Growing smarter – sustainable mobility in East Africa

The rapid growth in African cities leads to traffic jams and uncontrolled urban sprawl – and the consequences are rising greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, urban poverty and climate vulnerability. The project helps to avoid this and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector at the same time by supporting public & non-motorised transport and urban planning in the target countries. It also supports the implementation of high-quality public transport systems in Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Kigali and Kampala and the expansion of the existing bus rapid transport system in Dar es Salaam. The integration of public transport with cycling and walking is being improved and urban development along transport corridors addressed. The project also promotes policy frameworks at urban and national levels, accelerating changes in the transport sector through quality standards, improved financing and other policy measures.

Project data

Countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda
IKI funding: 4,998,856.00 €
Duration: 09/2018 till 02/2025
Status: open
Implementing organisation: Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP)
Political Partner: Ministry of Infrastructure Rwanda

Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government, President’s Office (PO-RALG) - Tanzania

Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development (MOTIHUD), Kenya

Ministry of Transport – Federal Transport Authority - Ethiopia

Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT), Uganda
Implementing Partner: UN-HABITAT
Online: https://www.itdp.org/

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State of implementation/results

In November 2021, ITDP and UN-Habitat organised a virtual conference on cycle network and bikeshare planning.
In September 2020, a virtual conference on public transport reforms was held together with UN-Habitat. The conference included presentations of case studies and discussions between industry leaders and government representatives on challenges, lessons learned and opportunities in the public transport formalisation process.
In September 2020 a publication on regulation and success factors in the development of modern bus transport operating companies with case studies from the African region was completed (africa.itdp.org/…).
Ethiopia:
- The Addis Ababa Transport Bureau, with support from ITDP’s IKI-supported project, is developing a three-year Non-Motorised Transport Implementation Plan, which outlines a set of immediate actions that can be taken to improve the walking and cycling environment from 2022-2024. The Implementation Plan accompanies the 10-year Addis Ababa NMT Strategy, which identifies key goals, quantitative indicators, and implementation targets.
- The project supported the Addis Ababa Transport Bureau in developing a cycle network plan for the city. The plan proposes a phased implementation plan to build out a high-quality cycle network over the short, medium, and long terms.
- An action plan was developed as part of a pilot project to install a fleet of 150 shared electric bicycles in the centre of Addis Ababa. Construction of the stations and charging facilities has begun.
Kenya:
- In February 2021 the County Government of Kisumu and City of Kisumu launched the Kisumu Sustainable Mobility Plan. The mobility plan is a ten-year roadmap that aims to foster increased access for city residents by prioritising walking, cycling, and public transport.
- ITDP’s project is supporting implementation of enhanced non-motorized transport in the City of Kisumu: improved streets will include wider footpaths, protected bike lanes, pedestrian crossings, and other street elements that will enhance the safety and comfort of pedestrians and cyclists. The first phase of the project has been completed.
- In partnership with the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, ITDP developed a travel demand model for public transport services in greater Nairobi as a basis for a public transport service plan.
Rwanda:
- In partnership with the City of Kigali and the Ministry of Infrastructure, ITDP is developing a Non-Motorised Transport Master Plan for Kigali. The plan will identify priority corridors for footpaths, pedestrian zones, cycle tracks, and greenways.
- Implementation of a feasibility study for Bus-Rapid-Transport (BRT) in Kigali.
Tanzania:
- The project reviewed plans for an extension of the Dar Rapid Transit (DART) BRT system and for walking and cycling improvements.
- DART, the Ministry of Lands, and municipal governments are developing localised transitoriented development (TOD) policies for Dar es Salaam with support from ITDP. The policies will include corridor-wide regulations to guide elements such as zoning, parking requirements, and building facades, as well as local area plans for two BRT stations.
Uganda:
- The Ministry of Works and Transport, Kampala Capital City Authority, and development partners are developing a roadmap for BRT implementation in Kampala with technical assistance from ITDP. ITDP is also supporting the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) in preparing infrastructure designs for the planned BRT corridors