In a milestone moment for child-friendly urban design, Addis Ababa has launched a ground-breaking guidebook to bring play into every neighbourhood — starting with its youngest residents.
The new Playgrounds for Early Years: Guidebook for Design and Implementation in Addis Ababa, developed in partnership with Superpool, the Addis Ababa ECD Program, and the Van Leer Foundation, offers a clear, practical roadmap for building 12,000 playgrounds.
Recognising that outdoor play is crucial for young children — it promotes physical health, cognitive development, social skills, and emotional wellbeing, while fostering a connection with their surroundings and nature — Mayor of Addis Ababa, Adanech Abiebie, stated, “We will create outdoor play areas for all children – at least 2 playgrounds per block across the city – 12,000 playgrounds”.
This guide is more than a manual — it’s a promise. A promise that every child in Addis Ababa, especially those aged 0–3, will grow up with safe, accessible, and joyful outdoor spaces just minutes from home.
Backed by the city’s Children: Future of Addis strategy, the guidebook reflects a deep understanding of what the early years demand and deserve. It centres on play not as a luxury, but as a building block of healthy development. It’s during these early years that children’s brains grow fastest, shaping their ability to learn, connect, and flourish for life.
From strategic planning to community co-design, construction to ongoing care, the guide walks planners, builders, parents, and policymakers through every step. It champions local materials, inclusive design, and safe, sensory-rich spaces that nurture both children and caregivers.
Importantly, it places community ownership at the heart of every playground — inviting parents, neighbours, and children themselves into the process.
This guide is an open, shareable resource, and a tool to spark collective action far beyond Addis Ababa.
All photos by Genaye Eshetu
Interview with Mayor Adanech Abiebie for Early Childhood Matters 2023
