Lidya Woldeyesus

Lidya Woldeyesus is a Master's candidate of Urban and Regional Planning at Georgetown University. As an emerging practitioner with a geographic focus on Sub-Saharan Africa, she leverages Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and innovative sustainability frameworks to serve as a skilled urban planner and leader in Africa’s next fight in this climate crisis. The continent is grappling with environmental degradation, inadequate infrastructure, and a burgeoning urban population, all of which make it susceptible to climate-related disasters. She ultimately believes establishing sustainable, resilient, and liberated communities is intrinsically linked to addressing the climate crisis and eliminating racial and socio-economic disparities around the world.With a background in community organizing, politics, and data-driven policymaking, her nuanced approach to spatial planning recenters humanity in spaces. Her educational background includes a B.A. in Political Science and Civic Studies from Tufts University.

As a GGCI Student Scholar, she seeks to research urban planning frameworks for post-colonial economic development that prioritizes self-reliance. Through an investigation of best practices for integrated resilient urban design, real estate leasing structures, transit-oriented development, trauma-informed planning, and ethical resource supply chain systems, she hopes to answer the question, "How can urban planners in developing, post-colonial, countries economically develop their cities without using conditional international funding mechanisms?