Aimed at planning and executing technicians and engineers as well as other sector professionals across a wide spectrum of institutions, this document contains brief summaries of 25 basic reference publications selected according to the following categories :

• General literature: policy, strategy and institutional issues
• Transport infrastructure, technologies and approaches
• Means of transport, transport services
• Physical and financial planning and management
• Private sector participation
• Operation and maintenance of infrastructure
• Cross-sectoral concerns such as poverty, gender, health and capacity building

The publications included in this hit list have been selected in an attempt to cover the widest possible range of essential mobility and transport topics in just 25 titles. Skat has elaborated this list in collaboration with the TransNet and the IFRTD. Inputs were also received from various other sector specialists. Many of the publications listed can be ordered at the DevelopmentBookshop. Additionally, an increasing number of these resources are being made available either on-line or in downloadable format (links are provided herewithin).

The list is regularly revised and updated. Skat is therefore keen in receiving your feedback and your suggestions for new publications at mailto:transweb@skat.ch.

General Literature: Policy, Strategy and Institutional Issues
1. SDC’s Operational Guidelines for Rural Transport
2. World Transport, Policy and Practice
Transport Infrastructure, Technologies and Approaches
3. Expanding Labour-based Methods for Road Works in Africa
4. Design and Appraisal of Rural Transport Infrastructure
5. Labour-based Road Construction
6. Roadside Bio-engineering
7. Green Roads in Nepal – Best Practice Report
8. Standard Pedestrian trail Bridges in Remote Areas: Long-Span and Short-Span Trail Bridge Standard
9. Implementing Labour Standards in Construction, A Sourcebook
Means of Transport, Transport Services
10. Improving Rural Mobility: Options for developing motorized and non-motorized transport in rural areas
11. Meeting the Challenges of Animal Traction
12. Partnerships to improve Access and Quality of Public Transport: Guidelines
13. Local Transport Solutions for Rural Development
Physical and Financial Planning and Management
14. Options for Managing and Financing Rural Transport Infrastructure
15. Commercial Management and Financing of Roads
16. Management of rural road networks, Overseas Road Note 20
Private Sector Participation
17. Roads & Realities - How to promote road contracting in developing countries
18. Small scale contracting - strengthening local capacity for sustainable rural infrastructure
Operation and Maintenance
19. Toolkit for promoting sustainability of rural transport infrastructure
20. Road Maintenance Management, Concepts and Systems
Cross-sectoral concerns (poverty, gender, health and capacity building)
21. Poverty and Transport
22. Balancing the Load - Women, Gender and Transport
23. Health Issues in Transport and the Implications for Policy
24. Transport's role in Achieving the Millennium Development Goals
25. Employment – Intensive Infrastructure Programmes: Capacity Building in the Construction Sector

1. SDC’s Operational Guidelines for Rural Transport

The primary purpose of the Operational Guidelines for Rural Transport Initiatives is to describe the context and trends of, and SDC’s involvement in the rural transport sector and to outline the strategy for SDC to support rural transport initiatives.

SDC understands Transport as a means to facilitate mobility and access and a way to stimulate economic activity and efficiency, which in turn can contribute to poverty reduction. The objective of SDC’s initiatives in rural transport is to improve access to resources and services through improved mobility. Whilst improvement of access encompasses infrastructure improvements, mobility implies the provision and use of transport services. Transport is an important element in the livelihood system that sustains rural communities and as such is an integral part of the institutional and legal framework, the economic and financial, and the technological and environmental framework.

Reference is also given to additional information, SDC supported networks and services.

2. World Transport, Policy and Practice

This book contains 16 important contributions on how to improve transport globally. They are based on sound science, sound people-centred analysis and a strong awareness of equity and human rights. They have been selected for their originality, the importance of the issue they focus on, the quality of their insight and their practical relevance. In addition the book provides informative overviews of the transport problems specific to each region of the world.

