Access to Transport

1. Challenge: The lack of access to transport

The world trade is growing – regarding its worth and volume: in 2012 more than 150 million containers were sent, in 2011 the worth of goods was about 18 billion US$. However, in many partner countries the development is hindered by trade: in basic routs in sub-sahara Africa the prices for freighttransport are as double as high as in the EU or USA – because of cartels, bureaucratic obstacles and lacking infrastructure.

Moreover, Lacking access to markets due to poor roads in rural areas and postharvest losses slowsthe agricultural productivity with consequences on food security.

At the same time more than 900 million people lack access to all-weather roads what means no access to markets, doctors or schools, especially during rainy seasons.

2. Mobility and rural development

Economic and social development in rural areas depend on various factors –a very significant one is surely the access to transport infrastructure and services regarding the transport of people and goods. In this context rural infrastructure and accessibility to local markets as well as interregional linkages of import and export might be considered.

Therefore, traffic has a catalytic function for economic and social development and is strongly related to the fulfillment of the Millenium Development Goals.

The significance of transport regarding rural development will be considered in three main fields:

- Access to basic services and accessiblity of people

- Economic / agricultural perspective

- Hubs and logistics: role of trade

3. Environment and security: Negative sides of transport infrastructure

4. Approaches for strengthenign rural development