Research

As highlighted by the Eastern Africa Women in Transportation Conference, there is very limited research that explores the connection between gender and sustainable mobility in Africa. Flone Initiative is seeking to fill that gap by conducting research projects with our grassroots partners. Since 2017, we have completed the following research projects and you can find the reports here.

1. Violence against Women and Girls in Public Road Transport and Connected Spaces in Nairobi County: Kenya; Preliminary Research & Baseline Study Report – This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence, nature, and response to violence against women (VAWG) in the public transport sector in Nairobi County.
2. Gender Equity Assessment of Nairobi’s Public Minibus Transport Services Report: This study sought to understand women’s perspectives on employment participation and to evaluate the existing policies that affect women in regard to employment, retention, promotion, safety, and sexual harassment. Data was compiled from interviews conducted with male and female workers in Nairobi’s matatu industry, as well as managers of three different transport organizations.
3. Mobility of Care Assessment of Nairobi’s Public Minibus Transport Services Report: This study, which analyzed over 450 interviews with commuters who utilize the three transport providers who participated in the Gender Equity Assessment, identified travel patterns and challenges faced by women while using minibus public transport services in Nairobi, Kenya.
4. Gender-Sensitive Minibus Services and Transport Infrastructure for African Cities; A Practical Toolkit:The Toolkit is designed to provide minimum standard guidelines and practical tools to create safer and more accessible public transportation systems for women in African cities. It was developed, in collaboration with UN-Habitat, from the findings of the Gender Equity Assessment and Mobility of Care Study. Flone Initiative is currently utilizing the toolkit to integrate gender-sensitive organizational policies and service principles into the culture of transport organizations in Nairobi and Mombasa.
5. Mombasa Safety Audit Report: The safety audit of Mombasa Island, conducted using the safety pin app, mapped the main roads of Mombasa city as well as some key public spaces in the city. The safety audit report provides clear information for the prioritization of local and municipal investments in infrastructure, specifically, lighting in parks, installing CCTV cameras and rebuilding pathways for better access.
6. Implications of COVID-19 on women in Transport professionals in the public transport industry: This report aims to elaborate on the impact of COVID-19 on women professionals, particularly women drivers and conductors in the matatu industry in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area; Present the mitigation measures initiated by Flone Initiative – particularly for women professionals in the matatu industry – in Nairobi Metropolitan Area; and make recommendations to policymakers and other stakeholders to ensure sustainable public transport systems post-COVID-19.
7. Policy Briefs on the Employment, Retention and Promotion of Women Workers in the Public Road Transport Industry in Kenya
8. Study Report on Working Conditions and Policies on Employment and Retention of Women in Public Transport Work in Kenya: This study was aimed at establishing the status of working conditions and evaluating the existing policies that affect women’s involvement in employment, retention and promotion in the industry. It entailed a review of existing policy documents and publications, a survey with female workers; conductors, drivers and stage attendants as well as in-depth one-on-one interviews with PSV SACCO managers, union representatives and partner organizations.
9. Machakos Baseline Survey & Safety Audit Report: This report contains detailed findings on gender issues in the Machakos County’s public transport system and the connected spaces. It also highlights critical recommendations to public transport stakeholders on best practices to promote the active participation of women and minority groups while advocating for safe spaces free from sexual and gender-based violence.
10. Machakos County Public Transport Sexual Harassment Approved: The Sexual Harassment Policy contains a background on the status of sexual harassment in Machakos County’s public transport sector and the connected spaces. It also highlights existing legal policies and structures guiding the reduction of sexual harassment in public transport and connected areas.
11. The Accessibility of Public Transport Service in Nairobi Metropolitan Area: The report’s specific objectives were to 1. Identify the current policies and programmes promoting accessibility in public transport, 2. Identify the technical, social and policy gaps that hinder the implementation of policies and programmes promoting accessibility in public transport, 3. Document the challenges faced by persons with disabilities and the elderly in accessing public transport, 4. Document best practices on accessible public transport that can be replicated in other counties of Kenya.
12. Policy Brief on The Need For Inclusive Transport In Kenya: The Brief highlights the proposed policy interventions while the report highlights the recommendations to the Government, Matatu Owners, Operators and Non-State Actors with the hopes of solving the recurrent challenges of unreliable, ineffective and inaccessible public transport services for paratransit vehicles.
13. FIA Report: The report highlights Breaking Barriers: Promoting cycling among Women in Nairobi
14. Inclusive and accessible public transport services for persons living with disability: Disability-Friendly Features Bus RapidTransit (BRT)
15. Resource guide: Gender inclusion considerations in cycling.