FIRST AFRICAN BICYCLE INFORMATION OFFICE (FABIO)

AND

BICYCLE SPONSORSHIP PROJECT AND WORKSHOP (BSPW)

P.O. BOX 1537

JINJA – UGANDA

§ KAYEMBA PATRICK

PROGRAMME MANAGER

§ RICHARD KISAMADU

COORDINATOR.

§ ANDREAS WOLL

DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

PROPOSAL OF THE

PAN AFRICAN BICYCLE CONFERENCE (PABIC) PRESENTED TO ADFC.

ON THE

12^th OCTOBER, 2000

“THE NEW FACE OF A BICYCLE IN THE 21^ST CENTURY”

INTRODUCTION

The Pan African Bicycle Conference (PABIC) is a new strategy towards creating a common eye and approach towards considering non-motorized mobility, particularly with a focus on bicycles in Africa.

This idea was developed by First African Bicycle Information Office (FABIO), a civil society organization involved in advocacy, sensitization and capacity building on issues of bicycle mobility through accessing information, knowledge and skills related to bicycles. FABIO is based in Uganda, working in collaboration with Jugendhilfe Ostafrika based in Germany.

The PABIC, the first one of its nature, is to be hosted in Uganda, Jinja in November 21st - 25th 2001. Hosting this conference in Uganda has been due to a number of factors i.e. for effective organization purposes since the initiators of the idea are based in Uganda. Also the Ugandan government through the Ministry of Housing and Communication supports the conference with transport.

The conference will provide an opportunity for sharing among all bicycle mobility promoting initiatives in Africa and elsewhere in the world. It will also look at developing a strong networking system within and with other bicycle activity related organizations/ institutions.

JUSTIFICATION

A bicycle is a tool that until now represented different views and perceptions depending on the different groups of people world-wide and Africa in particular.

In Africa a bicycle is considered as a sign of poverty by the motorists, on the other hand as a sign of higher social status in the community by the rural poor people, who account for the biggest percentage in terms of population.

On International conferences / events elsewhere in the world, a bicycle and non-motorized mobility issues are portrayed differently as compared to the real African perspective. Such a situation creates a paradox living different approaches to the bicycle.

However, the African perspective of a bicycle has a lot in common hence regardless of the different countries. There is a lot of need to consolidate efforts to create a conducive environment for sharing information and knowledge in relation to bicycle mobility advocacy at all levels with a common face.

And also the time is ripe for such a conference as the feed back after attending the VELO MONDIAL in June 2000 and the World Bank meeting in the Netherlands.

FABIO has had a lot of discussions with the local authorities in Jinja Municipality and the line Ministry responsible for Transport and Communication and the Ministry Technical Officers are to be attached to the PABIC organising committee

OVERAL GOAL

The people of Africa and elsewhere in the World especially policy makers appreciate, recognize and support the use of non-motorized mobility - particularly bicycles - in their sustainable development programs, concrete actions initiated towards an improved mobility environment.

OBJECTIVES

(1) To create a forum for sharing the different views on bicycle use in Africa

(2) To exchange and share experiences, information and knowledge of

non-motorized mobility issues of the different Countries in Africa and elsewhere in the World.

(3) To identify the problems of transport in relation to the environment and

gender aspects.

(4) To lobby and advocate for review or and formulation of sustainable mobility

policies at all levels.

(5) To develop a shared vision for the improvement of bicycle technology

in Africa.

(6) To create awareness of the importance of a bicycle as one of the sustainable

means of mobility in Africa and as a critical tool of production.

(7) To create a platform for the empowerment of women and the youth in Africa in

finding possible solutions to the culturally and socially acceptable discriminations.

(8) Establish a Pan-African network of all people, agencies, and

institutions with activities related to non-motorized mobility.