As a whole the book demonstrates what steps can be taken to improve both transport provision and use, while reducing environmental and health impacts. It will serve as an invaluable source book for anyone attempting to address the issues associated with world transport policy and practice whether students, planners, business people or policy-makers.

3. Expanding Labour-based Methods for Road Works in Africa

Using labour-based methods for road works has been an important part of the strategy to improve rural transport infrastructure in Africa. Although labour-based methods have proved to be cost-effective alternative to equipment-based methods in many low-wage Sub-Saharan African countries, these methods have not been applied on a large scale. The Rural Travel and Transport Programme (RTTP) – a component of the Sub-Saharan Africa Transport Policy Programme (AADTP) – launched to find sustainable solutions to this problem.

Experiences gained under the RTTP identify two key reforms that are necessary to mainstream labour-based programmes, but which have not received the attention they require. These are improved financial management and decentralisation, reforms that should facilitate the mainstreaming of labour-based programmes.

This paper presents a number of models that demonstrate that the correct choice of delivery mechanisms, together with the necessary reforms, can facilitate the expansion and sustainable use of labour-based methods in the road sector.

4. Design and Appraisal of Rural Transport Infrastructure

The main topic of this paper is the cost effective design and appraisal of rural transport infrastructure (RTI). A basic access approach to the provision of RTI is presented and gives priority to the provision and maintenance of reliable all-season access. Basic access interventions are defined as the least-cost investments, which provide a minimum level of all-season passability. In a majority of cases this means single-lane, spot-improved earth or gravel roads. In situations where motorised basic access is not affordable, improvement of existing path networks and the construction of footbridges may be the only alternative.

Resources are scarce. Therefore the basic access approach should only employ the most appropriate and cost-effective interventions. In this context, participatory selection procedures and analytical prioritisation tools are presented, and examples given, which take into account the social and economic importance of RTI.

5. Labour-based Road Construction

This book brings together up-to-date undocumented information on the practices of labour-based road construction in low-income countries around the world. It draws on the experiences of practitioners working in this field who describe tried and tested ideas, as well as looking at failures and their causes.

Topics covered include the design, selection and use of intermediate equipment for a labour force employed in this area. The book also discusses the issues of utilising the private sector for contracting out road construction and maintenance. It describes the evolution of contractor development programmes from the initial pilot phase to full-scale programmes, considering the problems encountered and how to overcome them.

6. Roadside Bio-engineering

This handbook provides the information needed to design, plan, implement and maintain roadside bio-engineering works. It also covers the establishment and maintenance of bioengineering nurseries. It is intended that the handbook cover all subjects that an engineer would need on site. The companion Reference Manual provides background and supporting information and is intended for office use. Each subject is covered in a separate section and sections are marked with a vertical coloured bar for easier reference.

7. Green Roads in Nepal – Best Practice Report

In general, in the past roads in Nepal as in other mountainous countries have been built without sufficient consideration of the fragile Himalayan mountain ecosystem and attention to environmental aspects. It was in the early 1980 when donor supported road construction started to introduce environmental friendly approaches and people’s participation. With increasing democratisation and decentralisation of funds to the districts also local governments with the participation of local communities started to build such roads. Based on the first experiences a new type of mountain roads, focussing on environment-.friendly methods was gradually developed and the Green Road Concept evolved and introduced in several districts of Nepal.

This best practice report summarises the experiences and lessons learned of a selected number of mountain roads built as Green Roads.

8. Standard Pedestrian trail Bridges in Remote Areas

For the people of many countries and particularly the remote and mountainous areas footpaths and mule trails are the lifelines not only for the exchange of goods, but also for the sick travelling to health care centres and children going to school, etc. Despite of great efforts in road construction, a large part of the hill population will depend on the traditional trail network with reliable river crossings.

It is against this backdrop that Helvetas and SDC in collaboration with the Nepalese Government have developed and standardised a relatively simple technology. This is a combination of indigenous building systems with modern engineering practices. Bridges are being built in partnership with local governments and substantial community participation (Trail Bridge Sub-Sector Project).

