Travelling Together: Disability Inclusive Road Development

in Papua New GuineaADDC Inclusive Research Symposium

28 August 2014

PNG Assembly of

Disabled Persons

Benson Tegia, PNG Assembly of Disabled

Persons

Kathryn James, CBM-Nossal Partnership for

Disability Inclusive Development

What is ‘Travelling Together’?

DFAT funded participatory research project, from May 2010 - April 2013, addressing access by people with disabilities to road infrastructure and road planning processes in PNG. Research partners:• Unimelb Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning• Nossal Institute for Global Health• PNG Assembly of Disabled Persons• Cardno Emerging Markets

Project Aims

1. Prioritize appropriate responses to access needs of people with disabilities (PWD) in PNG

2. Contribute to the evidence base for disability inclusive infrastructure development

3. Develop guidelines to support disability inclusive infrastructure consultation, planning & development

4. Develop a training package on disability inclusive road planning and development, for use by PNGADP and other agencies.

5. PWD have ownership of the research and capacity to use findings.

Why consider accessibility?Up to 15% of PNG population are people with disabilitiesRoad are vital for accessing services, social networks,

economic opportunitiesPeople with disabilities often have additional access

needs to other road users:Do not get visual or aural cues from trafficCannot move quickly or navigate obstacles easily Need space and ramps for wheelchairs

Accessible roads are more accessible for everyone: children, older people, pregnant women

Research: sites and toolsStretches of roads in five sites: some completed roads and some under maintenance/re-development 2 urban sites (Port Moresby & Goroka) 3 rural sites (Lae, Madang & New Ireland)Research tools:Interviews with local road decision-makersGroup discussions with people with disabilities“Moveabouts” or access audits of sections of roadsPhotographs and poster making

How do roads affect the lives of people with disabilities?

Roads facilitate access to services for people with disabilities, mainly by walking

BUT use of services is severely limited by inaccessible and dangerous roadsImproved roads bring more traffic and faster speeds,

and people fear being hit by vehiclesRoads and infrastructure are often not accessible for

people with a variety of disabilities

What prevents people with disabilities accessing roads?

Footpaths are difficult to navigateToo narrow or steep for wheelchairsBlocked by parked cars, people socialising, market stallsFlooded due to blocked or absent drains; overgrownRoad verges can be steep or too high; loose gravel and rocksPeople are forced to walk on dangerous roads

Lack of marked crossingsNo or inadequate crossings at

busy areas like schools and markets (especially rurally)

No clear signs in approach to crossings: too close to the crossing, not maintained

Traffic does not slow down through villages; hard to cross safely

What prevents people with disabilities accessing roads?

Narrow bridges with limited pedestrian accessBridges with no footpaths force pedestrians onto the roadOvergrown, narrow footpaths Steps rather than ramps are unsuitable for wheelchair usersLack of railings make bridges hard to navigate

What prevents people with disabilities accessing roads?

Poor road drainage and maintenanceFlooding blocks roads and footpaths and leads to damageOpen drainage ditches are hazards for vision impairedPotholes and unsealed roads

What prevents people with disabilities accessing roads?

No bus stops and poor bus accessLack of proper bus stops, no seats or shade: unsafe or

uncomfortableNo locations marked on buses: people with hearing

impairments can’t hear driver announcementsBuses inaccessible

What prevents people with disabilities accessing roads?

Lack of Public AwarenessVehicle drivers and other road users do not realise

that people with disabilities use the roads, and have different needs

Disabilities can be invisible e.g. hearing impairment, intellectual impairment

Communities do not maintain footpaths etc

Roads are planned for vehicles, not for people

What prevents people with disabilities accessing roads?

How Have People with Disabilities Participated in Road Decision-Making?

No evidence that consultation with people with disabilities was taking place

Little consultation with communities in general; emphasis on informing people rather than involving them

Interviewed Road Decision-Makers did not have info on accidents or injuries on the roads that they were responsible for maintaining: info from police, traffic authorities, hospitals not shared with road planners and engineers

What are the best approaches to consulting with people with disabilities?

