Shiwaye Mersha Tesfay serves as an Assistant Professor in Urban and Regional Planning at Kotebe University of Education, Ethiopia. She holds both a Master’s (MA) and a Doctorate (PhD) in Urban and Regional Planning from Addis Ababa University, and is proudly recognized as a distinguished alumna of the institution. With over 16 years of professional experience, Shiwaye has made significant contributions to academia through her teaching, research, and scholarly pursuits, leaving a lasting impact on the field of urban and regional planning. Her research interests span urban and regional planning, land governance, and urban sustainability, showcasing her expertise and leadership in these areas. Shiwaye has been honored with prestigious awards, including the Georg Forster Postdoctoral Research Fellowship awarded by the Humboldt Foundation and the Sida Research Award.

Genet Alem Gebregiorgis is an Associate Researcher at TU Dortmund University, where she earned her PhD in Urban Planning and Design. She holds a dual M.Sc. in Urban and Regional Planning from TU Dortmund and University of Dar es Salaam, and B.Sc. in Architecture from CUJAE (José Antonio Echeverría Higher Polytechnic Institute), Cuba. Currently, Dr. Alem coordinates a work package in a research project ALBATROSS—Advancing Knowledge for Long-term Benefits and Climate Adaptation through Holistic Climate Services and Nature-based Solutions—at the Department of Regional Development and Risk Management (RER), TU Dortmund University. Her international academic experience includes teaching positions at University of Duhok in Iraq, and Ethiopian Civil Service University, as well as research stays at Ardhi University in Tanzania and National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico. Alem’s published works and ongoing researches focus on risk management, resilient urban development, land governance, urban spaces, and everyday urbanization in the Global South.

Daniel Gebretsadik Ayele is an Associate Professor of Urban Development Planning at Kotebe University of Education, Ethiopia. He holds a PhD in Geography and Environmental Studies, with a specialization in Socioeconomic Development Planning and Environment, from Addis Ababa University. With over two decades of academic experience, he has made substantial contributions to academia through teaching, impactful research, and scholarly publishing. His research interests span urban and regional planning, land governance, poverty, migration, and livelihoods—demonstrating a sustained commitment to addressing pressing socio-economic and spatial challenges in both policy and practice.