This Recording is from the online MAC NextGen Research Forum 17 April 2024, where we focused on:
Towards a Decarbonised Mobility Future?
Exploring the e-mobility landscape in African cities
As the world moves toward cleaner and more eco-friendly fuel alternatives in transport, Africa too is playing its part in transitioning to a decarbonised future. Electric mobility in Africa has the potential to significantly improve the lives of millions of people while also reducing the environmental impacts of the transportation sector. The task of decarbonizing through electric mobility requires exploring the existing mobility landscape across the continent, contextual approaches to planning, and possible implementation challenges.
Thus more research is needed to understand the challenges, operations, opportunities and future of e-mobility. This Research Forum will address these issues by drawing upon work on e-mobility from selected cities in SSA.
Questions include:
- How can we understand the potential of e-mobility operations in African cities?
- What are the challenges, opportunities, and advantages of transitioning to e-mobility in various African contexts?
- How might in-depth knowledge about e-mobility be applied to improve and advance the transition to a decarbonised transportation sector?
Program
Welcome and introduction: Henrik Nolmark
VREF Moderators: Robert Ambunda, University of Namibia; Paschalin Basil, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Logistical host: Karin Henriksson, VREF
The MAC NextGen initiative – short orientation and news: Robert Ambunda, Paschalin Basil
Presentations:
“Factors Influencing e-mobility transition among Matatu operators in Nairobi County”
Presenter: Clare Okidi, Master of science in development studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Discussant: Cabrel Tokam, PhD candidate in transport engineering, Pan African University, Kenya; Transport Specialist, GIZ Kenya
”Knowledge and discernments surrounding adoption of electric vehicles in Uganda: a qualitative inquiry”
Presenter: Nakirijja Judith Flavia, Makerere University Business School, Uganda
Discussant: Lushomo Ng’andu, Master of science in geography, University of Zambia
”Assessment of the feasibility of adopting electric buses in Nairobi’s transport system”
Presenter: Mercy-Edna Manyasi, Assistant lecturer, Egerton University, Kenya
Discussant: Salma ME Abdelgadir, PhD candidate, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Plenary Discussion
Closing – news from VREF
BACKGROUND
Since 2021, the VREF Mobility and Access in African Cities (MAC) program has hosted a series of virtual seminars known as “VREF MAC Research Forums”. The seminars focus on recent or ongoing research in the area of sustainable mobility & 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 scholars 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.
The Research Forum on 17 April 2024 is the eleventh in the special series “MAC NextGen Research Forums” – designed specifically for young scholars in the SSA community.
Do you have questions, thoughts or ideas related to the MAC program? Do not hesitate to contact us: secretariat@vref.se
