Deadline
  1. Introduction

While increased urbanization brings with it many opportunities, it also tends to be associated with increasing traffic congestion, climate emissions, air pollution, and deaths from road crashes. UN-Habitat seeks to promote more sustainable cities, where better facilities for walking and cycling are integrated with safe, reliable, and affordable public transport. These ingredients contribute to making cities more inclusive and accessible to all. They also contribute to reducing the environmental footprint of growing urban areas. Road traffic accidents are a major cause of deaths and disabilities, particularly in developing countries. The World Health Organization Global Status report on Road Safety 2018 showed that the Africa region had 26.6 deaths per 100,000 populations - the highest amongst all regions.

UN-Habitat, in collaboration with the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy - and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is implementing the Urban Pathways project that aims to boost Low Carbon Plans for urban mobility, energy and waste management services, working on concrete steps towards a maximum impact in cities to global climate change mitigation efforts ​and sustainable and inclusive urban development. The project supports partner cities such as Nairobi, Kenya, in promoting Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) as low carbon, safe and inclusive modes of transport i.e. through policy support, technical advice on street design, support to Open Street Events or Advocacy Bicycle Rides.

Guidebooks do exist illustrating global best practice examples on walking and cycling, however, it is important to localize recommendations to the African context with its unique features of high modal shares of pedestrians using inadequate infrastructure, a vibrant street life, and the distinctive cultural identity of individual African cities.  

Over the last few years there has been progress in integrating NMT as a sustainable solution within the mobility mix of African cities. We have observed efforts in developing NMT policies and strategies, revising NMT design guidelines, or making budgetary commitments to NMT infrastructure and pilot projects. In addition, social movements such as Critical Mass and Open Street Events are growing in membership numbers every year in many cities on the continent. It is time to compile all of these efforts in one platform and assess how successful they are in contributing to substantive changes in the reality and day to day life for pedestrians and cyclists; with a focus on road safety, comfort, quality and completeness of the infrastructure.

 

  1. Best Practice Guide on Walking and Cycling in African Cities: Policy, Infrastructure, Advocacy and Perception

UN-Habitat invites Expressions of Interest from academic or research institutions; Not-for-Profit Organizations; Governmental and Inter-Governmental organizations to compile a “Best Practice Guide on Walking and Cycling in African cities - Policy, Infrastructure, Advocacy and Perception”. Preference will be given to organizations from Africa, or organizations from elsewhere who illustrate a strong partnership with a local entity in Africa.

The aim of the guide is to compile best practice examples of policy, infrastructure and advocacy and any mechanisms in place by government to consult with their citizens relating to NMT. The project shall also assess peoples’ perception and evaluate the success of the measures taken in terms of impacts on the ground. The guide shall be addressed to policymakers, academia and NMT advocates – and act as an inspirational tool that provides guidance and innovative ideas on how to accelerate improvements on NMT in African cities.

The assignment will include among other tasks:

  1. Develop a methodology and workplan for the whole assignment.
  2. Compile and analyze existing reports, research and studies that have data and information on the status of NMT in African cities such as the “Global Outlook on Walking and Cycling” (UNEP) or the “Global Status Report on Road Safety 2018” (WHO);
  3. Conduct a review (literature, online, expert interviews) to identify efforts of African national and local governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders in promoting NMT through policy, infrastructure, and advocacy.
  4. Conduct expert interviews with selected partners (incl. cities, NGOs, development partners) to gain in-depth understanding of measures taken (and their success factors);
  5. Conduct desk-based research to pull together any existing analysis of perceptions from citizens on the quality of NMT infrastructure
  6. Develop final content[1] of the best practice guide incl. case studies, photos, and recommendations for successful measures.
  7. Organize an online Expert Group Meeting to discuss and verify the content.
  8. Organize a webinar to disseminate the Best Practice Guide to a wide audience.   

 

  The EOI should contain, but not be limited to the following:

  1. Overall experience of the organization in the areas of Non-Motorized Transport, Road Safety, Sustainable Mobility.
  2. A short conceptual proposal on how the organization plans to develop and implement this initiative incl. scope and nature of work.
  3. The support/ contribution the organization is willing to make including cash and in-kind; (contribution in terms of staff time, office space and equipment and other support in cash and in-kind should be expressed in monetary terms.)
  4. Copies of statement of annual budget and annual reports of the previous 2 years.
  5. Copy of two latest audited reports, and
  6. Governance and organizational structure; experience and qualifications of key professional staff and infrastructure facilities of the organization.

 

  1. Budget

UN-Habitat will contribute financial resources to the tune of USD 12,000 towards this Agreement of Cooperation (only for Academic institutions, Not for Profit, Governmental and Inter-Governmental Organizations). The EOI shall make reference to counter-part contributions (cash and in-kind) of the applying entity.

 

  1. Overall Timeframe

The work outlined in this EOI is scheduled to commence by 20 May 2020 and completed within 3 months.

 

  1. Submission Requirements and Guidelines

Expression of Interest must be delivered in electronic format no later than 8 May 2020 to the e-mail address given below:

 

  1. Contact Information

Stefanie Holzwarth

Urban Basic Services Section – Urban Mobility

United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)

P.O. Box 30030, Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: 254-20-7625432;

Stefanie.holzwarth@un.org

 

  1. Other

Please note that this EOI notice does not constitute a solicitation. UN-Habitat reserves the right to change or cancel this requirement at any time in the Expressions of Interest/or solicitation process.

Submitting a reply to an EOI does not guarantee that a Cooperation Partner will be considered for receipt of the solicitation when issued and only Cooperation Partners who are deemed qualified by UN-Habitat upon completion of evaluation of submission, will receive the final solicitation document.

 

Graphic design of the final product will be done in-house at UN-Habitat