For different types of the trails (local or main trails) and bridge spans two standard bridge types have been developed, i.e.:

a) Long-Span Trail Bridge Standard; Survey, Design and Construction of Trail Suspension Bridges in Remote Areas

b) Short-Span Trail Bridge Standard, Technical Handbook – Suspended and Suspension Bridges

9. Implementing Labour Standards in Construction, A Sourcebook

Globally, the construction sector is one of the largest employers of temporary workers after agriculture and is therefore critically important to poor people as a provider of employment. The majority of these workers in Africa, South Asia and Latin America work on a temporary basis; they are not registered as employees and have no formal protection. Through the adoption of labour standards and being a good exemplar of "decent work", the sector can play a key role in improving the livelihoods of poor people.

The document provides guidance on the collaborative process and contractual issues involved in implementing labour standards in the construction sector for formal or conventional contracting, for community contracting and for self-help schemes using unpaid labour. This sourcebook has been written for those wanting to implement labour standards in programmes they fund, manage, supervise or implement - government officials, procurement officers, development practitioners, engineers and contract supervisors as well as representatives from employer's and worker's organisations.

• Part 1 of the sourcebook provides the introduction and context to the development and use of labour standards with reference to construction.
• Part 2 comprises a framework and detailed Action Points. This is the ‘what to do’ and ‘how to do it’ section, covering the process it is necessary to go through to implement labour standards in construction programmes.
• Part 3 presents an analysis of contract clauses that have been used in relation to labour standards and suggests appropriate clauses to support the implementation of different labour standards. It includes guidance on developing specifications.

10. Improving Rural Mobility: Options for developing motorized and non-motorized transport in rural areas

The report focuses on improving rural mobility by facilitating the provision of affordable means of transport and transport services. The authors stress the interdependence and complementarity of different means of transport, motorized and non-motorized, large and small, urban and rural, land and water. They also stress the need for an integrated approach to developing (and maintaining) infrastructure and transport services, with greater connectivity among transport systems (road, water, air, rail), types of service (long-haul, local) and operators (public, commercial, individual).

This publication assists transport planners, governments, transport service providers, community organizations, donor agencies, and development practitioners in other sectors. It discusses options for creating an enabling environment to allow efficient and profitable rural transport and increased mobility for disadvantaged groups. It suggests a holistic approach to planning that involves all stakeholders, governments, transport operators, and users and encourages networking across geographical boundaries and sectors to maximize progress.

11. Meeting the Challenges of Animal Traction

This is one of several resource books by ATNESA, the Animal Traction Network for Eastern and Southern Africa. It follows the second wide-ranging ATNESA workshop held in Karen, Kenya. The book contains 53 edited papers prepared by 88 authors from 25 countries. The texts are supported by numerous tables and more than 70 illustrations.

Taking the overall theme of “Meeting the Challenges of Animal Traction” the paper focuses on several important topics, including, participatory research, environmental issues, gender challenges and socio-economic issues, animal-based transport, etc.

The book provides a wealth of ideas and experiences concerning animal traction in many countries. It will be valuable to all people concerned with tropical agricultural development and rural transport, especially those involved in participative research, extension, gender issues and project implementation.

12. Partnerships to improve Access and Quality of Public Transport: Guidelines

The book provides a set of guidelines for policy makers and urban transport operators outlining how the poor and other disadvantaged groups might enjoy greater access and a higher quality public transport service. It highlights the need for a clearer understanding of the complex relationships between the provision of public transport and other services needed by low-income communities to sustain their livelihoods. The need for partnerships is illustrated, how they function and how relationships between partners can be strengthened in order to improve accessibility and quality of public transport. By focusing on key issues at policy and operational levels, the reader is given a greater understanding of how improvements in services can be introduced, and how all stakeholders, including users, regulators, administrators, planners and operators can be incorporated into the decision making process.

