The COVID-19 pandemic is leading to an unprecedented global economic recession and widespread social distress. Despite its late arrival in Sub-Saharan Africa, COVID-19 is spreading rapidly and measures to fight its spread have caused severe economic and social impacts. From aviation to logistics and public transport, COVID-19 has completely upended the transport sector. In fact, public transport has been among the hardest hit industries.

For the first edition of the joint UITP and SSATP webinar series on "How COVID-19 has changed the life of small/individual operators and authorities," Ms. Fatima ARROYO ARROYO, Senior Urban Transport Specialist at SSATP and the World Bank, presented the findings of a joint WB-SSATP paper on COVID-19 and Public Transport in Africa. 

For the first edition of the joint UITP and SSATP webinar series on "How COVID-19 has changed the life of small/individual operators and authorities," Mr. Mohamed HEGAZY, Director of Transport for Cairo, gave a presentation on key trends affecting the informal transport sector and the impacts of COVID on Egypt and Uganda's paratransit sector.

For the first edition of the joint UITP and SSATP webinar series on "How COVID-19 has changed the life of small/individual operators and authorities," Mr. Feyzullah GÜNDOGDU, Managing Director of Kayseri Ulaşim, gave a presentation on the impacts of COVID on Turkey's public transport sector; measures to improve the situation; and operators' expectations from the Government of Turkey.

For the first edition of the joint UITP and SSATP webinar series on "How COVID-19 has changed the life of small/individual operators and authorities," the Managing Director of Dakar Urban Transport Council (CETUD), Mr. Thierno Biharim AW, delivered a presentation on the impacts of COVID on the business and finances; measures to improve the situation; and operators' expectations from the Government of Senegal.

Presented by Jane Akumu (UNEP) at SSATP's Annual General Meeting in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, this presentation makes the case for why countries should promote cleaner, more efficient transport in Africa. It presents data on Co2 emissions from transport and the impact of transport on health, and strategies for reducing emissions and improving efficiency, such as adopting cleaner fuels and tougher emission standards; incentivizing fuel efficient vehicles; and implementing green freight programmes.