Linking Poverty-Based Inequalities with Transportation and Accessibility Using Mobility Data: A Case Study of Greater Maputo

Abstract

Accessibility is widely considered as the most crucial benefit of any transportation system. Low accessibility may cause compromise on living conditions, low economic growth, high unemployment, social seclusion, and long-term social inequalities. In developing countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, surveys fail to keep up with the pace of rapid urbanization. Additionally, numerous location-based data sets, including mobile phone location data and Google Maps travel time, enable near-real-time observations of actively changing mobility dynamics. In this study, we use these novel data sets to assess various facets of accessibility and corresponding poverty-based inequalities within the Greater Maputo region in Mozambique. A data-based approach is seldom used in the Sub-Saharan African context. Consistent poverty-based inequalities in access to opportunities by driving, transit, and walking are observed. The transit system was ascertained to be more inefficient in the poorer regions. The richer regions witnessed most decreased access to opportunities because of high congestion. People living in the poorest regions were observed to travel much longer distances to access facilities than did those living in the richest regions. These differences were particularly significant for essential services of education, healthcare, and employment. These results can help urban planners and policymakers identify disadvantaged communities and develop policies to ameliorate the conditions. This assists in measuring the progress of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and investigating areas of concern. Moreover, this study shows the applicability of various data sets and methods in a data-deprived scenario in Africa, and motivates more scholars and practitioners to partake in this technology leapfrogging.

Participatory communication strategies for poverty alleviation in remote indigenous communities

“…The agriculture sector, which serves as a key source of income for many people, is frequently affected by swings in prices and meteorological circumstances that worsen the vulnerability of rural populations. In addition, poverty is also prevalent in metropolitan areas, where persons working in the informal sector and those underemployed face difficulties in meeting their basic needs (Mittal et al, 2023;Xu & Li, 2023).…”

“…These researchers can contribute substantially to poverty reduction initiatives by promoting participatory communication, combining traditional and modern knowledge, and enhancing local media platforms. Their work guarantees that development projects are culturally sensitive, community-led, and sustainable, ultimately resulting in a fairer and more prosperous society (Abdulai et al, 2023;Awad, 2023;Dahiya et al, 2023;Gu et al, 2023;Mittal et al, 2023;Newig et al, 2023;Safitri, 2021;Tanko et al, 2023).…”

“…They often receive unfair treatment in policy making. So, it is not surprising that their socio-economic living conditions are very far behind that of other community groups (Alfikri, 2023;Dzator et al, 2023;Mittal et al, 2023). Until now, the government's attention to this group of people has been relatively limited.…”

“…Effectively managing slum areas with development communication requires the integration of participatory communication, the utilisation of social capital, and the facilitation of innovation diffusion. This comprehensive strategy guarantees that development endeavours are focused on the community, promoting social unity and originality while also tackling the underlying factors of poverty and enhancing the quality of life in impoverished regions (Bustos et al, 2023;Dobbs & Loh, 2023;Kataoka & Darangina, 2023;Luo et al, 2023;Mittal et al, 2023;Newig et al, 2023;Safitri, 2021;Xu & Li, 2023).…”

The impact of transport policies on road accessibility in Ghana (2010-2019)

“…While many studies have discussed the economic benefits of transport accessibility at the intraurban (Campbell et al, 2019;Mittal et al, 2023) and continental level (Buys et al, 2010;Jedwab and Storeyard, 2022), the impact of transport policies on internal disparities within countries remains less documented. The objective of this article is to fill this gap by assessing the spatial impact of recent transport policies on accessibility in Ghana.…”