry of Urban Development and Construction, fostering invaluable experience sharing. Generally, my academic competence, versatile skill set, and exceptional track record in urban planning and development underscore my unwavering dedication to contributing significantly to projects of diverse scales and complexities. I am poised to continue making profound impacts in the realm of urban infrastructure and planning, eagerly anticipating opportunities that align with my passion and expertise.