Children, (im)mobility and transport in sub-Saharan Africa : implications for meeting the MDGs.

Abstract

Improving mobility and access to health and education facilities for both girl and boy children is crucial to many of the Millennium Goals, notably achieving universal primary education (MDG 2), promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment through the elimination of gender disparity in all levels of education (MDG 3), and reducing the under-five mortality rate (MDG 4). However, there is remarkably little specific information on young people’s mobility patterns, current transport usage or transport needs anywhere in the developing world. Not surprisingly then, children and youths under the age of 18 have received remarkably little direct attention in African transport policy until recently, apart from limited work on road safety. This is a serious omission, given that over half the population of many African countries consists of children and young people.