The TEST Network in Africa

The African Transport and Environment - Science Technology (TEST) Network

ITDP Europe is one of the leading partners of an international initiative to tackle problems such as traffic congestion, air pollution and road safety in Africa. The project, entitled the Transport and Environment - Science Technology (TEST) Network, is led by the Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York (UK). The three-year capacity building project will strengthen networking, share knowledge, and enhance research capacity on transport and environment science and technological issues.

The African TEST Network

The network involves universities from six African countries, UN-Habitat, and the International Forum for Rural Transport and Development (IFRTD). It is funded by the EC African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Science and Technology Programme. University partners include the Centre for Transport Studies, University of Cape Town (South Africa), Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (Mozambique), Ardhi University (Tanzania), Makerere University (Uganda), University of Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe) and University of Zambia (Zambia).

During the Network's inaugural meeting at the University of Cape Town, partners agreed upon a program of activities including an assessment of research capacity and benchmarking good transport practice. A key component of the Network will be communicating scientific developments and disseminating knowledge to key stakeholders. As part of this component, the Network will hold a workshop on science communication for African researchers. The program of activities will culminate in a UN Regional Policy Dialogue on Transport and Environment Science and Technology at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi in 2012.