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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Hum. Dyn.
Sec. Dynamics of Migration and (Im)Mobility
Volume 6 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fhumd.2024.1517341
This article is part of the Research Topic Migration, Security and Diplomacy View all 4 articles

Exploring the Nexus of Migration Dynamics and Urban Expansion: Key Drivers of Horizontal Spatial Growth in Woldia Township, Ethiopia

Provisionally accepted
Mulu Fasigo Fente Mulu Fasigo Fente 1*Birhanu Girma Abebe Birhanu Girma Abebe 2,3Mintesnot Woldeamanuel Gebeyehu Mintesnot Woldeamanuel Gebeyehu 4
  • 1 Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopian Institute of Architectural Building, Construction and City Development, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • 2 Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • 3 Addis Ababa University, Ethiopian Institute of Architectural Building, Construction and City Development, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • 4 California State University, Northridge, Los Angeles, California, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Ethiopia remains one of the least urbanized countries globally, although many of its urban centers, including Woldia, the capital of the North Wollo Zone, are undergoing rapid growth. Woldia has recently faced significant urban challenges as a result of its expanding horizontal growth. One of the major issues associated with this growth is the increasing demand for land and space, driven by population pressure, largely attributed to migration. This migration has led to the annexation of agricultural land at the rural periphery, further contributing to the town's horizontal expansion. This study aims to explore the key drivers behind the horizontal growth of Woldia, particularly in its peripheral areas. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire administered to a randomly selected sample of 395 respondents, complemented by key informant interviews and secondary data sources. Both qualitative and quantitative analytical methods were employed. The findings indicate that poor social services and poverty in migrants' areas of origin are the primary push factors. Conversely, improved social infrastructure and job opportunities at the destination are the main pull factors. Consequently, the influx of migrants has resulted in significant pressure on peri-urban areas, where housing availability and accessibility remain limited. The study recommends that local government officials and urban planners enhance their understanding of migration dynamics to effectively manage the town's spatial expansion and address the challenges of accommodating a growing population.

    Keywords: drivers, Ethiopia, Migration dynamics, Nexus, Urban expansion, Woldia

    Received: 25 Oct 2024; Accepted: 24 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Fente, Abebe and Gebeyehu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Mulu Fasigo Fente, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopian Institute of Architectural Building, Construction and City Development, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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