Women in Africa face substantial discrimination in the transport sector, both as transport users and as transport sector employees. This affects their wider access to work in every sector. Relevant skills acquisition, at an early age, is essential if women are to break through such barriers.

Through this research project we aim to understand and address these challenges. Our in-depth, mixed-methods research will include piloting of skills-based interventions in three major cities: Abuja (Nigeria); Cape Town (South Africa) and Tunis (Tunisia). The focus is on girls/young women of low socio-economic status living in less accessible locations (one peri-urban site and one linked rural site per city).

This research project is funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF). The grant, which runs from 1st December 2018 to 28th February 2021, was awarded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council. The research is being conducted by researchers from the Universities of Cape Town (South Africa), Usmanu Danfodiyo (Sokoto, Nigeria), HOSN Consulting (Tunis) and Transaid in collaboration with Durham University (UK).