Results

v Effective participation of all bicycle related stake holders in Africa and elsewhere in the World ensured.

v Collaboration and co-operation with all the development related agencies established.

v Data bank developed, where every interested person has access.

v To install a news-group in the Internet with all relevant information.

v To lobby and advocate for the review of the formation for the sustainable mobility policies at all levels.

v Steady collaboration with Government, Development organizations and researchers.

v Proper monthly news-letter with a library for information in place.

v To establish a Pan African Network.

DATE AND VENUE

FABIO has enjoyed good cooperative relationships with both the local and central government in relation to PABIC, creating a very conducive environment for organizing it. Jinja among other urban towns has the highest population for bicycles for commercial transportation, Boda-boda, social and economic activities. This creates a good environment to host the conference, which is scheduled to take place between November 21st - 25th 2001.

On the other hand the date of the conference is in the off – season, were prices for flights, accommodation and catering services are reasonably low.

TARGETED PARTICIPANTS

v bicycle mobility promotion/ advocacy initiatives and bicycle clubs in Africa, and elsewhere in the World.

v individual researchers and consultants on issues of mobility particularly in the developing countries.

v policy makers at different levels national, regional and international agencies.

v departments of planning in higher institutions of learning and governments.

v bicycle manufacturing companies.

v world and regional network NGOs and other stake holders.

PRESENTATION

Presentations will be made by the different high level researchers on particular themes related to bicycles and other non-motorized mobility modes.

v Case studies from the different countries.

v Papers on the different themes focusing on the rural and urban areas, women accessibility to bicycles.

v Social cultural limitations.

Themes of the PABIC

Major theme: “The new face of a bicycle in the 21st Century.”

Other possible themes:

v A bicycle as a tool for social economic development in Africa.

v Bicycle unifying Africa.

v The bicycle in improving domestic welfare.

v Two wheels in developing countries.

METHODOLOGY

v Plenary position paper, research presentations.

v Parallel seminars and workshops on different tropical issues.

v Exhibitions.

v Bicycle race across Uganda with cyclists across Africa.

v Theatre/ drama presentations focusing the theme.

v Declaration formulations.

v Participatory approach will be employed as much as possible.

NB: The main language in this conference will be English however, paper translations and interpretations in French and Swahili will be taken care of.

This therefore calls for receipt at FABIO Offices of all papers for presentations in time for effective translations at least not later than September 31st 2001.

STRATEGIES

v Close collaboration with government through the ministry responsible for Africa is a key strategy.

v Collaboration with development organizations in regional, national and international networks.

v For proper organizations and co-ordinations, active national bicycle bodies/ agencies will take care of particular regions say AFRIBIKE bicycle Senegal etc for South and Western Africa respectively.

v Establish a news-group on the internet and work closely with regional, national and international initiatives.

v Consult organizations/individuals with experience in organizing international conferences.

v Organize and carry out pre-congress event/donors conferences for publicity and resource mobilization.

v Equip FABIO Secretariat with clear information management systems.

NOTE

The success of this conference will depend on the commitment from the different African bicycle Initiatives.

