Mulugeta Tenaw ASSAYE is a PhD candidate at the Institute of Spatial Planning, Environmental Planning and Land Management, Boku University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. His doctoral research examines the implications of informal settlements for socioeconomic and environmental well-being in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, focusing on the complex, interwoven drivers and impacts of informality to unlock pathways out of informality through context-specific, sustainable solutions. His work investigates the path-dependent and interconnected drivers that lead to informal settlement lock-ins, assesses their impact on sustainable urban development, and suggests pathways out of informality. These results inform sustainable urban planning, helping policymakers promote inclusive, resilient cities that advance socioeconomic development of marginalized communities and protect the environment.
Based on his PhD research, he has published the article “Informal settlements lock-in: Drivers, impacts, and pathways to sustainable urban development - A thematic review” in Cities (Elsevier), a reputable, peer-reviewed journal in urban studies, planning, and policy that publishes high-quality research on urban challenges. The paper finds that informal settlements persist in the Global South due to interconnected, path-dependent lock-ins across institutions, policies, economies, politics, and the environment. He also describes the impacts of these dynamics on sustainable urban development and shows how these settlements can be transformed into more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban neighborhoods. This PhD directly contributes to three of APPEAR’s thematic priorities, namely “Eradicating poverty and meeting basic needs,” “Sustainable economic development,” and “Protection of the environment and sustainable management of natural resources.” It shows how informal settlements are shaped by interconnected “lock-ins” of poverty, limited services, institutional and policy failures, and environmental factors, and highlights practical, context-specific, and integrated solutions, such as improved infrastructure, livelihood opportunities, and climate-resilient urban development.
Mulugeta Tenaw ASSAYE earned a BSc in Land Administration and a Master’s in Land Administration and Management (with a focus on Real Property Valuation) from Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia. Before pursuing his PhD, he worked as a researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Land Administration at Debre Markos University, Ethiopia.
Publication:
Tenaw, M., Gugerell, K., Agegnehu, S.K., Bauer, T., Mansberger, R. and Stöglehner, G., 2026. Informal settlements lock-in: Drivers, impacts, and pathways to sustainable urban development-A thematic review. Cities, 174, p.107092. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2026.107092
