The Ethiopian government plans, within the next three months, an Urban Institutional and Infrastructural Development Program (UIIDP) set to reach 6.6 million people. The Ministry of Urban Development and Housing reported June 4.

Estimated at $860 million, this 5-year program will be implemented in 117 towns across the country. Amlaku Adamu, head of Urban Income Improvement Office, said the program targets the local economic development, including youth-centered job creation, gender promotion, and construction of climate-change-resilient cities.

Let’s note that the new development plan follows two urban local communities’ development programs previously launched as of 2009. The programs were estimated at $300 million and $556.5 million, respectively.