13. Local Transport Solutions for Rural Development

Despite investment in roads, inadequate transport and accessibility constrain rural development. In Sub-Saharan Africa, most village transport still involves people - mainly women - walking and head loading. A wide range of intermediate means of transport (IMT) exist between walking / carrying and large motorised transport. These IMTs increase transport capacity and reduce drudgery at relatively low cost, solving local transport problems. Local transport solutions include wheelbarrows, handcarts, bicycles, tricycles, animal-powered transport, motorcycles and power tiller trailers.

In this outstanding publication, the importance of local transport solutions to rural development is explored with the help of many photos.

14. Options for Managing and Financing Rural Transport Infrastructure

This paper presents a framework for improving management and financing of local government roads and paths.

The partnership between the public and private sector is redefined: local government will manage the core rural roads, whilst communities and farmers‘ associations will choose which roads and paths they will own; the private sector will sell management services to the local road agencies and carry out physical works. Ownership of roads will increase efficiency and bring more roads under regular maintenance. This framework is based on a public-private partnership in which costs are shared by governments, communities, farmers and road users.

15. Commercial Management and Financing of Roads

In developing and transition economies, 60 to 80 percent of all passenger and freight transport moves by road-the main form of access for most rural communities. Yet most of the 11 million kilometres of roads in these economies are badly maintained and poorly managed. This paper discusses one of the most effective ways to promote sound policies for managing and financing road networks. It discusses the emerging central concept of bringing roads into the marketplace, putting them on a fee-for-service basis, and managing them like a business.

16. Management of rural road networks, Overseas Road Note 20

The note aims at providing guidance to road managers so that they can manage their networks of low volume rural roads for the benefit of their local community. It guides through an initial phase of clearly defining a road network and then an annual cycle of planning, budgeting and implementation. The cycle addresses the maintenance of roads in good or fair condition and the rehabilitation of roads in poor condition. The note is written for road managers who cannot rely upon permanent access to computers.

17. Roads & Realities - How to promote road contracting in developing countries

This book is about improving performance in road construction and maintenance in developing countries, by promoting the use of appropriate technologies and the involvement of small-scale local contractors. The authors have sought to provide a compendium of ideas, methods and techniques to assist policy makers, managers and field practitioners who are responsible for designing, implementing and evaluating programmes and projects based on the twin ingredients of technology and enterprise introduced within the framework of ‘a market for roads’. The book will be of inestimable value to policy-makers faced with complaints about the inadequacy of local road networks, and will be helpful to construction professionals and students hoping to contribute in a practical way to the development of the sector. Its broad analysis of the working of technical co-operation projects will also be of interest to development specialists.

18. Small scale contracting - strengthening local capacity for sustainable rural infrastructure

This publication is based on a study conducted by ILO ASIST-AP to assess the present situation in Thailand relating to small contracting of infrastructure construction projects by local administrative bodies. It provides an insight into the current challenges that local government institutions are facing because of the recent move to decentralize authority and responsibilities for planning and implementation of rural infrastructure works from central agencies. Equally, it provides a good description of the work environment in which the local private construction industry operates, when carrying out public works. Finally, the report outlines some interesting solutions to capacity building at local level.

19. Toolkit for promoting sustainability of rural transport infrastructure

The toolkit's aim is to strengthen the sustainability of rehabilitation and maintenance systems serving rural mobility - by enabling decision-makers and rural development practitioners to make local level investments that match local capacities. At the forefront of the approach is an awareness of the socio-political factors underpinning any community driven initiative. Participation is highlighted as key to the appropriation of the project by local stakeholders and vital in the mobilisation of local resources. Maintenance is addressed as an integral component of any infrastructure intervention and as a product of empowerment and development processes rather than just a technical or financial issue.

Presented as a user-friendly tri-lingual CD-Rom (English, French and Spanish), the “Toolkit for Promoting Sustainability of Rural Transport Infrastructure” demands a greater understanding of the political and social relationships between stakeholders and promotes recognition of the interdependence of rehabilitation and maintenance as a condition for sustainability.

