Issue 9

2 Cover photograph: Unmaintained rural feeder road, Brong Ahafo region, Ghana. (Photo: Simon Done, TRL) Welcome to issue 9 of the DFID Tr a n s p o rt n e w s l e t t e r. The current DFID KaR strategy (see a rticle on this page) identifies Tr a n s p o rt as one of its sectoral components. Tr a n s p o rt is an important contributor to economic activity and development by facilitating trade locally, nationally and intern a t i o n a l l y. It also contributes to livelihoods, by pro v i d i n g access to jobs, education, healthcare, agricult u re and other services. With transport accounting for between 5 and 10% of GNP, the potential for enhancing economic and social development is substantial if increased effectiveness can occur in the transport sector. The strategy recognises motorised ro a d t r a n s p o rt as being the dominant mode. Priority is also given to addressing the needs of pedestrians, non-motorised and intermediate modes which are of particular importance to the poor. P rojects in the Tr a n s p o rt sector aim to a d d ress the following goals: • Safety and impact of accident p a rticularly for poor people. • Reducing costs of constructing and maintaining road infrastru c t u re and ro a d user costs. • Mobility of rural and urban poor for meeting their livelihood needs. • E fficiency of national and regional t r a n s p o rt systems. The articles in this newsletter discuss p ro g ress in several projects relating to these g o a l s . If you re q u i re further information on any aspect of the KaR "Tr a n s p o rt" programme and how it might benefit your organisation contact Mr Peter Roberts, Deputy Chief Engineering A d v i s e r, IUDD, DFID or Mr Ty rone To o l e , I n t e rnational Division, TRL.