Drawing the road map to rural poverty reduction

This paper provides a synopsis of rural transport issues in developing countries and the way in which rural transport can contribute to poverty reduction and the Millennium Development Goals. It begins with an historical overview of the transport sector in the context of rural development, and continues with a summary of the transport needs and constraints of different stakeholders and vulnerable groups. Key transport interventions that address access problems through the development of road infrastructure, transport services and intermediate means of transport are also described, and the paper concludes with a dialogue on the implications for poverty reduction, and recommendations for future research.