Private investments present a critical funding opportunity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, due to the growing recognition that socially and environmentally responsible solutions can generate impacts and financial returns across the risk spectrum. Innovative new mobility solutions—especially when driven by impact-oriented investments and enabled by inclusive policies—can be part of the solution for sustainable and equitable transport. The research paper features key insights on impact-driven investments in new mobility enterprises in Kampala, Uganda, and Hyderabad, India. The paper highlights the current challenges to impact investing in mobility enterprises, including difficulties in accounting for impact, dilution of impact from other sectors, regulatory regimes and political risks that could hinder the running of mobility businesses, and entrenched stakeholders holding back investments. It concludes with opportunities to confront these challenges and pathways to safe, clean and inclusive transportation for vulnerable urban residents in the global south.

The pandemic and resulting economic fallout have upended mobility. This report, with the Transport Decarbonisation Alliance (TDA), evaluates how countries, cities, and companies have allocated funds, directed policies, or launched actions that impact the transport sector. It provides evidence of how these interventions could shape long-term economic recovery that addresses climate, health, safety, and equity goals. This study analyzes roughly US$298 billion in global stimulus funds committed to the transport sector between March 2020 and February 2021. Of these funds, roughly 44% have gone to subsectors with positive implications for climate and sustainability goals. We are at a critical moment to steer national investments, local and country-level regulations, and private-sector commitments toward sustainable transport. The paper identifies several intersectional opportunities and explores five key opportunities and action areas for transport decarbonization and public-private participation for countries, cities, and companies. These areas are public transport, walking and bicycling, vehicle electrification, rail, and research and development (R&D). Actions in these areas can help decarbonize transport while creating jobs, increasing equity, improving road safety, and reducing air pollution.