Transport Networks

Road network (compilation from various dates)

Transportation networks represent the economic arteries of countries and regions. In Africa it is widely acknowledged that the sparseness and general poor quality of transportation networks and infrastructure; roads, rail, navigable rivers and water bodies, and air transport , is a major obstacle to economic development. Furthermore, information on the location, type (e.g. paved 4 lane highway, seasonal 2 lane dirt-track roads), and state of maintenance of existing infrastructure is also limited, and difficult to integrate in a consistent way across countries (because, for example, roads are classified according to different criteria). In recognition of this information gap, collective action approaches by the development community and the use of new “crowd sourcing” methods of data capture are underway, as well as grassroot initiatives by the development community.

HarvestChoice is compiling and harmonizing transport network data as part of its activities in generating new information on transport costs, market access and the potential attractiveness of new farming practices, technologies and livelihoods.