Through a series of steps, questions and useful suggestions, the toolkit guides the user through an analysis of their particular situation, examining strengths and weaknesses, defining realistic objectives, and asking relevant questions to choose the best possible options.

20. Road Maintenance Management, Concepts and Systems

This book provides an up-to-date description of road maintenance management. Written primarily from a management perspective, it provides new insights into the relationship between the various functions involved in managing a modern road network. It has been developed based on the experience of project work in this field carried out in a number of countries. The text provides a framework for considering aspects of management, such as policy formulation, network considerations, staff responsibilities, level of data detail, cost estimating methods, and others, that relate to four basic management functions: planning, programming, preparation, and operations.

21. Poverty and Transport

This is the report of a study commissioned by the World Bank and DFID as an input into current thinking on the selection of instruments for inclusion in poverty reduction strategies. The report contains the results of a survey of issues and evidence on the actual and potential contributions of the transport “sector” – or the field of possible transport interventions – to poverty reduction at the country level. It is not a contribution to specialist transport research or operational work, but an initial “take” on transport-and-poverty issues by a multi-disciplinary team of applied poverty researchers.

The study draws on a comprehensive search of published and grey literature in the relevant fields, with special emphasis on the interface between transport studies and topics linked to poverty or the livelihoods of poor people. It benefited from the generous cooperation of a number of distinguished transport specialists, who helped to guide the literature search and contributed ideas and feedback.

22. Balancing the Load - Women, Gender and Transport

This book draws together local level research from 15 countries across Asia and Africa, to help understand how gender affects men’s and women's access to transport, and what steps can be taken at community provider and policy levels to improve the situation. It presents fascinating information about different forms of rural transport in diverse settings; the social roles transport plays; the uneven, gender-influenced access to it; and the impacts that poverty, culture and gender-insensitive provision can have on women's lives in relation to transport. The various proposals (by contributors and those who discussed their findings in a series of workshops) for tackling what can only be described as women's mobility poverty are of great practical importance.

23. Health Issues in Transport and the Implications for Policy

This paper summarises the results of a review of the health implications for transport in developing countries with a focus on the poverty and health objectives of the international development targets and the Millennium Development Goals.

It is widely recognised that transport contributes significantly to development and to the livelihoods of the poor but the role of transport in improving the health of the poor has been underestimated. This paper attempts to identify the opportunities that transport can offer health through improvements in three key areas, namely access to health care, prevention of HIV/AIDS and the prevention and control of injuries from road crashes.

The overall conclusion of the paper is that development programmes need to adopt multidimensional approaches even at community level. Community-based interventions using livelihood methodologies should encourage this but it is important that transport and road improvement projects recognise and build in contributions to health and that opportunities for health initiatives are included.

24. Transport's role in Achieving the Millennium Development Goals

The key purpose of this paper is to review the evidence that exists between transport and poverty, and hence to sharpen the focus of transport research on poverty reduction. Though there is no single over-riding indicator or relationship that demonstrates the link, the evidence presented endorses the fact that transport plays a very important role across all sectors and has a significant part to play in achieving each and every one of the Millennium Development Goals.

In presenting some very concrete evidence on the role of transport in poverty eradication, it is also apparent that there are gaps or weaknesses in our understanding of the nature (quality and quantity) of the link. Some of these are implied in the analysis that is presented in this publication.

25. Employment – Intensive Infrastructure Programmes: Capacity Building in the Construction Sector

Private sector involvement in public works projects is rapidly increasing. The stakes are high, both in terms of employment and money. Infrastructure investment represents a major part of public expenditure in developing countries and much of this could be used in a way that leads to more jobs, less waste and a greater participation of the domestic construction industry.

This guide describes how large-scale labour-based infrastructure programmes, carried out by contract, should be developed and discusses aspects that are essential for success. It underlines that employment-oriented policies will lead to greater employment and foreign exchange savings. They will also help to improve infrastructure at the local level. These benefits are crucial not only in times of crisis, but also for the long-term development of equitable societies that attempt to distribute to all their workers the fruits of economic growth.