CDM Convenes Stakeholders for Bicycles for Growth Project in Malawi

Lilongwe, Malawi-The Centre for Development Management (CDM) brought together stakeholders in the non-motorized transport sector in Malawi on Tuesday as part of the four-year USAID-funded Bicycles for Growth project, writes Charles Mkoka.

The project aims to increase mobility in rural and peri-urban areas by developing and demonstrating ways to promote functional market systems that can improve bicycle access and uptake in the country.

The Bicycles for Growth project will reduce barriers to the supply and uptake of fit-for-purpose, affordable, and durable bicycles.

During the establishment of the Bicycle Market Systems Advisory Committee, Dr. Bright Sibale, Managing Director of CDM, stressed the need to address the challenges hindering the bicycle systems in Malawi from both the demand and supply sides.

"We need to address the bottlenecks in accessing bicycles and their support services, including spare parts and access to finance, to support the development of the bicycle market in the country. This is critical as it enhances the role bicycles play in the economic development of the country," explained Dr. Sibale during his opening speech.

The meeting was attended by officials from the Roads Traffic Department, Ministry of Health, Technical Vocational Entrepreneurship Education Training, Kabaza Cycles Association, and other non-state actors who will form sub-committees in the sectors of resource mobilization, training, advocacy policy and communication, and monitoring and evaluation to feed the main bicycle system advisory committee.

Moses Mwalabu, Executive Director of the Kabaza Cycles Association, welcomed the project, saying, "We already have a database of all the operators in the bicycle transport system value chain. We know who operates from where, and we now have identity cards that are also linked to national identity cards. This project will only help to formalize the business now."

Alfred Masokwe, a bicycle mechanic, also expressed support for the project, stating, "We need to have good pumps that are durable and capable of even assisting motorcycles as well. All these need to be made accessible and affordable because this is a major medium of transport for the majority of Malawians in rural areas."

The main advisory committee is expected to work with other key stakeholders at the policy level to eliminate barriers to bicycle supply and uptake, strengthen the bicycle sector, and provide citizens with better access to employment, health care, education, and other services and opportunities.

The assessment and pilot projects will provide a roadmap to sustainable bicycle market systems and will leave behind a coalition of stakeholders who will continue to advocate for improved bicycle demand and government support for bicycling.