The University of Rwanda is developing a centre of excellence in transport and logistics for conducting research, collecting local data and providing expert training for staff to improve the effectiveness and impact of road safety investments in Africa. Civil engineers, transport planners, the police, architects and urban designers are in collaboration with academics, NGO’s and advocates to significantly reduce the risk of people walking in Africa and save lives. On the continent with the highest fatalities for pedestrians, join us to help form the safe system and environments that will save lives.

Contributions are invited that share relevant walking research, data collection, training systems and other affordable actions that are reducing road danger for people walking.

More than 60% of the population in Africa live in low-income neighbourhoods often lacking access to basic services including water, electricity, and sanitation. But these neighbourhoods can also be very walkable. When improvements are made it is essential to retain this walkability and keep streets safe for everyone, especially children, people with disabilities and the elderly.
In Kigali these settlements are being given footpaths, street lighting, play areas and parks as part of the city’s strategic plan to enable the whole city to function.

Contributions are invited that demonstrate how low-income communities have been transformed to support people walking as a basic human right and the impact that has had on the quality of community life.

Walking is being talked up as an affordable, quick, and reliable solution to help reach several goals including the Paris climate targets. With the promise of new money for mitigation and adaptation Rwanda is exploring what are the most affordable actions that deliver an impact. SDG 11.2 is all about access to public transport but must be more than just proximity, investing in walkable catchments can deliver safer, more attractive access to public transport stops and stations.

Contributions are invited that share how affordable walkability actions are delivering on SDG and climate goal commitments.

Recent research in partnership with development banks has highlighted an opportunity for more packaged investment in walkability projects. As more money is being targeted to sustainable mobility systems that attract future economic growth the banks and national officials are negotiating the best models for supporting walking infrastructure.  How can national policy support local and city action for walking? 

Contributions are invited that share what finance and governance models are supporting walking investments. This could include examples of walking infrastructure, behaviour change campaigns, land use planning, fiscal and regulatory incentives, public transport catchments or capacity building.