This brief explores the East Africa City Corridor (EACC) initiative, a strategic effort to leverage the economic and migration dynamics along the 940 km trade route connecting Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Berbera Port in Somaliland.
The initiative supports sustainable and inclusive urban growth in key cities across East Africa's corridor, including Berbera, Borama, Dire Dawa, Gabiley, Hargeisa, Jigjiga, Tog Wojale, and other urban centres.
This corridor is transforming regional trade by attracting investments in infrastructure such as modern roads, dry ports, and logistics hubs.
Beyond its economic importance, the corridor is a vital migration route.
It draws people seeking work opportunities and provides a lifeline for those displaced by conflict or climate impacts, helping them rebuild their lives.
The route also serves as a transboundary migration corridor to the Gulf States via the 'Eastern Route', one of the busiest migration pathways in the region, with Saudi Arabia as a key destination for employment and remittances.
Despite its potential, rapid urbanization and gaps in governance and planning, has left many corridor cities struggling to to capitalise on these developments.
The EACC initiative addresses these challenges by empowering local authorities and fostering collaboration among cities to ensure that economic growth benefits all residents, creating vibrant and resilient communities.
The project is part of Cities Alliance's Resilient Systems of Secondary Cities and Migration Dynamics Programme funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
