News #2 Activity report: METRAP-Maputo Project and the Sustainable Mobility Week
Introduction
Maputo recently celebrated the sixth edition of the Sustainable Mobility Week (SMW) with a series of engaging activities. Hundreds of residents and visitors actively participated in this event. The inaugural edition of SMW coincided with the establishment of the Maputo Metropolitan Transportation Agency (AMT) in 2018.
The Sustainable Mobility Week in Maputo Metropolitan Area has evolved over the years, aiming to enhance coordination and collaboration among various stakeholders to improve mobility. It serves as a platform for discussions, awareness-raising, and addressing challenges related to equitable, safe, and inclusive transportation and road safety in the region. The SMW has involved local government officials, academics, and cooperation partners, facilitating debates, lectures, seminars, conferences, and multilateral meetings. Additionally, it engages the public through recreational activities in public spaces, such as "bike marches" and initiatives promoting safe commuting to schools.
Sustainable Mobility Week 2023
The sixth edition of SMW took place from June 11th to June 24th, 2023, featuring diverse programs sponsored by different partners. Some highlights from the 2023 edition include:
- VIA Program students interview for road safety stakeholder implemented by AMEND[*1] (an NGO), sponsored by Total Energies.
- Metropolitan Technical Workshop on the Use of Public Spaces (Safe Schools - Public Space Management), implemented by ASF[*2] , AVSI[*3], CMM[*4] , AMB[*5], UN- Habitat.
- Tactical Urbanism - Participatory Session - Painting Crosswalks and raising awareness, by UN-Habitat.
- Central Seminar for Sustainable Urban Mobility.
- Reinforcement of Road Safety and Civic Education in Schools, promoted by CMM and AMEND[*6].
- Debate on the Challenges in Public Transport, District of Marracuene, on conflict management between road transport associations.
- "Return to Safer Schools”, implemented by AMEND and ATCM[*7], sponsored by FIA[*8].
- Fair of Urban Mobility Initiatives, implemented by AMT and OMT[*9].
- Three film sessions such as the film ‘Contested Streets’ with themes that address urban mobility and public spaces, at an outdoor cinema stage, implemented by the Big Picture[*10] and ASF, in the scope of the CoM SSA[*11] project.
[*1] AMEND; https://www.amend.org/
[*2] ASF: Arquitetura Sem Fronteiras (Architecture without Borders)
[*3] AVSI Foundation; https://www.avsi.org/en
[*4] CMM: Conselho Municipal de Maputo (Maputo Municipality Council)
[*5] AMB: Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona; https://www.amb.cat/s/home.html
[*6] AMEND; https://www.amend.org/
[*7] ATCM: Automóvel & Touring Clube de Moçambique (The Automobile & Touring Club of Mozambique)
[*8] FIA Foundation: https://www.fiafoundation.org/
[*9] OMT: Mozambique Mobility and Transport Observatory; https://omt.org.mz/
[*10] A film producer in Mozambique
[*11] CoM SSA: Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa; https://comssa.org/en/about
METRAP-Maputo and SMW 2023
Experts of the METRAP-Maputo Project (The Project for Improvement of Urban Public Transport System in Maputo) attended several of the events to learn more about the conducted activities and aiming to gain insights into the event structure and concepts of the Sustainable Mobility Week. Their goal was to get ideas and explore potential opportunities for participation in the 2024 edition in Maputo. The project team participated in four specific events.
1) Central Seminar, June 16th, 2023
This seminar served as the focal point of the SMW, bringing together organizers and stakeholders in the urban mobility sector. The seminar aimed to foster a collective understanding and discussion of the urban and metropolitan challenges, with a focus on sustainable urban mobility principles. The target audience consisted of the 23 partners and actors involved in the SMW. The METRAP-Maputo JICA Expert (Team Leader) provided an online presentation on the project, goals, and the outputs.
2) Return to Safer Schools, June 22nd, 2023
The event was held to showcase the efforts made in creating safe school zones, including the painting of crosswalks and installation of safety signs to enforce a speed limit of 30km/h near two primary schools.
The event featured the delivery of transportation safety infrastructure by AMEND and ATCM, sponsored by FIA with the presence of government representatives, including the Municipal Council, Social Action Services of the City of Maputo, and local leaders. The event was attended by event partners and open to students from the Coop Complete Primary School, which was chosen for the initiative.
3) Fair of Urban Mobility Initiatives, June 23, 2023
AMT and OMT organized a captivating fair event at the AMT's premises open space. The event featured a variety of booths showcasing initiatives, services, and products related to urban mobility in the Maputo Metropolitan Area and beyond. Attendees had the opportunity to explore exhibits displaying transport-related products such as bus card-ticket readers, crosswalk and road signage solutions, app-based taxi (ride hiring) services, project posters, and a newly stationed air pollution measuring machine at the AMT's premises. The event also facilitated engaging roundtable discussions where participants such as ride hiring companies and traditional taxis, came together to exchange insights and address shared mobility challenges.
4) Film Session, June 23rd, 2023
An inspiring activity titled 'Move Freely' took the spotlight promoting outdoor cinema sessions. This special event made possible by Big Picture and ASF, in the scope of the CoM SSA project. The selected movies touched upon the important theme of urban mobility for individuals with disabilities in public spaces. The thought-provoking narrative resonated deeply with residents, passersby, and the enthusiastic youth. The film screening took place in a public park, where a wall projector illuminated the outdoor setting, and atmosphere to engage with the movie and its message.
METRAP_Maputo and Vision for SMW 2024
The active participation of the JICA- Expert Team members in the aforementioned events provided a valuable opportunity to meet with some of the event organizers and coordinators. These interactions served as a catalyst for generating innovative ideas aimed at raising public awareness about the METRAP-Maputo project. Additionally, these fruitful discussions paved the way for the upcoming Sustainable Mobility Week in 2024, where the Project’s outputs results will be showcased, fostering a greater understanding and appreciation for sustainable mobility initiatives.