By Biruk Gebremedhin

Changes in the modern world have been mainly a common distinction between cosmopolitanism, which is concerned with the expansion of rapid urbanization, and the concern that envisage institutions that might create a better society.

Cosmopolitanism is the ideology that all kinds of ethnic groups belong to a single society, based on a shared morality. It may simply refer to more inclusive moral, economic, technological and/or political relationships between nations or individuals of different nations. A person who adheres to the idea of cosmopolitanism, in any of its forms, is called a cosmopolitan.

In recent years, urbanization of rural areas in all corners of the world has increased. As agriculture, more traditional local services, and small-scale industry give way to modern industry, the urban and related commerce (within the city) draws on the resources of an ever-widening area for its own sustenance and goods  and increases so, they can be traded or processed by the manufacturing sector. According to the 2005 Revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects report, the global proportion of urban population rose dramatically from 13% in 1900, to 29% in 1950 and to 49% in 2005. The same report projected that the figure is likely to rise to 60% by 2030.

However, French economist Philippe Bocquier, writing in THE FUTURIST magazine, has calculated that "the proportion of the world population living in cities and towns in the year 2030 would be roughly 50%, substantially less than the 60% forecast by the United Nations (UN), because the messiness of rapid urbanization is unsustainable. Both Bocquier and the UN see more people flocking to cities, but Bocquier sees many of them likely to leave upon discovering that there’s no work for them and no place to live."

According to the UN State of the World Population 2007 report, the majority of people worldwide will be living in towns or cities, for the first time in history, this is referred to as the arrival of the "Urban Millennium" or the 'tipping point'. In regard to future trends, it is estimated 93% of urban growth will occur in developing nations, with 80% of urban growth occurring in Asia and Africa.

Urbanization occurs naturally, from individual and corporate efforts to reduce time and expense in both commuting and transportation; while improving opportunities for jobs, education, housing, and transportation. Living in cities permits individuals and families to take advantage of the opportunities of proximity, diversity, and marketplace competition.

UN agencies prefer to see urban infrastructure installed before urbanization and cosmopolitanism occurs. Landscape planners are responsible for landscape infrastructure (public parks, sustainable urban drainage systems, greenways etc) which can be planned before urbanization takes place, or afterward in order to revitalize an area and create greater liveability within a region. Concepts of urban expansion have to be considered carefully, also the enhancement of young peoples capacity (in all walks of life) to be capable of participating in global competitions.  

How can Africa move forward when the youth population of 250 million is ignored? There is no area in Africa's development agenda that does not affect the youth. One of the most dynamic determinants in the path of economic growth and development is the age structure of a country's population and the quality of the labor force.

Children and youth represent more than 50 percent of the population of Africa, and this proportion is increasing very fast, especially when we consider the early mortality rate of both the adult and youth population due to psychological poverty, the lack of education and the HIV/AIDS scourge.

A youthful population offers many economic advantages, in terms of a dynamic aggregate supply of labor, (with all its implications for macroeconomic management,) plus opportunities for mass production and there by in proved self development. This in turn enhances the economy and increases the scale of production. This creates a buffer zone for social security and pension systems.

Despite this youthful population, Africa has no coherent policies for the development of its youth, who are an integral part of the national and regional development. This situation must change, from viewing our youth as a liability or constraint rather than as an asset to be nurtured and utilized for the common good.

According to Prof. Baheru Zewdie, the massive urbanization and primacy of Addis Ababa in the last 50 years is a new phenomenon in Ethiopia because we are, historically, a nation of small villages and homesteads. However, the major ethnic groups and the smaller ones manage to live side by side with no recorded inter-ethnic tensions; this has become the foundation of development.

Based on the preliminary 2007 census results, Addis Ababa contains 22.9% of all urban dwellers in Ethiopia. And according to the Population Reference Bureau, 18% of the population lived in urban areas in 2001.

The economic activities in Addis Ababa are diverse. According to official statistics from the federal government, some 119,197 people in the city are engaged in trade and commerce; 113,977 in manufacturing and industry; 80,391 homemakers of different varieties; 71,186 in civil administration; 50,538 in transport and communication; 42,514 in education, health and social services; 32,685 in hotel and catering services; and 16,602 in agriculture.

Many poor Ethiopians from the rural areas come to Addis Ababa as beggars and fill many of the streets. Recently, the number of beggars declined, after a government and NGO attempt to move some of them off the streets and provide education and jobs. But Addis is a relatively clean and safe city, with the most common crimes being pick-pocketing, scams and minor burglary.

The city has recently been in a construction boom, with tall buildings rising in many places. Also, various luxury services have become available and the construction of shopping malls has recently increased. According to Tia Goldenberg of IOL, some people have labeled the city, "the spa capital of Africa."

According to the UN, the annual population growth rate for 2009, 3% of the population was over 65 years of age, with another 44% of the population under 15 years of age. Therefore, how can the youth of Ethiopia and the rest of Africa operate in a competitive, knowledge and technology intensive world, when their skills are left un-topped and under-utilized, while their counterparts in the rest of the world have all the facilities it takes to succeed? However, in the Ethiopia National Youth Policy, 2004, the government strengthened the emphasis on youth capacity, building them up through the enrichment of knowledge and training schemes. This became imperative because of the government's need to develop their skills in order to gain decent employment, as well as consolidate and empower youth programmes. Given opportunity, the youth will work hard to enhance their image.

Stakeholders in youth development in Ethiopia have to galvanize increasing regional support for more pragmatic development, as exemplified by the increasing number of African countries in the list of the UN Youth Employment Network (YEN) lead countries. For example, six African countries (Nigeria, Egypt, Senegal, Mali, Rwanda and Namibia) have volunteered to be among the 11 UN YEN lead countries, from around the world.

 According to Stephanie Hemelryk, Donald Eleonore Kofman and Catherine Kevin, in their new jointly edited book titled  ‘Branding Cities Cosmopolitanism, Parochialism, and Social Change, fierce competitiveness between established and emerging major cities, such as Berlin, London, Shanghai and Sydney, this has led to pressure to excel as desirable locations for business incorporating, cultural activities, highly skilled migrants, youth and tourists. At the same time, the transformation of developed and newly qualified migrant communities has created complex urban borders.

While cities increasingly display cosmopolitan images which portray the diversity of both past and present populations and their activities, these continue to generate competing claims on, and visions of, their use and their future. Therefore, they need to brand their image for international consumption, technological transformation showing they are building a free society with internal coherence.