Transport for Social Responsibility
Mainstreaming Gender in Road
Transport: Operational Guidance for
World Bank Staff
An overview
Julie BABINARD
Environmental and Social Development Specialist,
ETWTR
Transport for Social Responsibility
Objectives
1. Provide guidance for both transport and gender
specialists on how to mainstream gender aspects in
road transport
2. Focus on basic entry points in which gender affects
and is affected by transport policies and projects
3. Examples of good practice for various road project
contexts in urban, peri-urban and rural areas
4. Offers for first time a list of project indicators to
create baseline and measure results
Transport for Social Responsibility
The importance of gender and the
mainstreaming effort
• Rationale for addressing gender in transport:
– Women have disproportionate share of household transport burdens
– Women have more limited access to available means of transport
– Men and women have different travel and transport needs
 Impact on mobility patterns of women, with consequences at the
household unit and ultimately society and economy as a whole
• Transport planning and investment tend to focus on
commuting to work activities
• Transport planning and data typically not inclusive of gender
differences
• Extent of participation and feedback by users
on their needs is limited
Transport for Social Responsibility
Women travel patterns and mobility
constraints
Urban
• Women more likely to
walk
• Diverse destinations
and modal splits
• Greater reliance on
public transport
• Personal safety and
harassment
• Cultural constraints
Peri-urban
• Low income areas
poorly linked to main
transport routes and
places of employment
• Higher transport costs
and waits
• Fewer trips and longer
travel
Rural
• Travel by foot/
headloading
• Cycles and animaldrawn carriages and
affordable modes of
transport
• Infrequent and
unreliable public
transport
• Lack of accessible roads
and poor pathway
conditions
• Access to IMTs (carts,
bicycles, animals) can
be limited due to
cultural norms
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Mode to work by gender
Source: South Africa Transport Department, 2003
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Women and men travel in urban context
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Gender policy considerations
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National gender policy framework for transport planning
Foster gender equity in workplace environment
User surveys focused on gender needs
Gender stakeholder consultations
Understand local practices
Gender management plan of
Uganda’s transport ministry &
awareness program in Provias
Descentralizado of Peru
Transport for Social Responsibility
Leverage positive and mitigate negative
impacts of projects on women
• Employment opportunities for income generation through
labor-based construction methods
• Displacement and inequitable resettlement
• Human trafficking issues in transport projects in risk areas
• Vulnerability of women to HIV transmission
Transport for Social Responsibility
Urban transport project components
• Ensure safe access to pedestrian environment
• Public transport fleet and facilities:
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Provide adequate service routes and schedules
Set affordable fares
Address safety concerns
Improve vehicle design and facilities
• Promote adequate and sustainable intermediate modes
Women-only transport initiatives as
an option to safe public transport in
Japan, Brazil, Egypt, Mexico, India
etc.
Transport for Social Responsibility
Interurban, corridor and terminal
project components
• Mobility and transfer improvements through transfer stations
and terminals
– Accessibility, safety and comfort features
• Focus on economic opportunities
• Measures to reduce HIV/AIDS risk and human trafficking
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Rural transport project components
• Physical infrastructure
– Road network improvements
– Footpaths and tracks
• Availability, affordability and quality of conventional
motorized services
• Adapt IMTs to local contexts
Improving access and economic
opportunities linked to road
maintenance activities through
Peru’s 2nd Rural Roads project
Transport for Social Responsibility
Project indicators
Transport for Social Responsibility