New VREF Study Explores Transport Equity in Sub-Saharan African Cities October 15, 2025|MAC, Mobility and Access in African CitiesIn cities across the globe, unequal access to economic, social, and cultural opportunities presents a major challenge. Transport systems often play a key role in either facilitating or weakening access among various groups. Disparities in access are often systematically linked to socioeconomic … Read More
New Project on Mexico City’s Popular Transport Modernization
New Project on Mexico City’s Popular Transport Modernization October 6, 2025|ISM, Informal and Shared MobilityVREF are pleased to share the launch of a new project supported by VREF and University College London (UCL). The project will document the ongoing modernization of Mexico City’s popular transport system, with a special focus on microbuses, an essential mode for millions of residents. The project is led by Daniel … Read More
Unlocking better work conditions in the informal transport sector through labour impact assessments
The Volvo Research and Educational Foundations (VREF) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) are proud to present a new research paper exploring the potential of labour impact assessments as a means to enhance workers’ conditions in Africa’s informal transport sector. The paper, which can be found at the bottom of this page, is available in four languages and will … Read More
The 3rd Paratransit / Popular Transportation Day at Transforming Transportation 2025
Dear colleagues in the VREF Community,If you are joining Transforming Transportation in Washington, D.C. this year we welcome you to also be part of Paratransit / Popular Transportation Day on March 13. For the full program and registration, please visit https://www.populartransport.net/3rdpptd2025 VREF is part of organizing this day and looks forward to a mini-conference focusing on recognizing and elevating paratransit … Read More
Get inspired! Short film showing how to capture complex work
Check out this video highlighting a recent VREF-funded project by the University of Pretoria’s Centre for Transport Development with partners, on how to provide better information for people using public transport in African cities. The video captures very interesting work, but is also a great example for those who seek inspiration on how to communicate research and research results in … Read More
Catch up with recording from NextGen Research Forum 30 October
This is the Recording from the first Research Forum for all NextGen Scholars in the VREF Community – where we focused on: ”Exploring Viable Walking Solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa”. In Sub-Saharan Africa, walking is a vital mode for access and mobility for millions of inhabitants. However, challenges such as limited infrastructure, safety concerns and long distances in uninhabitable weather hinder … Read More
Meet the 2024 Lee Schipper awardees!
2024 Lee Schipper Memorial Scholarship awarded for research on multi-modal freight, boda boda motorcycle taxis, national public transit fiscal policies Three new researchers have been awarded the prestigious Lee Schipper Memorial Scholarship for Sustainable Transport and Energy Efficiency for transformative research proposals that challenge conventional wisdom. Since 2013, the Lee Schipper Memorial Scholarship has continued the legacy of Schipper’s enrichment of international … Read More
Practices and challenges in informal and shared mobility in SSA – catch up with recording from 23 October
This is the recordning from the second Research Forum in VREF:s mini series – Celebrating 5 years of research results on mobility and access in SSA through the MAC program. The series takes plage in September – November 2024 and the purpose is to highlight new knowledge production and results from research projects which have been carried out by scholars … Read More
Equity in mobility & access in Sub Saharan Africa – concepts, perspectives, approaches – catch up with recordning from 18 September
This is the recordning from the first Research Forum in VREF:s mini series – Celebrating 5 years of research results on mobility and access in SSA through the MAC program. The series takes place in September – November 2024 and the purpose is to highlight new knowledge production and results from research projects which have been carried out by scholars … Read More
Håkan Frisinger Award 2024
GOTHENBURG 2024-08-29 Professor Johan Woxenius and Lund University awarded the Håkan Frisinger Prize The Håkan Frisinger Foundation for Transportation Research has appointed Professor Johan Woxenius at the University of Gothenburg as this year’s scholarship recipient. The prize includes a guest research program at Lund University.– We look forward to welcoming Johan Woxenius and jointly addressing important challenges in freight transport … Read More