1
Define regional priorities
Identify shared challenges, opportunities and measurable outcomes for walking.
Walk21 Regional Dialogues 2026
Walking in the UN Decade of Action for Sustainable Transport
Building a shared African pathway for walking within the UN Decade of Action for Sustainable Transport.
The dialogue will bring together governments, cities, researchers, practitioners, civil-society organisations and development partners to position walking as a core transport priority and turn the Decade’s global ambition into practical, equitable action across Africa.
Global call for contributions
Share your knowledge and experience
Contribute research, practical experience, case studies, tools or community perspectives to the Walk21 Regional Dialogues and Walking Cities Labs 2026.
About the event
Why this dialogue matters
Walking is central to everyday mobility across Africa, yet it remains under-recognised in transport planning, investment, data and street design.
The UN Decade of Action for Sustainable Transport is an opportunity to change this. The Dialogue will help turn this global commitment into a shared African pathway, connecting regional ambition with national and local action.
This is why we are also celebrating the launch of the Walking Cities Lab’s (WCL) African Living Laboratory , our regional anchor for the WCL’s mission to make walking a global priority as a core part of VREF’s Walking as a Mode of Transport programme.
The launch is a space for co-producing actionable knowledge, building capacity and expanding communities of learning and practice with researchers, governments, civil society and practitioners in all sectors. Dialogue participants will help shape the Lab’s agenda, share their knowledge and experience, and become founding partners in our regional communities of knowledge and practice to make walking a global priority.
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Connect research and action
Bridge evidence, community knowledge and practical implementation.
3
Strengthen implementation
Clarify the roles of regional institutions, governments, cities and funders.
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Build partnerships
Create a lasting African community working to make walking a priority.
Regional policy framework
Supporting PAAPAM
Pan African Action Plan for Active Mobility
The dialogue will contribute to the continued development and implementation of PAAPAM by connecting regional commitments with practical national and local action.
It will provide a space to review progress, identify implementation priorities and strengthen collaboration between African governments, cities, development partners and active-mobility champions.
Read more about PAAPAMParticipation
Who should attend?
Government and cities
National and local government representatives, city officials, transport planners and public-space teams.
Research and education
Researchers, universities, postgraduate students and early-career scholars working on walking and urban mobility.
Practice and advocacy
Civil society, road-safety and active-mobility advocates, practitioners, funders and international organisations.
Plan your participation
Practical information
Dates 14–16 October 2026
Venue School of Graduate Studies, University of Cape Coast
Location Cape Coast, Ghana
Language English
Registration
Registration information, participation fees and attendance conditions will be published here.
Register