MAC Research Forum mini-series – celebrating five years of research results on mobility & access in SSA

VREF invites you to join a mini-series of three Research Forums in September – November 2024 which celebrate 5 years of research results on mobility & access in SSA through the MAC program.
The purpose of this mini-series is to highlight new knowledge production and results from research projects which have been carried out by scholars in the MAC community and which have strong relevance for understanding core dimensions of transport, mobility and access in African cities. What are some of the overriding thematic issues that have been explored in the program so far – and with what conceptual and empirical results? 

Research Forum #1: Equity in mobility & access in SSA – concepts, perspectives, approaches

The first Forum will focus on conceptual approaches for understanding and analyzing issues related to equity in mobility & access in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The Forum will feature a keynote speech as well as research presentations and comments by outstanding SSA scholars. To allow time for in-depth discussions, the Forum will have a duration of three hours (including short break).

Background

Issues related to equity in transportation have been a central focus of many research projects within VREF s program “Mobility & Access in African Cities” in the past five years. While some work has focused empirically on the accessibility needs and conditions of specific groups, other research has explored conceptual approaches and tools for interpreting equity issues more broadly.

The purpose of this Forum is to discuss perspectives, conceptual approaches and tools for analyzing various dimensions of equity in mobility & access in SSA. Presentations will discuss both specific analytical concepts as well as examples of how these concepts may be applied in empirical work.

This Research Forum is the first in a series of three webinars “Celebrating 5 years of research results on mobility & access in SSA” in September – November 2024. Each Forum will focus on a specific theme which has strong relevance for understanding issues related to transport, mobility and access in Sub-Saharan African cities. 

Program

Research Forum 1: Equity in mobility & access in SSA – concepts, perspectives, approaches

Welcome and introductory remarks: Henrik Nolmark, VREF Director
Framing the Forum: Winnie Mitullah, University of Nairobi

Keynote: “Studying Transport Justice or Promoting Transport Justice on the Ground: two worlds apart?” Karel Martens, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
Short Q&A Introduction and welcome: Henrik Nolmark, VREF Director

Presentations:

”The Social Justice Principle as an Instrument for Studying Public Transport Equity in Sub-Saharan Africa” 
Anne Kamau, University of Nairobi

“Measuring Transport Equity in Low-income Societies: a capability approach”
Mark Zuidgeest, University of Cape Town (theme: capabilities approach)

Intersectionality as a conceptual tool for exploring inequities in mobility & access in SSA
Violet Wawire, Kenyatta University

Commentators (TBC):

Gift Dumedah, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
Gail Jennings, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Enoch Sam, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana

Plenary discussion

Moderator: Winnie Mitullah, University of Nairobi
Rapporteur: Mary Mwangi, University of Nairobi