AENKI ARCHITECTURE PLC

The partnership proposes to deliver a business model, that regenerates the riverside. The plan focuses on rehabilitating a one-kilometer stretch of Little Akaki Riverside through in part converting it into a team-building park that caters to premium paying customers and the other part open to members of the surrounding community. This pioneer service providing facility will be an ideal destination for corporate companies, schools and government offices to organize team-building events. The idea has a two-pronged approach; firstly, by adding value to the location it will promote the rehabilitation effort. Secondly by deriving profit from this activity the project will be able rehabilitate additional stretches of riverside and river. The profit will catalyse other profit-making initiatives on the remaining upstream or downstream sections of the Tinishu Akaki river course, making the rehabilitation effort financially and socially sustainable. Due to its current physical appearance, the riversides do not attract businesses particularly those that contribute to SDG goals1. This is a barrier for businesses to invest; one of the goals of this partnership is thus changing the perception of investors by adding value to riversides and demonstrating investment options to attract the right kind of investment. In the immediate, implementing this business model will increase accessible green spaces in the city and reduce waste entering the river, but through time it contributes to the protection and regeneration of the river ecosystem by reducing pollution and increasing the availability of fresh water. The HRI has been conducting community research, water testing, topography analysis, awareness raising activities and relationship building with governmental and non- governmental institutions. And thus, recognizes rivers and riversides as a resource, however in Ethiopia it is undervalued, therefore private and public investments centering rivers are lacking. From the public side, recently this is changing with the ‘Beautifying Sheger Project’to beautify riversides. This business model can be an input to public and private investors that plan to be part of the beautifying effort. This business model provides a viable option for restoration and rehabilitation focused effort beyond beautification. Previous government pilot investments on riversides have not been successful because the financial sustainability of investments hasn’t been given sufficient attention.