Organiser: Fika
With nearly $4 trillion in global transportation infrastructure commitments in 2026 by governments and financiers, the case for investing in transport corridors to strengthen trade continuity, economic growth, and stability is clear. Yet many corridor investments still overlook the "first/last mile" — the rural and active mobility infrastructure that connects communities to primary networks. Trail bridges, hillside ladders, feeder roads, spot improvements, safe paths, crossings, and pedestrian-friendly regulations may seem modest, but they are what keep corridors functional amid climate events, supply chain disruptions, and other shocks. When these links are missing, corridors under-deliver on resilience — disproportionately affecting the roughly 3 billion people in rural areas who form the backbone of global food security, economic growth, and productivity.
A dynamic panel discussion will draw on emerging evidence and complementary implementation experience from a diverse mix of practitioners and advocates from government, civil society, and development organisations. Panelists will share contextualised case studies on the impact of practical rural access solutions in boosting community and system resilience, demonstrating how transport corridors can and should include multimodal, evidence-based rural transport investments.
During the session, we will launch the preliminary version of a “Corridor Add-On Calculator” and guide attendees through the modeling tool to explore how allocating 1%, 5%, or 10% of a corridor budget could finance essential bundled rural infrastructure investments to shift minutes-to-service metrics that are critical for rural resilience.
MODERATOR
Brooke Segerberg, Rural Transport & Resilience Planning Lead, Fika
SPEAKERS
Mohamedamin Adem, Head of the Rural Connectivity & Access Program Coordination Office of the Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure of Ethiopia, representing State Minister of Infrastructure, His Excellency Yetemgeta Asrat
Corrine Vibert, Director of Communications, MEL, and Inclusion, EASST
Bronwen Thornton, CEO, Walk21 Foundation
Manuel Rodríguez Porcel, Regional Coordinator and Senior Transport Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
