The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) do not include any specific goals or targets related to transport, though transport sector interventions are critical to meeting many of the goals.

The time and money that the poor must spend meeting their basic mobility needs represents a significant constraint on the ability of low income families to accumulate the assets that would allow them to lift themselves out of poverty. Transport service and transport-related construction are also frequently critical sources of employment for the urban poor. Goods and services are also sometimes more expensive in low income areas due to poor transport infrastructure and services.

Urban transport interventions aimed at alleviating poverty should start with at least avoiding severe adverse impacts on the poor, and from there move to proactive policies that might actually help the poor.

For Developing Countries - transport sector provides many opportunities to improve public administration and governance. From major infrastructure projects such as highways, to local initiatives for providing rural access and public transport services, transport is among the most active and expensive areas of government operations.

The MDGs are clearly connected to each other and this means without the other it prolongs the realization of any progress being made. The MDG Review continues to work closely with some of the worlds progressive thinkers in this field and will in the next Issues look at what role the Private Sector can play in this area.

More on the Transport subject from the editorial contributions from our partners.