Administrative failures contributing to the proliferation and growth of informal settlements in Ethiopia: The case of Woldia Township

Informal settlements continue to grow steadily in the urban and peri-urban areas of Ethiopia. So, studying the main triggering factors for the emergence of such settlements is timely and could support decision-makers in making an informed decision. Indeed, this study aims to identify the main administrative deficiencies that contribute to the growth of informal settlements. This informal settlement is reflected in the illegal land use, small-scale constructions, and individual housing in the rural interface areas of Woldia (in Ethiopia) where there is an authority vacuum and planning policies are unclear. The paper is based mainly on the original research, including findings from interviews, FGDS, and observations. Diagrams, tables, and photos added extra information to the discussion. The findings of the study revealed that there is laxity from the local administration in controlling the emergence and expansion of informal settlements. To this end, the findings of the work suggest that despite the public authorities being responsible for enforcing laws in controlling the development of informal settlements, for the most part, they do it incompetently due to inadequate management capacity, lack of urban land information systems, and authority vacuum among land administration institutions. Other reasons include widespread corruption, backdoor deals, and a lack of accountability. The paper concludes that the growth of such settlements is unlikely to be reversed in the future unless a viable and appropriate policy measure is in place.