Ethiopia Institute of Technology- Mekelle

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Author: search.filters.author.Zemichael Hailemariam GebrihetSubject: search.filters.subject.Challenges

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    An Assessment of Integration Levels and Implementation Challenges in Smart City Development: The Case of Mekelle City, Ethiopia.
    (Mekelle University, 2025-06-20) Zemichael Hailemariam Gebrihet
    The aspiration to develop smart cities is seen globally as a strategic solution to urbanization challenges, aiming to improve infrastructure and enhance the quality of life. In developing countries, the potential for smart cities is high, but significant challenges hinder successful implementation. Smart, sustainable city development in developing countries is not as closely studied as it has been in developed countries. Furthermore, academic studies about smart sustainable city development preparedness have been applied largely to the narrow context of developed countries. This study is an effort to help fill that gap. This study focuses on Mekelle City as a case study to assess the extent of smart city development, the integration and implementation challenges faced, and assessment to overcome these challenges. The research adopts a multi-method approach, including a comprehensive literature review, surveys and interviews with key informants, and field observations. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted using tools like SPSS, supported by materials such as questionnaires, interview guides, and access to relevant documentation in Mekelle. The findings aim to provide valuable insights into overcoming the barriers that developing countries face in their efforts to build sustainable, livable smart cities. The study identifies several key challenges: limited financial resources, deficiency of coordination and externalities, governance inefficiencies or lack of public-private partnerships, lack of smart city operational framework, lack of system integration and sustainable focused strategies, and a lack of integration between technology and urban planning. To address these issues, strategic solutions are proposed, including raising revenues and diversifying financing sources for smart city development, stepping up the effort to fulfil basic infrastructure needs, constructing regulatory frameworks for smart city governance, creating a supportive ecosystem that nurtures start-ups and strengthening public private partnerships, promoting public-private partnerships, and improving policy frameworks. The study concludes that, while Mekelle faces significant hurdles, it has the potential to achieve sustainable smart city development. By implementing socioeconomic, human, legal, and regulatory reforms and focusing on innovation, capacity building, and governance, Mekelle can serve as a model for smart city development in developing regions, particularly in the Tigray region.