BPP: CSO Partners
In short
- Though cities have to take the lead in promoting bicycle planning, bicycle policies and bicycle use, Civil society organizations (CSO's) are key actors to get cycle-inclusive planning on the move. They play a catalyst role in any city process by mobilizing stakeholders, influencing municipalities as main decision makers to establish and implement (cycling) policies.
- During the Locomotives program (2003-2006), I-CE had a bilateral partnership with 9 CSO's which proved successful in terms of interaction between CSO's and local partners such as universities, governments, consultants and the private sector. The additional know-how the CSO's needed to become respected advisors on non-motorized transport policies has been generated by the Locomotives program
- Presently, the links and partnerships between I-CE and CSO's are placed within the framework of the Bicycle Partnership program; they differ from municipality partnerships in two ways:
. CSO's can receive direct I-CE funding for the execution of projects (CSO projects) which cities do not;
. CSO's exchange and meet directly amongst themselves in the Locomotives network supported by I-CE during the BPP program (2007-2010).
Locomotives: from program to network
- The Locomotives program (2003-2006) was directed at civil society organizations (CSO's). During the implementation of Locomotives advocacy programs, each CSO partner developed a specific strategy to influence local partners and municipalities in its own country; CSO's also succeeded in stimulating governments to take new initiatives and are now respected advisors of municipalities and other governmental organizations on non-motorized transport policies.
- Since the Locomotives approach "worked", I-CE and the CSO's having worked together decided to transform their collaboration into an international network - the Locomotives network - supported by I-CE in a transition process towards autonomy and self-reliance during the BPP (2007-2010).
- The Locomotives network of CSO's works on increasing cycle mobility and facilitates exchange of knowledge and expertise between civil society organizations. They are at present responsible for the continuation of the Locomotives network after the BPP ends and will then create an independently operating secretariat.
The BPP facilitates Locomotives exchange on:
. gender themes,
. the theme of cycle planning,
. the themes of bicycle affordability and micro-finance,
. the theme of access to education and safe routes to school.
CSO projects
- In the framework of BPP, I-CE supports 10-25 CSO projects per year between 2008 and 2010 in combination with capacity-building. For the funding of these projects, I-CE works together with Dutch civil society organizations which gather funds amongst the Dutch public.
- The annual plan 2008 for CSO projects differentiates projects according to their strategy and to their focus on users, the bicycle market and infrastructure:
- Direct poverty reduction strategy:
- Projects with a focus on users:
- to facilitate and encourage potential cyclists by: Viaciclo in Florianopolis, Brazil; CSO in Nanded, India; Ciudad Viva in Santiago, Chile; Ciclópolis in Quito, Ecuador.
- Projects with a focus on the bicycle market:
- to facilitate and improve production and distribution of affordable bicycles by: BEN in Cape Town, South Africa.
- Projects with a focus on cycling infrastructure:
- to facilitate and create pro-poor bicycle infrastructure by:TA in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; CCE in Accra, Ghana.
- Civil Society building strategy:
- Projects with a focus on users:
- to facilitate the creation of bicycle user groups by: Biciacción in Quito, Ecuador; UCB in Brazil; IDS in Delhi, India.
- Projects with a focus on the bicycle market:
- to capacitate affordable bicycle providers by: CSO in Gaborone, Botswana; Fabio in Jinja, Uganda; 4 other African CSO's.
- Projects with a focus on cycling infrastructure:
- to facilitate local stakeholder exchange and project initiatives by: Ciudad Viva in Santiago, Chile; BEN in Cape Town, South Africa; PTTF in Pune, India; MMSVS in Alwar, India; CSO in Gaborone, Botswana.
- Policy influence strategy:
- Projects with a focus on users:
- to facilitate and promote cycling in education by: Fonam in Lima, Peru; Biciacción and Ciclópolis in Quito, Ecuador.
- Projects with a focus on cycling infrastructure:
- to facilitate and advocate cycling amongst politicians and planners by: Ciclópolis in Quito, Ecuador; Viaciclo in Florianopolis, Brazil.
