Environmentally Sustainable Transport Forum in Africa

Background:

This side event hosted by SSATP and the World Bank aims to establish an Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum in Africa that will provide a platform to develop and promote a vision of environmentally sustainable transport for Africa. Successful EST Forums already exist in Asia and Latin America, and this stakeholder consultation process is intended to develop the concept for establishing an EST Forum for Africa.

Rapid urbanization and modernization, while essential to development and poverty reduction, are also creating unsustainable transport conditions. EST-AFRICA will bridge the gap between poverty reduction and sustainable transport by bringing together key stakeholders interested in transport’s effects on health and the environment, and will promote new and strengthen existing policies and strategies that encourage governments of all levels to support sustainable transport as a key component of green growth.

Agenda:

08:00-08:15 Opening remarks and welcome– Roger Gorham, Transport Economist, World Bank

08:15-08:25 Overview of the EST Africa– Heather Allen, TRL

08:25-09:25 Panel session and discussion with interventions to discuss the roles of partners, typical outputs and themes

• Andre Dzikus, Coordinator, Basic Urban Services Unit
• Rob de Jong, Head, Transport Unit, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
• Asfaw Kumssa, Coordinator, United Nations Centre for Regional Development, (UNCRD) Africa Office
• (TBC), African Development Bank
• Cornie Huizenga, Joint Convener, SLoCaT Partnership
• Representatives from African countries and Civil Society are also invited to speak

09:25 Closing remarks- Roger Gorham, Transport Economist, World Bank