• People with disabilities can inform about their needs and road usage

• Participatory & inclusive processes are inexpensive: focus group discussions, moveabouts, photographs

• Many recommended changes can be incorporated at minimal expense. Others save money in the long run – some can mobilise community

Research Outputs

Tools and GuidelinesIn-country workshops with Road Decision-MakersGuidelines on Making Roads Safer and more

AccessibleFor Policy and Decision-MakersFor Road Planners and Engineers

Advocacy Workbook for use by PNGADP

Research impactsDissemination Australian Aid Policy Brief and Working PaperArticles: Journal of Transport Geography, Development BulletinPresentations: Transed 2012, ADB Transport Conference, ACFID

University Linkages, World Report on Disability Symposium etc Research methodology – strategies for inclusion of people

with disabilities, including tools Research findings – the need for improved road access for

people with disabilities; low-cost and simple solutions available

Use of findings and tools & guidelines to inform DFAT & partners in the region: Regional DFAT Post training on disability inclusion

(e.g. Tonga, Kiribati)Kiribati Post promoting guidelines to Managing

Contractors and Dept of TransportInterest from Asian Development Bank as they

develop universal access guidelines for ADB projects

Research impacts: Region

Has the Research produced the desired outcomes? PNG Context

Appropriate responses to improve accessEvidence base for disability inclusive infrastructure

development Develop guidelines (action for govt.)Develop a training package Ownership and capacity to advocacy and rights-

based work with the PNG government and development partners

How about the Research principles?

Check: Yes/No Full participation of people with disabilities in every

phaseAccessibilityCapacity developmentInclusion of all groupsPartnership building

BIG RED 5/5 =100%

Background - Quick update on PNG • Massive country with 8m + people• 80% very remote, 15% PWDs• Basic roads & service delivery infrastructure are

run down or non-existent• Urban drift creating huge

social problems, unemployment, law & order, HIV/AIDS, overcrowding & poverty

• Ratified UNCRPD Sept 2013

• Total PNG 2014 budget: K13 b (AUD$6 b) focused on building an inclusive, sustainable PNG

• Dept of Works highest allocation: K1.6 b priority road construction with aim to improve accessibility to basic services for the remote rural population

• 2014 used up K414 m (but what portion are accessible?)• PWD have access on 36% of good roads (e.g. town roads)• Economic boom by LNG, major infrastructure

development going on including sporting facilities for 2014 PNG Games & 2015 South Pacific Games: very busy traffic, difficult accessing roads, unsafe and dangerous

Road Infrastructure Spending

Travelling Together: Final ActivitiesLaunch of guidelines during

International Day for PWD (Dec 3) and delivered to Dept of Works: was a highlight

A formal submission was made to Dept of Transport for inclusion in the National Transport Strategic Policy (Dec 14)

What has been the research impact in PNG?

• Key departmental decision makers, planners and designers recognize & appreciate the partners, making commitments to support the initiative

• Highlights the role Government plays to cater for disability accessible road development as equally important

• Involvement and participation by Governments, community leaders & development partners (must increase for real change to take place)

• Government take ownership and improve the situation consistent with UNCRPD

What has been the impact of the research for people with disabilities?

• PWD leaders have been trained to be better researchers, strengthening confidence base and improve leadership skills mostly in: - phases, data collection and analysis- dissemination & application of finding- partnership consultation & networking- Evidence based advocacy & policy

submission and negotiation • Appreciate the process of identifying barriers that

hinder progress in community life

• Developed advocacy tools for DPO use for ongoing awareness activities

• Confidently link up with concerned government departments for policy decisions

What has been the impact of the research for people with disabilities?

• Present a strong case for integrated policy inclusion

• Importance of involvement and participation in decision-making at all levels

Current Progress

• National Transport Strategic Policy committed to include sections of guidelines during scheduled review

• Department of Works have considered inclusive road planning and designs manual for provincial works, submission with technical manuals development committee aimed at improving designs

• National Capital District has already catered for guidelines & adjustment of planners & designers protocols.

• Advocacy work continues at National & DPO level. Done 4 follow up visits to DoT & DoWs

• DPO not actively involved for various reasons but more so capacity wise

• Key agencies technical consultative team been established as a ground work to set up the National Infrastructure Development Authority (NIDA) DoWs: we are seeking membership

Current Progress

• National Capital Division DPO has a contract submission negotiation to build accessible foot paths, street ramps, crossing marks and safety signs

• The DPO advocacy toolkit is in its final stage for launching during 2015 National Day on Disability (Mar)

Current Progress

Challenges• National & Provincial DPO capacity remains depleted • Advocacy/awareness work has been inconsistent those

targeting decision makers• Not part of government priority therefore no coverage • PWDs not being able to actively involve and participate

at decision making level• Data collection: lack of information about people with

disabilities; need to look for ways to gather this• Need centralised storage of collected data to allow

analysis and usage by DPOs and others

What needs to happen

1. Build DPO capacities (advocacy/follow up)

2. Be on various boards & committees

3. Work with government to understand and devise Enabling legislative framework to implement UNCRPD (Article 9) and take full ownership (rights to access are denied)

4. Ensure that policies & legislation cover all aspects of infrastructure plans and designs

Thank you