Towards the development of comprehensive guidelines for practitioners in developing countries

Abstract

The United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) funded a three-year research programme aimed at developing a compendium of guidelines and best practice for improving access and mobility of disabled people in developing countries. The guidelines include aspects of transport policy, advocacy, and planning, as well as the technical aspects of improving infrastructure and operations of public transport. The material was based on a review of good practice and standards/guidelines in use in Europe, Latin America and Asia, supplemented by small-scale demonstration projects in partner countries South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique and India. The purpose of these projects was to demonstrate practical but low cost interventions, and to test potential innovative approaches under local conditions. The paper briefly describes the objectives, methodology and outcome of the research project. It describes the approach proposed in the guidelines towards prioritising accessibility interventions, based on local conditions in developing countries where financial constraints limit resources