DigitalTransport4Africa (DT4A) at Sustainable Mobility and Climate Week 2022

[Cross posted from WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities]

The Week for Sustainable Mobility and Climate, organized by the CODATU Association, CETUD and the Climate Chance Association, will be held in Dakar, Senegal, from October 3-7.

The week will bring together a community of African mobility and climate actors through workshops and plenary sessions to foster dialogue between stakeholders on the challenges of sustainable mobility and to strengthen climate action at the local level. Together, participants of the Week for Sustainable Mobility and Climate will adopt the Dakar Declaration, a high-level contribution to COP27.

WRI Africa in partnership with Agence Française de Développement (AFD) will convene several sessions to highlight the work of Digital Transport for Africa (DT4A).

General registration is required for all attendees.

Wednesday, October 5

Open and Standardized Transport Data Towards Sustainable Mobility

The session will examine the possibilities offered by the opening and standardization of transport data in African cities. This will be through several use cases, highlighting Digital Transport for Africa (DT4A), along with inspiring projects from Transport for Cairo (TfC) and Data Transport. A panel discussion with transport authorities, private sector players and non-profit entities will follow to explore the promises and challenges of digitizing transport in Africa.

Time: October 5, 11:15-12:45 GMT

Organizers: WRI, AFD

Location: King Fahd Hotel

Language: French

Speakers:

• Benjamin Welle,  Director of Integrated Transport & Innovation, WRI Global
• Mohamed Hegazy, Principal & Managing Director, TfC
• Emmanuel Bama, Coordinator and Technical Project Manager, Data.Transport
• Esthelyne Dusabe, Project Specialist Urban Mobility, WRI Africa
• Sylviane Fofana, Head of the Mobility Observatory, AMUGA
• Amath Ndiaye, Chef de la Division Observatoire des Départements, CETUD
• Antoine Chevre, Senior Transport Specialist, AFD (Moderator)

Thursday, October 6

Electrification, Data and Informal Transit in Africa

The session will examine emerging landscapes of transport electrification in African cities, with an emphasis on electrifying informal transport/paratransit and the role of data that informs this process. Invited research experts in this field will present their on-the-ground understanding of challenges and opportunities in the sector. A panel discussion with these experts and non-profit entities will then explore the policies essential for the transition in African context. Ultimately the aim of the session is to spur dialogue on potential research and practice collaborations under the expansive Digital Transport for Africa (DT4A) consortium to complement its open data and transit mapping efforts.

Time: October 6, 09:00-10:30 GMT

Organizers: WRI, AFD

Location: King Fahd Hotel

Languages: French and English

Speakers:

• Benjamin Welle, Director of Integrated Transport & Innovation, WRI Global
• Baskin Ariadne, GIZ/TUMI
• Yao Amedokpo, Researcher, LVMT, Paris
• Thinus Booysen, Professor, University of Stellenbosch
• Antoine Chevre, Senior Transport Specialist, AFD
• Herrie Schalekamp, CODATU (Moderator)

Transforming Africa’s Transit through the DT4A Innovation Challenge

The session will discuss emerging evidence from the winners of Digital Transport for Africa (DT4A) Innovation Challenge, sharing on-the-ground challenges and opportunities with the goal to make a valuable contribution towards identifying practical solutions for Africa’s transit. It will also highlight the importance of providing award and grant finance to civil society actors and startups to jumpstart their projects and demonstrate impacts while the enterprises pilot-test and refine their long-term strategies and business models. Please refer to the concept note for more details.

Time: October 6, 11:00-12:30 GMT

Organizers: WRI, AFD

Location: King Fahd Hotel

Languages: French and English

Speakers:

• Benjamin Welle, Director of Integrated Transport & Innovation, WRI Global
• Ilham Ali, Principal Grant Writer & Co-director, KhartouMap
• Alazar Tekle, GIS Expert, AddisMap
• Karamoko Camara, CEO & Founder, Ewarren
• Justin Coetzee, CEO & Founder, GoMetro
• Antoine Chevre, Senior Transport Specialist, AFD
• Benjamin de la Peña, Chair, Global Partnership for Informal Transportation (Moderator)