Translating the need into impact funding
While many governments and multilateral development institutions have made sustainable transport a major research and advocacy topic, this has yet to translate into significant funding (soft, equity, grant) from the broader impact investment community to private enterprises solving mobility challenges in emerging markets. Additionally, there are few studies examining the impacts such businesses are having in emerging African urban environments.
SF commissioned BFA Global to execute a study to better understand and document the range of impacts sustainable mobility enterprises have on society and the environment, with a particular focus on drivers and passengers of two Shell Foundation-funded motorcycle taxi ride-hailing services — SafeBoda in East Africa and Metro Africa Express (MAX) in West Africa.
The bulk of the study focused on in-country qualitative research with participating drivers and customers in Uganda (SafeBoda) and Nigeria (MAX), supplemented by interviews with impact investors, local transportation authorities, non-user motorcycle drivers and passengers, and strategic partners (i.e. microinsurance providers) of each enterprise.

Female MAX customers felt that services had reduced their exposure to violence and harassment they would otherwise face with public or informal transportation options.