Oromia Regional State has launched a project to upgrade infrastructure facilities of major towns with a total budget of 1.2 billion Br.

Implemented by the Oromia Urban Development & Housing Bureau, the Urban Infrastructure & Institutional Development Programme will be implemented in 38 towns. The World Bank will finance 40pc of the total cost of the project, while the rest is covered by the regional government and the administrations of the towns.

Installation of a 698Km electric line, construction of a 796Km gravel road, 483 public toilets, 200Km of cobblestone roads, sheds for small and micro-enterprises and 679Km of ditch work are the major features of the project.

The programme aims at strengthening the capacity of urban institutions to implement the recommendations of studies on urban development issues. Its basic aim is also to improve institutional performance of the local governments to effectively deliver their broader objectives, according to a document of the programme, which directly supports the government and forms a core part of the existing intergovernmental fiscal architecture.

The level of population and the towns having councils are the criteria by which the towns are selected for the implementation of the project, according to Tesfaye Temesgen, communications team leader at the Housing Bureau.

Expected to be fully completed in five years, the Regional State provides the budget on a yearly basis. The projects, which are divided by lots, are implemented by small and micro-enterprises and the maximum cost to develop a lot is 10 million Br.

“The project aims to motivate trade, create cities that are suitable for investment and living, enhance citizen participation and engagement in local government planning and budgeting, and improve infrastructure and service delivery,” said Tesfaye.

The administrations of each town are responsible for floating tenders to hire companies for the implementation of the programme. Last year the programme created job opportunities for 25,292 people in the Regional State.