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This guidance document launched at COP27 summarizes key concepts around transport inclusion, participation, and climate change. It introduces selected creative methods that can give a voice to disadvantaged groups and provides practical, step-by-step information on how and when to use them. These methods can be used to support existing transport planning processes to improve outcomes and deliver more inclusive and climate resilient transport in Africa.
Implementation of a 3D zebra crossing in Lusaka, Zambia, providing a safe crossing for pedestrians and cyclists. Photo: D. Mwamba, ZRST.
This guidance document summarizes key concepts around transport inclusion, participation, and climate change and introduces selected creative methods that can give a voice to disadvantaged groups.
It also provides practical step-by-step information on how and when to use the various methods, supported by inspiring case studies from Africa and around the world.
Example of the step-by-step method described in the guidance document.
Image: S Cinderby, SEI.
Active mobility such as walking and cycling plays a vital role in economic and social prosperity in African cities, connecting people, goods and places.
Yet every day, citizens risk their lives because of the low priority given to non-motorized transport (NMT) and the lack of investment in safe transport infrastructure. It is low-income disadvantaged groups such as the old, disabled, young and women who suffer the most from poor transport systems that do not meet their needs.
Participatory approaches for inclusive climate resilient transport planning need to be inclusive.
The project used participatory mapping to identify mobility challenges faced by vulnerable road users in different African cities. Photo: S Omangi, SEI.
In the absence of adequate sidewalks, cycle paths and public transport, citizens in African cities are forced to use motorized vehicles (for example, paratransit, cars, minibuses and motorbike taxis) whenever they can afford to do so. This has disastrous impacts on air quality, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, road safety, traffic congestion, overall economic efficiency and quality of life.
Climate change is expected to compound these transport challenges with impacts on infrastructure, vehicles and mobility. An opportunity exists therefore, to make transport not only more inclusive but also resilient to climate impacts.
Climate change impacts cause considerable damage to transport infrastructure. Photos: SDI, Flickr.
The primary aim of this guidance is to provide a set of concepts and tools for more inclusive and climate-resilient transport in Africa.
It acts as a reference document to assist transport decision-makers, transport planners and representatives of disadvantaged groups to understand the application and use of various creative participatory tools.
The document is divided into three sections:
This guidance has been produced for two key audiences:
The tools described require limited human and financial resources to implement. However, the application of the tools will often benefit from the use of experienced facilitators. The guidance document is not intended to be a comprehensive reference to participatory engagement but rather highlights selected, tested tools that show the greatest potential for widening inclusion in transport planning in Africa.
Project promotional video on inclusion and participation. Produced by H Cambridge/SEI for HVT programme.
Project / Meeting the mobility needs of disadvantaged groups in a changing climate.
Project / Understanding health and wellbeing impacts of mobility and co-designing mobility infrastructure improvements.
Feature / Non-traditional urban planning tools – think art and poetry – underpin new ways of co-designing city infrastructure to address health and mobility issues.
Other publication / Understanding the challenges of inclusivity and climate resilience in transport planning in Africa: results of a needs assessment in 4 countries.
Past event / This webinar will share preliminary findings of ongoing SEI studies on equitable mobility and inclusive climate resilient transport planning in Africa.
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