Tackling transport and environment in Africa

Friday, 12 February 2010 20:08

SEI York researchers join in on international network to tackle traffic congestion, air pollution and road safety in Africa.

The researchers, including Gary Haq, Dieter Schwela and Howard Cambridge, are coordinating a national drive to strengthen scientific and technological support to enable the implementation of sustainable transport policies in Africa.

Entitled The Transport and Environment - Science Technology (TEST), the three-year capacity building project will strengthen networking, share knowledge, and enhance research capacity on transport and environment science and technological issues.

Inagural meeting in Cape Town
The Network’s inaugural meeting at the University of Cape Town agreed a programme of activities including an assessment of research capacity and benchmarking good transport practice. The Network will also develop a knowledge data base on transport and environment issues, as well as holding national stakeholder meetings, seminars and training programmes.

A key component of the Network will be communicating science and disseminating knowledge to key stakeholders.

The Network will hold a workshop on science communication for African researchers. The programme of activities will culminate in a UN Regional Policy Dialogue on Transport and Environment Science and Technology at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi in 2012.

- The Network is a major new initiative bringing together African and European researchers, international organisations and University of York academics. We aim to mount a determined effort to improve air quality, reduce death and injury on the roads, reduce greenhouse gases and widen opportunity and accessibility for all, but especially those on very low incomes, said Dr Gary Haq, TEST Network coordinator.

Network structure
The TEST Network is led by SEI York and the European branch of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, based in Germany.

The network involves universities from six African countries, UN-Habitat, and the International Forum for Rural Transport and Development (IFRTD).

It is funded by the EC African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Science and Technology Programme.Other African partners include the Centre for Transport Studies, University of Cape Town (South Africa), Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (Mozambique), Ardhi University (Tanzania), Makerere University (Uganda), University of Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe) and University of Zambia (Zambia).