Evaluating policy implementation and outcomes of rural–urban linkages in Robe Town Bale Zone Southeast Ethiopia

International development agendas, including those advanced by UNDP, UN-Habitat, and the OECD, increasingly emphasize rural–urban linkages as critical to addressing rapid urbanization, persistent poverty, and unequal access to services. Yet, in many developing contexts, a persistent gap remains between policy intentions and practical outcomes. This study examines the implementation and effectiveness of rural–urban linkage policies in Robe Town and its hinterlands in the Bale Zone of Southeast Ethiopia, using an evaluative framework focused on effectiveness, efficiency, equity, and sustainability. A cross-sectional research design was employed, drawing on data from 260 rural households selected through stratified random sampling and 67 urban traders, complemented by qualitative insights from focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The findings indicate partial progress in strengthening rural–urban linkages, particularly through agricultural modernization and improved basic connectivity. For instance, 87.7% of households have access to media, while 51% are connected to the electricity grid. However, only 4.2% use electricity for productive purposes, and just 5.3% have access to mobile internet, highlighting significant gaps in utilization. The analysis reveals that, although national frameworks such as the Agricultural Development-Led Industrialization (ADLI) strategy promote integration, their effectiveness at the local level is constrained by inadequate infrastructure, limited institutional coordination, and uneven resource distribution. These challenges undermine both the efficiency and equity of policy outcomes. Strengthening rural–urban linkages therefore requires not only the expansion of infrastructure but also improvements in its productive use, enhanced institutional coordination, and more inclusive access to markets and digital systems to support sustainable local transformation.