Transport

One of the major causes of poverty is isolation. Improving the access and mobility of the isolated poor paves the way for access to markets, services and opportunities. By improving transport poorer people are able to access markets where they can buy or sell goods for income, and make better use of essential services such as health and education.

No proper roads or vehicles mean women and children are forced to spend many hours each day attending to their most basic needs, such as collecting water and firewood. This valuable time could be used to tend crops, care for the family, study or develop small business ideas to generate much needed income.

Governments in developing countries recognise that a greater choice of transport is good for the population, but priority is usually given to building main roads that only serve the better-off. People in the poorest rural communities rarely benefit.

For more than 40 years, Practical Action have worked with poor communities to identify the types of transport that work best for them. With our technical and practical support, isolated rural communities can design, build and maintain village roads and bridges using local materials, tools and labour.

All Practical Action’s projects are developed with the active participation of local people so they are right for their culture, needs and skills, and develop solutions that are sustainable.

Some examples of how Practical Action transport programmes have had an impact on the lives of people around the world:

Village roads in Sri Lanka Women from 80 families in Mulberigama joined forces to build a better road, improving their access to schools, health care, building materials and other goods. Improved river crossings River crossing Tuin technology can provide a sustainable solution to the excluded and isolated people of rural and mountainous regions of Nepal. Gravity ropeways Depending solely on gravitational force – and using no external power – gravitational ropeways are simple and inexpensive to operate as well as environmentally friendly.

Animal-drawn carts in Sudan A simple donkey cart allows a Sudanese farmer to transport all his produce to market in one trip, saving packing costs and journey times. Bicycle ambulances in Nepal For remote communites in the plains of Nepal, a bicycle ambulance provides a vital lifeline, enabling them to get the sick to medical centres quickly and in comfort. Water carriers Women in northern Kenya have to travel far each day in search of water. Locally-adapted panniers can make more efficient use of donkey transport.