As part of the Sustainable Mobility Week in Greater Maputo in August 2024 an ACTIVE training was organized. ACTIVE, which stands for Alliance for Cycling and Walking Towards International Vitality and Empowerment, brings together key stakeholders from the fields of active mobility, cycling, and walking. The program’s goal is to train 10,000 active mobility professionals worldwide over the next decade. Led by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and supported by the Benelux, ACTIVE strives to advance global sustainable mobility efforts.

Each ACTIVE training is tailored to the unique needs of the city or region. In this case, collaboration with local authorities, such as the City of Maputo, was essential. The training covered critical topics aimed at helping communities become more cycle-friendly, focusing on integrated cycling policies across three areas: hardware, software, and orgware.

Elements of the program

The participants in the training included city officials from Maputo and surrounding areas, architects, NGO staff, and police officers. The diverse mix of participants enriched the training sessions, which included three main modules: 1) Network Principles, 2) Cycling Culture and Bike Parking, and 3) Infrastructure Design. Each module involved theoretical presentations and group work, with participants presenting their findings and future vision for Maputo at the end of the session. The Dutch Cycling Embassy was honored to work with the groups Furious Bikes, Green Fighters, and Longa Bike during this collaborative effort.

Why We Cycle

The training concluded with a special screening of the documentary “Why We Cycle” at the Dutch Embassy in Maputo, where the local cycling community and newly trained participants gathered to reflect on the day’s learning. The Dutch Embassy kindly provided drinks, popcorn, and snacks, and a lively Q&A session followed the screening.

Local government involvement

Additionally, the delegation visited the Feira Municipal de Transporte on August 3rd at the Conselho Municipal de Marracuene. This provided an opportunity to exchange ideas with various stakeholders involved in sustainable mobility and enjoy cycling on Mozambikes.

On the sidelines of the training, the delegation met with several key officials, including Rasaque Manhique, President of the City, Fernando Obed Uache, Counselor for the Mobility Department of the City, and Irene Boane, Director of Foreign Cooperation at Maputo City Council. These meetings fostered valuable exchanges of ideas and insights.

Movares extends its gratitude to the Dutch Cycling Embassy, an organization which we are a long lasting member of, for the opportunity to participate in Sustainable Mobility Week. This successful event was made possible by the generous support of the City of Maputo and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

Moving forward, we look forward to continuing this fruitful collaboration with the Dutch Cycling Embassy and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. We are eager to contribute with and supporting the city in its ongoing efforts to advance sustainable and active mobility initiatives, as political support is essential for driving meaningful change on the ground.