3. Promising Approaches for Mainstreaming Gender in Transport -- Gender and Transport Resource Guide

GENDER AND TRANSPORT RESOURCE GUIDE

Introduction

MODULE 1:
Why Gender and Transport?

MODULE 2:
Challenges for Mainstreaming Gender in Transport

MODULE 3:
Promising Approaches for Mainstreaming Gender in Transport

MODULE 4:
Gender and Rural Transport Initiative (GRTI)

MODULE 5:
Tools for Mainstreaming Gender in Transport

MODULE 6:
Resources for Mainstreaming Gender in Transport

Acknowledgements

Module 3: Promising Approaches for Mainstreaming Gender in Transport

3.2. Gender Responsive Intermediate Means of Transport (IMT)

Given the time burdens for domestic tasks which fall on women and girls and the difficulties in affording access to transport outlined in Modules One and Two, one approach to combatting these problems is to promote ownership and use of gender responsive IMTs. These include:

Bicycles
- Increasing availability locally
- Modifying bikes to carry water, goods and children
- Bicycle ambulances
Hand-carts
Draft animals
Horse/donkey cart
Motorcycle trailer

Gender Considerations for IMTs

Work closely with women's organizations to avoid socio-cultural barriers to women's access and use of IMTs.
Design IMTs to fit women's size and strength.
Train women how to maintain and repair IMTs.
Facilitate women's access to credit to purchase IMT's.
Encourage cooperative business ventures using IMTs.
Involve community leaders (men and women) and get their support for women's use of IMTs.
Design projects to benefit entire family to ensure women's participation does not generate domestic conflict.

IMT Case Examples

The Cameroon Improved Cart Pilot Project funded by GRTI enabled women and youth to reduce their transport burden and earn income.
The Tamil Nadu Pudukkottai Program has demonstrated that bicycles can provide a sustainable, efficient, cheap and easy way of meeting women's transport needs, which has also empowered them.
A women's group in a shanty town in Kaolak Senegal used the help of an NGO to purchase a donkey and a cart to reduce the burden of collecting water. They also used the cart to sell water to other women. After water was installed in their area, they used the cart to collect refuse.