Spatial Analysis of Liberia's Transport Connectivity and Potential Growth

Abstract

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Rural Transportation Infrastructure in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Review of Impacts, Implications, and Interventions

“…Additionally, many studies propose new tools, guidelines, and methodologies of collecting data, projecting theoretical outcomes, and advising evidence-based policy and decision making [1,57,60,[63][64][65]. Further, many sources concur that governments have overlooked the importance of transport services, unrealistically expecting the private sector to fill this gap [7,47,66]. Lastly, despite trends toward decentralization of governance and support of localized government within recent years [56], the poorest of the poor continue to miss out on the benefits of infrastructure and transport-based investments [7,58].…”

“…Yet, bridges are an integral part of many countries' transportation systems, such as in Nepal, where over 7500 rural bridges exist and 450 more bridges are expected to be built every year. Similarly, bridges are critical infrastructure in Liberia, where there is an average of one bridge and three culverts per five kilometers of road [66,158]. In response to this gap left by governments and institutions, the rural bridge niche of the rural transportation sector is led largely by small NGOs.…”

“…Asset management both institutionalizes the acts of maintenance and facilitates hierarchical categorization by tying specific economic metrics to maintenance activities and corresponding infrastructural components. Further, this ideology works to create a holistic view of the transportation network that involves the long-term planning and preparation for maintenance that is usually overlooked by governments in LMICs and lost within fragmented approaches [53,66,246]. Effective consideration of the rural road network as a high-value national asset, by changing the perspective of the infrastructural life cycle and associated provision of resources, has worked to reduce poverty levels in LMICs via improved maintenance of rural low-traffic volume roads [4,246].…”

Assessing Rural Accessibility and Rural Roads Investment Needs Using Open Source Data

“…Even though universal rural access to all weather roads cannot be provided in all countries by 2030, other solutions exist in the meantime to improve social integration. When rural paved roads are not affordable, other options could include investing in cabotage in coastal areas (Iimi and Rao, 2018), or smaller roads better suited for bicycles and motorcycle traffic (Raballand et al, 2010).…”

Prioritization of Climate Change Adaptation Interventions in a Road Network combining Spatial Socio-Economic Data, Network Criticality Analysis, and Flood Risk Assessments

“…Similar to most rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, rural accessibility is very low in the Zambezia and Nampula provinces of Mozambique and most farmers practice subsistence agriculture ( 2 ). A recent study found that in these two regions, even if all existing roads were upgraded, connectivity would not exceed 40% ( 3 ).There is thus an urgent need for transport investments. Improving farmers’ connectivity to markets would increase their revenues and reduce poverty, while also improving the national economy ( e.g .…”