Why now
AUF2, convened by the African Union Commission and hosted by the Government of Kenya with technical support from UN-Habitat and the United Nations Commission for Africa (UNECA), is a premier continental platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue on urbanization and human settlements. Held just weeks before the World Urban Forum 13 in Baku, AUF2 is consolidating Africa’s common position on housing and urban development — making it the ideal moment to advance the conversation on people-centred mobility.
PAAPAM was launched at the World Urban Forum in Cairo in November 2024, and implementation in five countries — Cameroon, Kenya, Ghana, Malawi and Morocco — kicked off following a strategic summit in Nairobi in February 2025. This side event builds on that momentum, bringing the discussion to the heart of the continent’s urban policy agenda.
Objectives
- Present evidence and practical experience on how integrated urban mobility planning — linking walking, cycling and public transport — can improve accessibility and reduce congestion.
- Demonstrate how partnerships between public-sector actors, international development agencies, the private sector and other non-state actors can yield more inclusive urban mobility solutions.
- Explore how PAAPAM can serve as a policy alignment tool at the national and county levels.
- Examine how national and county-level policy frameworks can help institutionalize active mobility and shift it from project-based intervention to a standing government mandate.
Programme highlights
The one-hour session features a blend of keynote presentations, an interactive quiz and a moderated panel discussion, covering:
- Welcome remarks from UN-Habitat and an overview of PAAPAM by UNEP
- A presentation on Nairobi’s street reclamation process by the Nairobi City County Government
- An interactive active mobility quiz to engage the audience
- A panel discussion moderated by UN-Habitat with panelists from the Ministry of Roads and Transport, Nairobi City County Government, Urban Better, eBee and UNEP
Who should attend
This event is open to AUF2 delegates and online participants, including national and county government officials, urban planners, transport policymakers, development partners, civil society organizations, private-sector innovators and anyone committed to making African streets safer and more inclusive.
Event details: 📅 Date: Thursday 9 April 2026
⏱️ Time: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (EAT)
📍 Venue: Tent 1: Chui, Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi, Kenya
🌐 Format: Hybrid (in-person and online)
📋 Registration: Register here
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About PAAPAM
The Pan-African Action Plan for Active Mobility (PAAPAM) is a comprehensive framework aimed at transforming mobility across Africa by prioritizing the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorized transport users.
Co-developed through extensive stakeholder engagement with more than 1,500 contributors across the continent, PAAPAM supports governments in prioritizing and investing in the needs of the billion people who walk and cycle every day.
The plan is structured around five goals: guaranteeing safety, enabling accessibility, enhancing comfort, boosting user satisfaction, and increasing government commitment and investment.
PAAPAM was launched at the World Urban Forum in Cairo in November 2024, and implementation is underway in five countries: Cameroon, Kenya, Ghana, Malawi and Morocco.
For more information, visit UNEP’s PAAPAM page.
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About the Africa Urban Forum
The Africa Urban Forum (AUF) is a continental platform established by the African Union to advance dialogue and coordination on sustainable urbanization across Africa. The Second Africa Urban Forum (AUF2), convened by the African Union Commission and hosted by the Government of Kenya, is held in Nairobi from 8 to 10 April 2026. AUF2 will consolidate Africa’s common position on housing and human settlements ahead of the World Urban Forum 13, scheduled for 17–22 May 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Looking Ahead
As Africa’s urban transition accelerates, the choices made today on street design and mobility investment will shape the health, safety and prosperity of communities for decades to come. This side event is an opportunity to build the partnerships and policy momentum needed to ensure that walking and cycling — the most widely used forms of transport on the continent — receive the attention and resources they deserve.
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