Activities / Time SCHEDULE

ACTIVITY	PERIOD	TARGET	RESPONSIBLE
1. Identify potential participants of the conference	September2000 - March 2001	Ø Organizations involved in bicycle mobility Ø Researchers in non-motorized mobility Ø Planners and policy makers Ø Higher institutions of learning Ø Other stakeholders involved in development	Ø Richard Ø Andreas Ø Jürgen
2. Mobilizing resources by Ø Writing project proposals Ø Carrying out fundraising drives	September 2000 - August 2001	Ø Bicycle industries Ø Government central/local Ø Pan Africanists Ø Funding agencies Ø Private enterprises Ø Consultants	Ø Patrick Ø Mubiru Ø Andreas Ø Emmeram Ø Justine
3. Put in place conference organizing committees	December 2000	Ø FABIO Board/staff Ø MPs Ø Consultants Ø Service providers Ø Government and NGOs	Ø Christine Ø Patrick Ø Paul Ø Jürgen
4. Publicize effectively the conference world wide	September 2000 -November 2001 onwards	Ø Government and NGOs Ø Funding agencies Ø Potential participants Ø Development organizations	Ø Christine Ø Patrick Ø Andreas Ø Adelheid Ø Jürgen
5. Develop topics to be discussed during the conference	January 2001/ September 2001	Ø Consultants Ø Velo Mondial Ø Commissioner of transport	Ø Christine Ø Patrick Ø Mubiru Ø Justine Ø Emmeram Ø Jürgen
6. Invite potential conference participants	January 2001	Ø Identified potential participants	Ø Patrick Ø Andreas Ø Richard Ø
7. Identify recourse persons for the conference	January 2001 -September 2001	Ø Professionals Ø Pan African civic leaders Ø Stakeholders	Ø Christine Ø Richard Ø Mubiru Ø Emmeram Ø Jürgen
8. Holding consultation meeting relevant stakeholders	September 2000 - May 2001	Ø Government Ø Funding agencies Ø Bicycle agent Ø Manufactures Ø Consultants Ø Bicycle lobby initiatives	Ø Justine Ø German board
9. Secretariat Ø Capacity - Skills - Knowledge Ø Capability - Logistical equipment - Communication technologies, etc. Ø Set-up clear information system	September 2000 – September 2001	Ø FABIO staff/volunteers Ø Funding agencies	Ø Paul Ø Andrea
10. Develop conference materials	January 2001-November 2001	Ø Different presenters Ø Discussants Ø Participants	Ø Andreas Ø Jürgen Ø Robert
11. Organize and carry out African bicycle events	September 2000 -November 2001	Ø Boda bodas Ø Bicycle activists Ø Professional bicycle clubs	Ø Andreas Ø Robert Ø Maganda
12. Establish a Pan African bicycle network	November 2001 - …	Ø Congress participants	Ø Organizing committee Ø FABIO
13. Compile and distribute congress reports	December 2001	Ø Congress participants Ø Funding agencies Ø Government Ø NGOs Ø Etc.	Ø FABIO
14.Hold the PABIC	Last week of November 2001	Ø Bicycle promoters Ø Policy makers Ø Regional networking groups Ø Institutions Ø Bicycle industries Ø Lobby group Ø Etc.	Ø FABIO Ø ADFC Ø Government Ø Ghana Bike Ø JOA Ø Afri Bike Ø WCC Ø World Bank Ø Etc.
15. Carry out regular monitoring and evaluation	September 2000 -November 2001	Ø Congress committee/ teams	Ø Patrick Ø Andreas Ø Richard

RESOURCE MOBILISATION

Resource mobilization is to be done in 3 different ways:

v Central fundraising through proposals and activities organized by FABIO the organizing organization.

v Decentralized resource mobilization – considering that these initiatives are at different national levels.

v National resource mobilization in terms of travel, you shall be encouraged as much as possible, and FABIO will assist wherever need arises.

v Mobilization of resources in Germany – FABIO is working in close collaboration with the Germany counterpart Jugendhilfe Ostafrika and these will take resource mobilizations in Germany and Europe at large.

POSSIBLE SUPPORTERS

v World Bank

v ADFC

v Private Companies in Uganda

v The Ministry of Transport Uganda

v Contributions >from organizations and individuals

v GTZ

v DED

v Etc.

NB: Any organization mobilizing resources on our behalf should notify FABIO-secretariat for proper co-ordinations and transparency.

For more information please contact any of the following persons:

Andreas Woll

FABIO - Development Officer

Kayemba Patrick

FABIO - Program Manager

Richard Kisamaddu

FABIO - Coordinator

P.O. Box 1537, Jinja, Uganda

Tel: 043-121468

Fax: 043-121322 or 043-121468

E-mail: fabio@source.co.ug

Jürgen Heyen Perschon

Jugendhilfe Ostafrika

E-mail: heyen-perschon@t-online.de

Germany.

Emmeram Raßhofer