Leapfrogging towards sustainable mobility: Policy challenges and opportunities for Sub-Saharan African cities

Authors

• Clémence Cavoli
• Daniel Oviedo
• Caren Levy
• Alexandria Z.W. Chong
• Joseph Mustapha Macarthy
• Briama Koroma
• Joaquín Romero de Tejada
• Constâncio Ausgusto Machanguana
• Yasmina Yusuf
• Peter Jones

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2025

Subject Area

place - africa, place - urban, organisation - governance, policy - sustainable, planning - integration, land use - planning

Keywords

Sustainable urban mobility, Sub-Saharan Africa, Transport governance, Qualitative research

Abstract

This paper explores the potential for two rapidly growing Sub-Saharan African cities—Maputo (Mozambique) and Freetown (Sierra Leone)—to transition away from car-dependent development trajectories towards more sustainable and inclusive mobility systems. Drawing on participatory workshops, semi-structured interviews and focus groups with policymakers, planners, and community stakeholders, and alongside the collation of secondary data, the study identifies key structural and institutional barriers to progress, as well as emerging opportunities related to transport and land use. Findings highlight critical challenges in governance, including funding and integrated planning, that constrain effective policy implementation. The paper concludes with comparative insights to inform urban mobility transitions in similar low-income and rapidly urbanising contexts.

Rights

Permission to publish the abstract has been given by Elsevier, copyright remains with them.

Comments

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0967070X

Recommended Citation

Cavoli, C., Oviedo, D., Levy, C., Chong, A. Z., Macarthy, J. M., Koroma, B., de Tejada, J.R., Machanguana, C.A., Yusuf, Y., & Jones, P. (2025). Leapfrogging towards sustainable mobility: Policy challenges and opportunities for Sub-Saharan African cities. Transport Policy, 171, 513-530.