In December 2024 HVT research into inclusive, accessible, safe transport was showcased at the Women and Africa Transport Conference hosted by the FLONE initiative in Nairobi, Kenya.
The conference is an annual gathering dedicated to advancing gender equality, inclusivity, and innovation in Africa’s transport sector. This year, it combined with the Women Mobilize Women’s Building Feminist Cities series, a regional event focused on transforming the landscape of transportation around the world.
HVT hosted a half-day session where a cohort of HVT researchers presented their studies on the ways inclusive transport systems, or the lack of them, affect vulnerable groups such as women, people with disabilities (PWDs) and pedestrians living in low- and middle-income countries. The session aimed to highlight the persistent problems faced by these vulnerable groups and address the challenges posed by non-inclusive transport systems. HVT’s presence aimed to encourage dialogue between researchers, policymakers and practitioners to strengthen partnerships and promote collaboration in advancing inclusive transport solutions
Research consultant and social scientist Dr Gail Jennings opened the session, illustrating how HVT work highlights the inequalities across the transport sector. She explained how the ability to move and travel independently is fundamental to breaking the downward spiral of dependence and poverty, and to building strong communities and economies.
Crystal Asige, Member of the Kenyan Senate and consultant on the updated Road Note 21, a guide for good practice towards accessible transport systems, gave a poignant keynote speech. As a PWD, she knows ‘what it’s like to be invisible’. Emphasising the cost of a lack of inclusion – 7 -10% of GDP in some countries – Crystal said a more inclusive society will lead to better conditions for us all, but we need ministerial buy in to really get the message heard.
Fatima Adamu, Executive Director at Nana Girls and Women Empowerment Initiative in Nigeria, worked in partnership with key stakeholders on the HVT EMPOWER project. Fatima described how the SHE CAN tool, developed by EMPOWER to tackle sexual harassment, helped authorities, operators and passengers establish evidence-based interventions to tackle the problem. The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) is now using the tool to address sexual harassment on buses and at bus stations in the city.
SHE CAN is also being used in Nairobi, where, as Lucy Kihonge, of the Flone Initiative explained, 60% of women do not feel safe using public transport in the city, and 88% report having experienced or witness sexual harassment. The tool forms part of an advocacy campaign to prevent violence and harassment, strengthen reporting mechanisms and training transport operators.
Gail then introduced presentations from:
- Oluwaseun “Seun†Sonoiki, legal counsel at LAMATA, with the latest on the HVT T-TRIID project Inclusive Interchanges
- Dr Alemgena A. Araya, from ALERT Engineering presenting research into women’s safety on public transport in Ethiopia
- Manisha Sharma of The Urban Catalysts on collecting gender-disaggregated data to enhance safety for women using public transport in Delhi, India
- Dr Deepty Jain, professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi presenting her work on gendered adaptation to hot weather conditions.
- Caroline Barber, from Transaid, discussing human trafficking and the role played by high volume transport corridors in Africa.
- And Dmtsu Gebremariam of Mekelle University in Ethiopia, exploring safety and mobility for PWDs in cities across low-income countries.
The presentations were followed by a panel discussion and poster session, during which Bright Oywaya, of the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT-Kenya) gave an impactful presentation. A wheelchair-user herself, Bright spoke from experience and identified the gaps leading to a lack of inclusive transport: policy, data, planning/designing, implementation and enforcement.
Engaging discussions during and after the session led to a renewed focus on collaboration, emphasising the goal of safer, inclusive public transport systems for all.