DigitalTransport4Africa Newsletter: August 2023

Welcome to the August edition of DT4A Newsletter. Find out what’s new at DT4A and in the digital transport ecosystem and much more. Enjoy the read!

Stay tuned for more via the DT4A webinar series, newsletter, and @WRIAfrica and @WRIRossCities.

DT4A Repository Receives GTFS Dataset from Stellenbosch

We’re thrilled to share that the DT4A repository has obtained a GTFS dataset from Stellenbosch, South Africa, funded by the DT4A Innovation Challenge. This dataset is a valuable asset in assessing the viability of transitioning South African minibus taxis to electric vehicles. Covering approximately 10 minibus taxis over 30 days of operation, the data will significantly aid researchers and urban planners in their efforts to decarbonize the minibus taxi industry. Learn more.

DT4A at Land & Carbon Lab 2023 Summit

Organized by WRI, Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative and Bezos Earth Fund, the Land and Carbon Lab’s 2023 Summit took place in Brussels, Belgium, from June 27-29. The summit brought together policymakers, practitioners and innovators seeking to harness the power of geospatial data to achieve this decade’s climate, nature and Sustainable Development Goals.

DT4A showcased its vision of sustainable urban transport in African cities, sharing accomplishments and challenges at the Summit’s “Data and Research Marketplace.” Learn more.

Digital Technologies, Data Commons and Rights in Africa: A New Book Chapter by DT4A and Columbia University

Explore the potent impact of digital technologies and data commons in Africa via a groundbreaking chapter by Jacqueline M. Klopp of Columbia University, and Agraw Ali Beshir and Esthelyne Dusabe of WRI in Public Policy and Technological Transformations in Africa. The chapter, “Digital Technologies, Data Commons and Rights in Africa,” uncovers opportunities for innovation, economic growth and societal progress within the expanding digital landscape and data availability on the continent. It delves into the implications of the digital revolution for governance, guided by frameworks like the Digital Principles for Development and the International Open Data Charter. Learn more.

DT4A Launches Low-Carbon Transport Futures Project in Lusaka

A milestone event on July 11, 2023, marked the start of the Low-Carbon Transport Futures project in Lusaka, with the participation of government bodies, transport stakeholders and industry experts. Mr. John Chilube of the Zambian Ministry of Transport and Logistics and Mr. Holger Dalkmann from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Climate Compatible Growth inaugurated the event.

The project aims to map Lusaka’s public transport system while assessing factors like greenhouse gas emissions, public transit network accessibility and non-motorized transport user audits in Lusaka. Learn more.

DT4A at Africa Climate Summit and Africa Climate Week

We are excited to announce that the upcoming Africa Climate Summit and Africa Climate Week, scheduled from September 4-8, 2023, in Nairobi, Kenya, will feature participation from WRI and the DT4A initiative. These highly anticipated events, championed by HE President Ruto, will play a pivotal role in amplifying Africa’s collective voice on climate solutions. They serve as crucial platforms to prepare African nations for COP28 in November and the first global stocktake, which evaluates progress toward the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. Learn more.

DT4A Webinar Series

The DT4A Webinar Series is a monthly webinar organized by WRI and consortium partners to facilitate knowledge exchange around public transport and data initiatives in African cities and beyond.

The Atlas of City Transport | August 30, 2023 | 9 – 10am | 4 – 5pm EAT

The webinar will offer an exclusive sneak peek into ITDP’s upcoming Atlas of City Transport, a new global data dashboard for sustainable transportation set to launch in early 2024. The Atlas is designed to provide neighborhood-level metrics for walking, bicycling, public transport and urban form for over 1,000 urban areas worldwide. This platform facilitates the comparison of indicators among cities, agglomerations or districts, over different timeframes. The platform also offers downloadable open-source geospatial data. This webinar will demonstrate the functionality of the Atlas, discuss data sources and explore new indicators. Additionally, this event provides an opportunity to express interest in gaining access to the invite-only beta version of the website scheduled for deployment in mid-September 2023.

