New African Research Programs 2025-2027 – equity, governance, informal mobility

Gladys Nyachieo, consortium leader MID-UTA, Josephine Malonza, consortium leader POINT, and Gift Dumedah, consortium leader ETAMAC.

Welcome to join a Research Forum which will provide an opportunity to learn about – and discuss together – the ambitions and plans of three new VREF African Research Programs in Mobility & Access in African Cities (ARP-MACs):

• “Equitable Transport Access and Mobility in African Cities” (ETAMAC)  
• “Governing Urban Mobility: Making and Implementing Decisions in Urban Transport in Sub-Saharan Africa” (MID-UTA)
• “Popular to Popular Transport Integration in Sub-Saharan Africa: Case of Rwanda and Ghana” (POINT)

A VREF ARP-MAC is a thematic, cohesive program of interlinked research projects and educational activities within multi-disciplinary, multi-country consortiums. The purpose of each program is to carry out state-of-art comparative research which will result in new knowledge and innovative approaches for improving conditions for urban mobility and access in SSA. The programs are expected to be core knowledge building activities in the VREF MAC program during the coming three years.

We urge all scholars in the VREF community to take this chance to learn about the new programs, contribute to the dialogue, and consider possibilities for collaboration (e.g. sharing research results, arranging study visits or other activities in areas of mutual interest).

PROGRAM

Welcome and introduction: Henrik Nolmark, VREF

– PRESENTATIONS –

ARP-MAC “Equitable Transport Access and Mobility in African Cities” (ETAMAC)  
Presenter: Gift Dumedah (consortium leader), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana
Discussant: Alexander Boakye Marful, University of Rwanda

ARP-MAC “Governing Urban Mobility: Making and Implementing Decisions in Urban Transport in Sub-Saharan Africa” (MID-UTA)
Presenter: Gladys Nyachieo (consortium leader), Multimedia University of Kenya
Discussant: Hannibal Bwire, University of Dar es Salaam

ARP-MAC “Popular to Popular Transport Integration in Sub-Saharan Africa: Case of Rwanda and Ghana” (POINT)
Presenter: Josephine Malonza (consortium leader), University of Rwanda
Discussant: Melecki Khayesi, independent scholar

– PLENARY DISCUSSION –

– NEWS FROM THE MAC PROGRAM; closing the Forum –

BACKGROUND

Since 2021, the VREF Mobility and Access in African Cities (MAC) program has hosted a series of virtual seminars under the title VREF MAC Research Forum. The seminars focus on recent or ongoing research in the area of sustainable mobility and equitable access in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) cities.

The purpose of the Research Forum is:

›› to stimulate scientific discussion of specific issues/themes related to sustainable urban mobility and equitable access in SSA;
›› to provide an opportunity for MAC researchers to present and discuss their on-going work with research colleagues within the MAC community;
›› to provide a meeting place for dialogue and exchange among researchers and other stakeholders within the MAC community.

Do you have questions, thoughts or ideas related to the MAC program?  Do not hesitate to contact us: secretariat@vref.se