Weak Links in the City Logistics System of Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa City is geographically positioned at the center and is the economic, political, and social hub of Ethiopia. This has created significant traffic congestion and environmental pollution, and put Addis Ababa’s livability, mobility, and sustainability in question for most residents. Logistics system in Addis Ababa is as good as its weakest link. The study presents factors attributed to the weak links in the city logistics of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that considers issues of mobility, livability, and sustainability as requirements for a metropolitan city such as Addis Ababa. Delphi technique that comprises 22 experts from logistics profession, practitioners, and academia was selected to rate their perception of the current bottlenecks (weak links) in the city logistics of Addis Ababa. In addition to empirical literature, observation of traffic congestion at roundabouts, participant observation, five key informants, and secondary data sources were further used to draw conclusions and forward recommendations. Inadequacy of pedestrian roads design, substandard roundabout design, inadequate parking facilities, the prevalence of old vehicles due to lack of green transport policy, lack of scheduled logistics service providers among public transport, and freight logistics at different time made city of Addis Ababa below standard in terms of livability, mobility, and sustainability.