Speaker:

• D. Taylor Reich (they/them), Senior Research Associate, ITDP

The Rise of Digital Transportation in Africa | September 13, 2023 | 9 – 10am EDT | 4 – 5pm EAT

With rapid urbanization exerting substantial pressure on mobility in African cities, there is an opportunity to reshape the transport sector through innovative digital solutions. Recent GSMA research reveals that transport and logistics rank as the third-largest recipient of startup funding in Africa. Innovators are harnessing mobile-enabled solutions, like pay-as-you-go models, big data, GIS and Internet of Things, to address mobility challenges that impede access to essential services. The webinar will explore the landscape of the transport sector in African cities, highlighting the transformative potential of digital innovations. Specifically, we will examine case studies from various African countries, showcasing how digital solutions can enhance transport systems to make them safer, more efficient and more reliable, especially for low-income residents. Moreover, we will delve into the pivotal role these solutions play in reducing carbon emissions within the sector. Lastly, we will discuss funding and financing trends in African transport and logistics startups. Leveraging data from The Big Deal database, we aim to share insights into early adoption pathways at the forefront of digital transport for Africa.

Speakers:

• Brian Njoroge, Insights and Advocacy Analyst, GSMA
• George Kibala Bauer, Director, GSMA
• Jisas Lemasagarai, Senior Market Engagement Manager, GSMA

Please follow this link for registration.

Navigating Daily Mobility – Transportation, School and Safety in Kinshasa’s Digital Age | September 27, 2023 | 9 – 10am EDT | 4 – 5pm EAT

This webinar will be conducted in French.

This webinar will explore students’ digital practices as they navigate their daily mobility using mobile phones in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The capital city is currently experiencing a digital transformation, characterized by increasing mobile adoption, growing social media significance and widespread mobile app usage, all of which reshape behaviors within a significant urban population. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 52 students from various faculties at the University of Kinshasa to uncover the role of digital tools in supporting students’ daily planning strategies amid challenges such as unreliable transport and urban insecurity. Findings demonstrate low adoption of navigation and transportation mobile apps among students, while social media indirectly influences their daily mobility patterns and safety perception. Overall, the prevailing insecurity and travel challenges prompt students to exhibit paradoxical behaviors, fostering resourceful alternative mobility approaches that do not always incorporate digital tools — thereby underscoring the intricate relationship between security, transportation and technology.

Speakers:

• Pauline Baudens, PhD candidate, Tallinn University of Technology
• Marie Hassen, Research Engineer, Ecole des ponts Paris Tech

Details to come.

DT4A Innovation Challenge

DT4A launched the DT4A Innovation Challenge in December 2021 to spotlight and award innovative urban mobility mapping initiatives. The first four winners of the DT4A Innovation Challenge were chosen in June 2022 from more than 100 submissions. AddisMap (Ethiopia), Ewarren (Côte d’Ivoire), GoMetro (South Africa) and KhartouMap (Sudan) are now in the midst of a 12-month implementation period and telling their stories of impact across Africa.
Check out what our innovation winners are up to, in their own words (or read the full blog on digitaltransport4africa.org): 

AddisMap: As part of the grant implementation program, AddisMap, in collaboration with DT4A, initiated capacity-building training sessions for staff at the Addis Ababa Transport Bureau.

The team conducted a successful two-week Facebook advertising campaign. The campaign reached more than 1 million people and resulted in roughly 2,000 application downloads.

Ewarren: One of our key focuses has been the development of an automation report that outlines a groundbreaking methodology for transforming static GTFS data into dynamic GTFS data. This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize transit systems by enhancing their efficiency and effectiveness. Additionally, we are pleased to announce the successful launch of our ticketing solution on two mini-bus commuter lines: Liberté (Adjamé) and Gabriel Gare (Yopougon).

GoMetro: In July, GoMetro successfully concluded its participation in the DT4A Innovation Challenge, culminating in the publication of a blog that narrates the project’s journey, discusses encountered challenges and celebrates its outcomes. The GoMetro team expresses heartfelt gratitude to the DT4A staff and program for their invaluable support in driving the progress of decarbonizing paratransit systems in Africa. Read the blog.

Partners Corner

If you would like to be featured in our next newsletter, please contact Esthelyne Dusabe at esthelyne.dusabe@wri.org.