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Update on the International Networked Research on Mobility
& Health (February 2998)
IFRTD, in collaboration SDC, Skat and the Swiss Centre for
International Health started beginning 2006 a two-year networked
research programme on the links between Mobility and Health.
The program aims to increase the understanding of the impacts
of mobility constraints on the health, well-being and issues
of poor people in different developing country contexts, to
develop tools enabling transport professionals to include
holistic health impact assessments and mitigation measures
in transport interventions and to elaborate an advocacy programme
to sensitise the health sector to mobility issues. The 24
case studies (9 from Africa, 8 from Asia and 7 from Latin
America) of the local researchers, looking at the theme from
a variety of angles and aimed at demonstrating the existing
and potential links between mobility and health, especially
in rural areas, are now in their final stages. The final
reports are expected to be submitted, reviewed and edited
in a synthesis book with references to the webpage containing
the full studies throughout the 1st semester 2008.
On October 27-29, 2007, the researchers gathered in Beijing
in an international symposium to share their initial
research findings. The symposium gave all the researchers
the opportunity to reflect on their first findings before
their final reports are submitted in early 2008. They were
also able to identify common issues and worked together through
exercises to translate their research evidence into policy
recommendations. The outcomes of the symposium then fed directly
into the Forum 11 of the Global Forum for Health Research
(Beijing, October 29 – November 1, 2007), an international
event attracting a cross section of participants from the
health sector. The Mobility & Health team exhibited at
the event and hosted 2 sessions; an international panel discussion
and a participative workshop to develop a strategy for change.
Also in the 11th
TransNet event of Dec. 7, 2007 in Bern, the main objective
was to share the preliminary conclusions and recommendations
of the M&H Networked Research Programme. Researchers from
Burkina Faso, Mexico and Pakistan presented their findings,
one of which was the lack of good coordination between the
health and transport sectors. Representatives from SDC and
Sida responded to the findings by sharing some of their ideas
on how those sectors should be working more closely together.
The main session ended by sharing a practical example from
the Azerbaijan Highway II project where the transport and
health sector are effectively collaborating strongly.
23 case studies ongoing and an outlook (update of 25.05.07)
23 case studies (8 in Africa and Asia each, 7 in Latin America)
are ongoing, looking at the theme from a variety of angles
and aimed at demonstrating the existing and potential links
between mobility and health, especially in rural areas. After
completion of the studies, an International Symposium will
be organised to gather all the researches and the program’s
core team together. Here the research findings will be shared
and synthesized, whilst starting to develop an advocacy strategy
that will ensure that the research leverages change. The symposium
is expected to be aligned with the forthcoming annual event
of the “Global Forum for Health Research” (29th
October to 2nd November, Beijing) and to organize a half-day
panel session within the Forum’s programme. This will
be a unique opportunity to stimulate dialogue between the
health and transport sectors on the research results and to
encourage cross-sectoral debate and future collaboration between
health and transport professionals from Africa, Asia and Latin
America.
In-country researches started (update of 06.12.06)
After launching the programme in January 2006 and inviting
researchers to submit proposals to research the links between
mobility and health, the programme had received over 90 abstracts
from 34 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. 54 applicants
had been selected to submit an elaborated proposal from which
24 have been carefully selected by the core team to participate
in the programme. As a first step in applying the networked
research methodology, the selected researchers came together
in regional workshops in Uganda, Indonesia and Mexico
during August / September 2006. The aim of the workshops was
to let the researchers themselves design the analytical framework
they will be using. These workshops enable the methodology
to be more relevant to its context, encourage ownership, and
stimulate debate at local and national level.
The research guidance manual that resulted from the
series of workshops forms now the backbone of the programme.
The various researchers embarked on their case studies in
October 2006 looking at the theme from a variety of angles
and perspectives. Topics such as the impact of rural roads
on health are included as well as the potential of intermediate
means of transport to help facilitate better access to health
services. Once the case studies are finished (after 6-12 months),
an international symposium will be organised to present
the issues flowing out of the case studies and to develop
outlines for a "toolkit", book and an advocacy programme.
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