In 2010, the International Commission of the Congo-Oubangui-Sangha Basin (CICOS) requested funding from the SSATP to conduct a baseline study on the Brazzaville-Kinshasa-Bangui-Kisangani Corridor, with a view to establishing an observatory of non-physical barriers. CICOS is a subregional organization established in 1999 between the Republic of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, after the signing of an agreement establishing a uniform river regime.

This activity involves support to the formulation of rural transport policies, strategies and action plans in line with an improved policy framework developed by SSATP to facilitate the effective contribution of rural transport to poverty reduction and growth. This framework is an important element of policy recommendations proposed by SSATP for rural transport. Its emphasis is on integrating rural transport with the rural development framework, and a closer linkage with the agriculture sector.

Countries and the development community have shown limited interest to invest significantly in the development of cities and urban mobility in Africa although this interest has started recently to grow. Cities have for the most part been left to their own to deal with uncontrolled growth, and urban transport development challenges are rarely considered in the development strategies.