Banjul Mayor Malick-Lowe Highlights Women’s Role in Transforming Informal Transport at Riyadh Mobility Conference
Mayor of Banjul, Rohey Malick-Lowe, has emphasized the critical role of women in shaping safer and more inclusive transport systems across Africa, following her participation at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia & CoMotion Urban Mobility Conference in Riyadh.
In a statement reflecting on the final day of the event, Mayor Malick-Lowe wrote, “That’s a wrap from Riyadh! Today, I had the honor of hosting a well-attended side session on a topic close to my heart: Women in the Informal Transport Sector.”
The Mayor underscored that women remain the primary users of public and informal transport systems, making their experiences essential in designing practical and reliable mobility solutions. She noted that women often face unique challenges, saying they regularly battle fears of harassment, unsafe vehicles, poorly connected routes, and limited access to funding and innovation opportunities in the sector.
According to her, Africa’s transport transformation must be driven by local solutions rather than copying foreign models. She stressed the importance of leveraging existing tools—such as mobile technology, smartphones, and mobile money—to reorganize and upgrade informal transport operations.
Mayor Malick-Lowe added that effective policies are crucial for creating safe innovation spaces and integrating informal transport into official city planning. “Good policy creates a supportive environment—safe spaces to test ideas and pathways to bring informal services into official planning,” she noted.
Looking ahead, she reaffirmed her commitment to making transport safer for women and children while encouraging small-scale pilot projects that can be tested, improved, and expanded. She also extended gratitude to the people of Saudi Arabia for what she described as their “incredible hospitality,” concluding her message with a call to “keep moving forward.”
About The Author
