Adaptation for Transport Resilience to Climate Change (AfTR-CC) for LICs in Africa and South Asia - State of Knowledge Report - December 2021

Aug 23, 2026

The report examines the current state of knowledge on climate change adaptation to strengthen transport infrastructure resilience in low-income countries (LICs) across Africa and South Asia. It synthesizes evidence through literature reviews, stakeholder interviews, and capability assessments covering policies, tools, and frameworks. The analysis addresses weather and climate impacts on transport assets, LIC ambitions for adaptation delivery, stakeholder understanding, key challenges and barriers, and practical ways LICs can be supported toward greater transport resilience.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages109

Reading Time4 h 35 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

1. Project introduction and research overview

1.1 Overview

1.2 Purpose of this document

1.3 Project approach

1.4 Methodology

2. Setting the scene: climate change and transport resilience in Africa and South Asia

2.1 Overview

2.2 Current and projected climate change

2.3 Transport resilience in the context of climate change adaptation

2.4 Impacts of climate change to transport infrastructure

2.5 Benefits of climate change adaptation for transport infrastructure

2.6 Mechanisms to support climate change adaptation

3. Ambitions to achieve transport resilience in LICs in Africa and South Asia

3.1 Overview

3.2 The magnitude of required ambition and actions

3.3 Commitments on climate change adaptation

3.4 Current adaptation policy and strategy

3.5 Current understanding of transport adaptation and activities

4. Challenges and barriers in achieving transport resilience

4.1 Overview

4.2 Broad challenges identified through the literature review

4.3 Specific challenges identified through stakeholder interviews

4.4 Specific challenges identified through evaluating policy

4.5 Specific challenges identified through evaluating tools

5. Addressing knowledge gaps and needs to facilitate transport resilience

5.1 Overview

5.2 Identified knowledge gaps and needs

5.3 Channels and options to facilitate LICs’ needs

6. Report summary and future directions

7. References

Appendices

STATE OF KNOWLEDGE REPORT Adaptation for Transport Resilience to Climate Change (AfTR-CC) for LICs in Africa and South Asia December 2021 HVT047 – University of Birmingham This research was funded by UKAID through the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office under the High Volume Transport Applied Research Programme, managed by IMC Worldwide. The views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the UK Government’s official policies. Citation: Greenham, S., Ferranti, E., Workman, R., McPherson, K., Quinn, A., Fisher, R., Mills, S., Street, R., Packham, K., Baxter, W., Dora, J., 2022. Adaptation for Transport Resilience to Climate Change for LICs in Africa and South Asia: State of Knowledge Report. Prepared by the University of Birmingham and TRL, UK. January 2022. | Reference No. | HVT/047 | | --- | --- | | Lead Organisation/ Consultant | University of Birmingham | | Partner Organisation(s)/ Consultant(s) | | | Title | | | Type of document | Project Report | | Theme | Policy Regulation | | Sub-theme | | | | | | Lead contact | Andrew Quinn ([a.d.quinn@bham.ac.uk](a.d.quinn@bham.ac.uk)) | | Geographical Location(s) | | | Abstract | | | This report explores the current state of knowledge of climate change adaptation for transport infrastructure resilience in low-income countries (LICs) in Africa and South Asia. This was achieved through reviewing literature and undertaking stakeholder interviews and capability assessments of policies, tools and frameworks. The report explores the impacts of weather and climate on transport infrastructure in these LICs, the current ambitions of LICs in delivering climate change adaptation, the level of understanding of the issues according to transport stakeholders, the challenges and barriers LICs face in achieving their adaptation goals, and ways in which LICs can be supported to take steps towards increased transport resilience. | | | Keywords | climate change, adaptation, transport resilience, LICs, Africa, South Asia, climate resilience | | Funding | UKAid/ FCDO | | Acknowledgements | | Cover image: “Charcoal Bikes” by Rod Waddington, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. CONTENTS Executive Summary vi 1. Project introduction and research overview 1 1.1 Overview 1 1.2 Purpose of this document 1 1.3 Project approach 1 1.4 Methodology 2 1.4.1 Primary data collection 2 1.4.2 Secondary data collection 5 1.4.3 Case studies 7 1.5 Conclusion 7 2. Setting the scene: climate change and transport resilience in Africa and South Asia 9 2.1 Overview 9 2.2 Current and projected climate change 9 2.2.1 Observations 9 2.2.2 Climate projections 11 2.2.3 Vulnerabilities in LICs 12 2.3 Transport resilience in the context of climate change adaptation 13 2.3.1 Measuring resilience 13 2.3.2 Interdependencies 14 2.4 Impacts of climate change to transport infrastructure 14 2.4.1 Infrastructure damage 15 2.4.2 Costs 16 2.4.3 Socio-economic impacts 17 2.5 Benefits of climate change adaptation for transport infrastructure 19 2.6 Mechanisms to support climate change adaptation 20 2.6.1 Policy and strategy 20 2.6.2 Standards 23 2.6.3 Adaptation tools and frameworks 23 2.7 Conclusion 27 3. Ambitions to achieve transport resilience in LICs in Africa and South Asia 29 3.1 Overview 29 3.2 The magnitude of required ambition and actions 29 3.3 Commitments on climate change adaptation 29 3.3.1 Transport adaptation NDC commitments in LICs in Africa and South Asia 29 3.4 Current adaptation policy and strategy 30 3.4.1 Assessment of national adaptation plans, strategies and plans of action 30 3.4.2 Transport sector incorporation 34 3.5 Current understanding of transport adaptation and activities 35 3.5.1 Weather patterns as a result of climate change 35 3.5.2 Impacts of climate change on transport, society and the economy 36 3.5.3 Transport resilience and infrastructure adaptation 37 3.5.4 Capacity building and financin

FAQs

What does the report assess about climate adaptation for transport in low-income countries?

It reviews the current state of knowledge on how climate change adaptation can improve the resilience of transport infrastructure in low-income countries across Africa and South Asia. It covers impacts of weather and climate, adaptation ambitions, and stakeholders’ understanding.

How was evidence gathered for the state of knowledge findings?

The report relies on a literature review and qualitative engagement through stakeholder interviews and capability assessments. These activities focus on policies, tools, and frameworks used to support adaptation.

What challenges and barriers to transport resilience does the report highlight?

It identifies broad challenges such as climate and weather data gaps, institutional arrangements, financing constraints, and linkages between climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction. It also reports specific technical, financial, social, political, and institutional/regulatory challenges.

Aug 23, 2026

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