Urban Mobility

Urban transport plays a key role in harmonious development of cities by providing opportunities for regional economic growth and access to employment, markets, social centers, health services. Simply put, it is essential to the daily lives of citizens.

The massive migration of people from rural into urban areas is the most spectacular demographic upheaval that Africa has experienced in recent decades. During the 1960s when most African countries gained independence, almost 80 percent of their populations were based on rural economies. However, over the last 50 years, the share of urban population has reached almost 50 percent in most African countries. It is also estimated that gradually poverty is becoming more of an urban phenomenon and the share of poor in the urban population is expected to grow over the comings years. As a result, the provision of secure, affordable, and sustainable urban transport is a growing concern in most African cities. The focus is on increasing the productivity, competitiveness and bankability of the cities.

In view of this phenomenal growth in urban population, there is a need to develop a long term urban transport policy framework for growth and poverty reduction both through its impact on the city economy and on the daily needs of the very poor. The main “urban objective” of the SSATP's Urban Mobility is to: (i) consolidate and expand urban transport policy reforms through inter sector dialogue and institutional coordination; (ii) identify ways to provide affordable, safe, and environmentally sustainable mobility for all residents and especially the poor; (iii) strengthen, at the regional level, African expertise in planning, provision of transport services, regulation, and research in the urban transport sector; and (iv) disseminate best practices in other countries of the region and expand the exchange of information at the regional level.

Lately, the SSATP has focused its urban work on assessing the impact of transport improvements on accessibility for the poor and poverty reduction. Two studies on poverty and urban mobility in Conakry (English - French) and in Douala (English - French) were undertaken (a brief summary is available in Africa technical note No 39). The results will be used as a basis for identifiaction and socio-economic evaluation of an action plan to improve sustainable access for poor people to the city. Another study Non-Motorized Transport in African Cities (English PDF, 4.0 Mb) provides lessons from experience in Kenya and Tanzania. The Study of Urban Transport Institutional, Financial and Regulatory Frameworks in Large Sub-Saharan Cities (English PDF - 2.9 Mb) covers four cities, Dakar, Kampala, Douala and Nairobi and makes recommendations on institutional and financial arrangements suitable in different cultural and political environment; it also establishes a set of performance parameters and recommendations to strengthen planning and monitoring capacity of city transport departments.