Reaching the SDGs by bicycle. How mobility accelerates development in rural settings

Rural mobility is an essential element to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. More than a billion people in rural developing regions lack access to reliable roads and affordable transportation hindering economic and social development in regions where distance is a barrier. Rural developing regions are disproportionately affected by the negative impacts of climate change and are often least able to cope due to their structural constraints and geographical disadvantages. Climate change has both direct and indirect effects on agricultural production in low-income countries including changing rainfall patterns, drought, flooding and the geographical redistribution of pests and diseases. This puts the livelihoods of large numbers of the rural poor at risk and increases their vulnerability to food insecurity. Mobility is the lifeblood of communities. It’s empowering people and making them more resilient to climate change augmenting mitigation and adaptation efforts. With bicycles girls and women can access education and health care services contributing to protecting the climate. Bicycles can increase access to water sources and to more and different markets, giving households more options, including potential diversification of income sources. Bicycles can help increase productivity and efficiency in the way food is grown. Bicycles are a simple mode of transportation that are essential to creating long-term sustainable change – all that without releasing additional CO2 emissions. When compared to walking, bicycle riders can carry five times as much cargo in just a quarter of the time. World Bicycle Relief helps people in need realize their goals by providing access to education, markets, health facilities and vital services with the tool they need to thrive. Equipped with a purpose-designed Buffalo Bicycle from World Bicycle Relief, students, health workers and entrepreneurs in developing regions create opportunities for themselves, their families and entire communities. World Bicycle Relief partners with communities to create holistic change at scale through integrated, multi-year, multi-sector programming. After an assessment of needs and potential impact of bicycle programming, local committees within each community shape and manage programs to fit their needs. By working with partners, training local mechanics, providing market-based access to spare parts and nurturing community ownership of programming, WBR supports long-term impact and a vibrant mobility support network. To date World Bicycle Relief has delivered more than 566,000 bicycles and trained more than 2400 field mechanics.

Please find additional reading material here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ks7oylxlyz2yf30/AAAJnaH3IlI1P9IV-JSFrD_ra?dl=0

The Palabana Video Landing Page: http://onthemove.worldbicyclerelief.org

Documents

Speakers

Team Leader, Sustainable Transport/Infrastructures - DG INTPA F4, European Commission

Sergio Oliete Josa

Team Leader, Urban Mobility - DG MOVE DDG1.B.3, European Commission

Piotr Rapacz

Managing Director Europe - World Bicycle Relief

Kristina Jasiunaite

Country Director Zambia - World Bicycle Relief

Brian Moonga

Field Officer - Catholic Relief Services Zambia

Bertha Banda

Venue

Webex Meetings

InfoPoint Virtual Conference via Webex Meetings