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gTKP was set up to allow practitioners immediate access to the best available transport information. The gap between the production of knowledge and its dissemination is a key problem in the development sector. The World Bank underscores the issue in its latest transport strategy, ‘Knowledge of how transport performs, what it can achieve, what works (and what does not) in transport policy and practice is only valuable if it is disseminated to those who can use that knowledge’.
Although most gTKP work involves active knowledge dissemination, the project also supports research where opportunities exist. One example is a recent review of Vietnam’s light truck/tractors, called cong nong, and their role in helping to improve agricultural productivity and rural access. Cong nong are locally made, low-cost and widely used in Vietnam. gTKP Rural Transport Advisor Bach The Dzung found that cong nong have contributed to keeping rural transport costs low and to improving agricultural efficiency. gTKP’s Rural Transport Advisor Rob Petts noted “There seemed to be real potential for other countries to learn from Vietnam’s experience. Other Asian and African countries could benefit from use of similar vehicles.” Vietnam has seen remarkable development in recent years. In fact, the government is now seeking to limit the use of cong nong due to standardisation and new local capacity for conventional vehicles. This may have an impact on the rural poor and makes drawing attention to the positive role of cong nong important.
The review will be posted on www.gtkp.com and will be one of gTKP’s continuing contributions towards bridging the gap between information and its application by disseminating it effectively.
The gTKP is a DFID-funded partnership for disseminating the best available global transport knowledge for developing countries. It covers seven themes in road transport: governance, environment and climate change, finance and economics, rural transport, road safety, social development and urban transport. Most of the work of gTKP is done through a website, www.gtkp.com and through sector experts that cover each of the seven themes and work directly with practitioners. The gTKP has been operating since 2006.
For further information please contact Peter O’Neill,Special Advisor, Central Research Department, Department for International Development (email info@gTKP.com or visit www.gtkp.com).
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