ZRST success story
Success Story: Mapping a Safer, Lower-Carbon Lusaka
ZRST’s role in the DigitalTransport4Africa partnership in Zambia.
DigitalTransport4Africa supported digital transport data, non-motorised transport evidence, road safety inspections and lower-carbon mobility planning in Lusaka.
ZRST contributed local implementation knowledge, stakeholder coordination, field support and evidence-building. The work was delivered as a partnership with WRI Africa, Transport for Cairo, DigitalTransport4Africa and supporting institutions.
At a glance
Digital transport data, local evidence and safer mobility planning.
The challenge
Lusaka needs safer, better-evidenced mobility planning.
Many people in Lusaka depend on walking, cycling and public transport for daily mobility. Safe walking and cycling require more than policy commitment: planners need ground-level evidence on corridors, junctions, access, risk and emissions.
The project addressed the need for practical transport data that could support non-motorised transport planning, road safety inspections and lower-carbon mobility decisions.
Walking and cycling exposure
People walking and cycling need safer routes, better crossings and improved corridor-level planning.
Road safety risk
Road safety inspections and junction observations help identify risk before investment decisions are made.
Climate and access evidence
Transport data can support decisions that improve access while contributing to lower-carbon urban mobility.
The partnership
A shared evidence process for Lusaka.
DigitalTransport4Africa uses a digital-commons approach to curate and support transport data for African cities. In Lusaka, WRI Africa managed the initiative, Transport for Cairo provided technical mapping and modelling support, and ZRST served as the local partner for stakeholder engagement, field support and local evidence-building.
The Zambia work was supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Flexible Research Fund, Climate Compatible Growth and Loughborough University.
ZRST’s role
ZRST’s role in the partnership.
ZRST supported the partnership through local coordination, practical field knowledge, stakeholder engagement and evidence inputs for NMT and road safety planning.
Stakeholder engagement
ZRST helped identify and engage national and city-level stakeholders involved in NMT, road safety and transport policy.
Field evidence
ZRST supported road safety inspections, non-motorised transport audits, corridor observation and junction-level evidence gathering.
Policy and project review
ZRST contributed to review of transport, NMT and road safety policy context, existing projects and implementation gaps.
Capacity building
ZRST supported meetings, workshops, training materials and local engagement to strengthen use of transport evidence.
Stakeholders engaged
Public, technical and civil-society stakeholders were brought into the process.
Stakeholders identified or engaged through the project process included national institutions, city-level authorities, road safety bodies, policy organisations and development partners.
| Stakeholder | Relevance to the project process |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Transport and Logistics | National transport policy and institutional coordination. |
| Road Transport and Safety Agency | Road safety, transport regulation and implementation relevance. |
| Lusaka City Council | City-level street management, NMT planning and urban mobility relevance. |
| Zambia Police | Road safety enforcement and crash-risk context. |
| Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development | Local authority and urban infrastructure policy relevance. |
| Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research | Policy analysis and evidence contribution to urban mobility discussion. |
| National Road Fund Agency | Road financing and investment context. |
| UNDP Zambia | Development partner relevance to road safety, NMT and sustainable urban mobility. |
Project activities
Practical activities supporting the evidence base.
ZRST’s contribution centred on local delivery support, stakeholder coordination and practical field evidence. These activities helped inform the partnership’s shared transport and NMT evidence process.
Stakeholder and policy work
- Stakeholder mapping
- Policy analysis and project review
- Stakeholder meetings and interviews
Field and data work
- Public transport and NMT data coordination
- Road safety inspections
- Non-motorised transport audits
Mapping and capacity support
- Corridor and junction review
- GIS-format drawings and mapping support
- Training and capacity-building materials
Timeline
From funding confirmation to wider NMT evidence work.
DT4A funding award confirmed for Zambia work involving ZRST, WRI Africa and Transport for Cairo.
Scope agreed and joint kickoff held between the project partners.
Local launch and stakeholder engagement held in Lusaka.
Stakeholder Mapping Report and Policy Analysis / Projects Review Report delivered.
Field team finalised for NMT audits and road safety inspections.
NMT recommendations and corridor evidence contributed to wider corridor identification and NMT evidence work in Lusaka.
Outputs and evidence
Project deliverables and contributions.
The outputs below were project deliverables or technical contributions. They should be read as evidence inputs for planning and coordination, not as claims of citywide infrastructure implementation.
Reports and planning inputs
- Stakeholder Mapping Report
- Policy Analysis and Projects Review Report
- Lusaka Project Data Collection Plan
- Stakeholder training inputs
Field and mapping inputs
- Road safety inspection inputs
- Non-motorised user audit inputs
- Corridor and junction evidence
- GIS and mapping support where applicable
Why the work matters
Better evidence helps cities choose safer mobility investments.
The DT4A partnership helped strengthen the evidence base for safer walking, cycling and public transport planning in Lusaka. For ZRST, the work also strengthened practical experience in evidence-led urban mobility, road safety inspections and multi-stakeholder coordination.
Prioritising safer routes
Ground-level evidence helps cities identify where walking and cycling routes need attention.
Identifying risk early
Road safety inspections help identify hazards before crashes occur or before investment decisions are finalised.
Linking safety and climate
Digital transport data can support climate and mobility planning while keeping road safety and access central.
Shared credit
A partnership contribution to Lusaka’s mobility evidence base.
ZRST acknowledges WRI Africa, Transport for Cairo, DigitalTransport4Africa, the UK FCDO Flexible Research Fund, Climate Compatible Growth, Loughborough University and the Lusaka and national stakeholders who contributed to the project process.
UK FCDO Flexible Research Fund support for Lusaka DT4A work
DigitalTransport4Africa reported that WRI, through the DT4A initiative, was awarded a grant for “Mapping Public Transport in Lusaka, Zambia: Quantifying Environmental and Equity Impacts of an Integrated System.” The grant was funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Flexible Research Fund.
The Lusaka work was being carried out with Transport for Cairo, Zambia Road Safety Trust and other local partners.