Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – On February 11, 2026, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) formally handed over technical deliverables for the Sustainable Urban Transport Project for Ethiopia to the Ministry of Transport and Logistics (MoTL) and the Addis Ababa City Transport Bureau (AATB). This milestone marks the completion of the project’s first phase, establishes clear a roadmap for integrating high-capacity, electric Bus Rapid Transit (eBRT) into the Addis Ababa’s urban transport network.

Supported by the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, the project provides detailed infrastructure designs for electric bus integration, with a particular focus on the BRT 3 and BRT 4 corridors. The initiative aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening the city’s capacity for sustainable, low-carbon mobility. 

H.E. State Minister, Bareo Hassen, GGGI Ethiopia Country Representative, Okechukwu Daniel Ogbonnaya, & Gashaw Tena, eBRT Project Manager

The handover ceremony featured the formal transfer of technical documents from GGGI Ethiopia Country Representative, Okechukwu Daniel Ogbonnaya to H.E. State Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mr. Bareo Hassen, and Eng. Mohammed Hussen, the BRT Development and Technical Support Team Lead at the AATB. The deliverables include a public transport integration plan, technical specifications for e-bus infrastructure, and investment proposals designed to secure the necessary funding for full-scale implementation. These outputs are considered critical enablers for Addis Ababa’s transition toward a sustainable, automated, and connected mass transit system, in line with Ethiopia’s Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy. 

A core component of the project focuses on multimodal transport integration at three priority hubs: Megenagna, Legehar, and Kera. The proposed designs introduce cost-effective improvements to better connect non-motorized transport, city buses, and the Light Rail Transit system. Key interventions include reorganized traffic flows, pedestrian refuge islands, protected cycle tracks, and optimized terminal layouts supported by real-time passenger information systems. Guided by the Urban Street Design Manual, these measures combine physical infrastructure upgrades with operational reforms to promote walking and cycling while easing congestion through improved traffic management. 

Discussion at the Ministry of Transport and Logistics with team from AATB.

Additional technical outputs confirmed the feasibility of e-bus operations in Addis Ababa, despite the city’s high altitude and steep terrain. The project also delivered a comprehensive dataset for city-wide corridor expansion and an institutional analysis recommending the establishment of a dedicated BRT Agency. During the event, H.E. State Minister Bareo Hassen acknowledged GGGI’s technical contributions, noting that these deliverables are essential for modernizing transport services and enhancing economic vitality. He expressed the Ministry’s commitment to continued partnership to replicate these successes across the transport sector. 

GGGI Country Representative, Okechukwu Daniel Ogbonnaya, emphasized that while the handover marks the conclusion of the planning phase, it represents the beginning of a long-term partnership. He reaffirmed GGGI’s readiness to lead resource mobilization and capacity building to move eBRT toward functional reality, with a goal to mobilize over USD 200 million in investment. Representing the AATB, Eng. Mohammed Hussen underscored that the project supports mobility equity and urged coordinated efforts to institutionalize the new systems. The AATB is currently overseeing a master plan where the B3 and B4 lines are expected to serve nearly half a million residents.  

The transition to an eBRT system is expected to significantly reduce congestion, as a single electric bus can replace approximately eight minibus taxis. This initiative aligns with the city’s 2025–2026 Corridor Development Project, which prioritizes high-capacity mass transit over less efficient vehicles. As the project enters the next phase of scaling, GGGI and the Ethiopian government remain committed to realizing a zero-emission transport future that serves as a model for sustainable urbanization across Africa. 

Read more about the project here. 

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