DT4A and Partners at the State of the Map Conference 2023

DigitalTransport4Africa (DT4A), in partnership with the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI/GIZ), led a session titled “Unlocking the Potential of Sustainable Mobility Data in Africa: A Workshop on Mapping and Innovation” at the State of the Map Conference 2023, held in Yaoundé, Cameroon from November 30 to December 2, 2023. The session featured winners of the DT4A Innovation Challenge, including AddisMap, Ewarren, and GoMetro, along with esteemed transport officials from the from the Autorité de la Mobilité Urbaine dans le Grand Abidjan (AMUGA) and the Addis Ababa Transport Bureau (Addis Ababa).

WRI and GIZ/TUMI teams at the State of the Map (SotM) Event. Photo: SotM

The session provided an excellent platform for GIZ/TUMI and WRI to showcase their ongoing work. Lena Plikat, an Advisor on Sustainable Mobility from GIZ, presented “Harnessing the Potential of Open Data Platforms for Advancing Sustainable Mobility Planning and Implementation,” and Esthelyne Dusabe, Urban Mobility Project Specialist from WRI Africa, presented the DT4A initiative and highlighted its achievements and its innovative approaches. The launch of the Yaoundé Data Hub was also announced during the event.

WRI and GIZ/TUMI-led panel, “”Unlocking the Potential of Sustainable Mobility Data in Africa: A Workshop on Mapping and Innovation.” Photo: GIZ and SotM

Moderated by Agraw Ali, a Senior GIS Research Associate from WRI Africa, the panel discussion featured insights from the winners of the DT4A Innovation Challenge: Alazar Tekle (AddisMap), Karamoko Camara (Ewarren), and Rudi Kriel (GoMetro). They shared valuable perspectives on their respective innovations and their positive impact on their cities. Key topics of discussion included the significant challenges faced in African urban transportation, the crucial role of mapping in understanding and integrating informal transport networks, collaboration, responsible use of mobility data, inclusivity, and the necessity of government support for effective integration of sustainable mobility data into urban planning and decision-making processes. Sylviane Fofana from AMUGA and Mohammed Hussen from AATB, the transport officials, emphasized the benefits their cities have derived from the innovations brought by the winners of the Innovation Challenge. They underscored the importance of integrating sustainable mobility data into urban planning and expressed their expectations for specific actions and reforms from government institutions to facilitate this integration. The discussions highlighted the significance of collaborative efforts and the open exchange of geospatial information for effective solutions.

For a comprehensive view of the Q&A with the three winners of the DT4A Innovation Challenge and the two transport officials mentioned above –please refer to the DT4A Innovation Challenge corner for further details.