Manuel de développement des capacités pour les institutions de transport
De l’évaluation des besoins en capacités à l’évaluation de l’impact
(Capacity Development Manual for Transport Institutions: From capacity needs assessments to impact evaluation, French version)
This practical manual turns evidence from FCDO-funded High Volume Transport (HVT) research into step-by-step guidance for transport institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It explains how to assess capacity gaps, choose suitable capacity development formats, build activities into everyday organisational processes, and monitor and evaluate results.
About this publication
| Authors | Transport for Cairo (Farida Moawad, Mariam Nada, Hend Eltabey) |
| Publication date | October 2026 |
| Language | French |
| Publication type | Manual (practical guidance and toolkit) |
| Programme / grant | High Volume Transport Applied Research (HVT), delivered through the GRTD Research Commissioning Centre (RCC), co-led by 3ie and University of Birmingham |
| Funding | Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) (UK Government) through Global Research & Technology Development (GRTD) |
| Licence | Unless otherwise stated, content on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0). |
Abstract
Transport institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are at the forefront of efforts to make urban mobility more sustainable and climate-aligned. Many still face capacity gaps at the individual, organisational and societal levels, which limit their ability to plan, deliver and sustain transformative transport initiatives. The High Volume Transport (HVT) study Capacity Building in Sustainable Urban Mobility for Low-Income Countries (2024) found that capacity development efforts are often fragmented and short-term and focus narrowly on training rather than on strengthening institutional systems and long-term learning.
This manual builds directly on that research. It draws together global best practice and turns it into simplified frameworks, tools and actionable steps. Five transport authorities in Africa and Asia reviewed and pilot-tested it, so that its content reflects their real needs.
The manual sets out a structured, cyclical approach made up of 13 steps across three phases. The phases can be followed in sequence or applied on their own and fitted into existing institutional processes:
- Phase 01 Plan: Identify institutional challenges and capacity gaps through a structured capacity needs assessment (Steps 1–7).
- Phase 02 Design & implement: Choose formats, partners and budget, then deliver the capacity development activity (Steps 8–12).
- Phase 03 Monitor & evaluate: Track progress and assess whether the capacity development activity met its goals against predefined indicators (Step 13).
The manual profiles 15 capacity development formats, from webinars and workshops to secondments, joint centres and formal education, and sets out the strengths and weaknesses of each. It also provides 13 fillable tools, including SWOT analysis, RACI and RAID matrices, Theory of Change and Logframe. Each tool is illustrated through an illustrative storyline: a national transport authority preparing to launch its first e-BRT corridor.
The manual is written mainly for national, regional and local transport institutions, including transport authorities and operators. It can also serve as a reference for international development agencies, training providers and any organisation supporting capacity development in the transport and mobility sector.
Tools included
Blank templates are in the Annex (pp. 91–103), available digitally and to print.
- SWOT analysis
- Workplan & Gantt chart
- RACI matrix
- Task & performance analysis
- Problem tree analysis
- Eisenhower matrix
- Assessment framework for capacity development activities
- Scenario building
- Theory of Change
- Operational plan
- RAID matrix (risk matrix)
- Logical framework (Logframe)
- Progress report
Key findings
- Capacity development in transport institutions tends to be reactive and driven by staff appraisals, rather than planned strategically.
- In practice, monitoring and evaluation tools are the most underused tools by transport institutions.
- The societal level of capacity, which covers partnerships, cooperation and enabling legal and policy frameworks, is rarely addressed.
- Institutions rely on a familiar core of formats (trainings, conferences, seminars and study tours) and on very few structured planning tools. They underuse the wider range of options available.
- Existing efforts are often fragmented, short-term and focused on training, rather than on strengthening institutional systems and long-term learning structures.
Key recommendations
- Institutionalise capacity development planning. Carry out capacity needs assessments, development plans and M&E regularly rather than as one-off exercises.
- Base capacity development activities on evidence by feeding needs assessment findings directly into performance reviews, strategic planning and project preparation.
- Before choosing an activity, first identify which capacity level it targets (individual, organisational or societal) and whether the gap is technical or functional.
- Assess content, target audience and logistics systematically when selecting activities, and draw on the full range of short-, medium- and long-term formats.
- Define SMART indicators with baselines up front in the Logframe. Evaluate outcomes in the short-, medium- and long-term, for example, 6 months and 1 year after the activity.
- Feed lessons learnt from each activity back into the design of the next, so the capacity development cycle improves every time it is applied.
Access this publication
Citation
Moawad, F., Nada, M. and Eltabey, H. (2026) Manuel de développement des capacités pour les institutions de transport : De l’évaluation des besoins en capacités à l’évaluation de l’impact (Capacity Development Manual for Transport Institutions, French version). London: GRTD Research Commissioning Centre.
Related publications and outputs
High Volume Transport Applied Research (2024) Capacity building in sustainable urban mobility for low income countries: Research on demand and success factors for future supply. https://transport-links.com/hvt-publications/capacity-building-in-sustainable-urban-mobility-for-low-income-countries-research-on-demand-and-success-factors-for-future-supply/
Moawad, F., Nada, M. and Eltabey, H. (2026) Capacity Development Manual for Transport Institutions: From capacity needs assessments to impact evaluation. London: GRTD Research Commissioning Centre.
Moawad, F., Nada, M. and Eltabey, H. (2026) Capacity Development Manual for Transport Institutions: Tools (Excel spreadsheet of editable templates for all 13 tools). London: GRTD Research Commissioning Centre.
References
A full list of 68 references is given in the manual (pp. 80–84). A list of acronyms (pp. 85–86) and an indicative list of technical and functional capacities for transport institutions (pp. 87–89) are also included in the Annex.
Supporting literature includes the HVT study (2024) and guidance from UNDG, UNDP, UN-Habitat, GIZ, TUMI, ITDP, UITP, SLOCAT, the World Bank and other cited sources.
Open Access Statement
This research output is made available in accordance with the FCDO Open Access Policy (December 2025). As part of a programme within the scope of this policy, this publication is freely accessible to all users without financial, legal, or technical barriers.
The full text is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and adaptation of the material in any medium, provided appropriate credit is given to the original authors and source.
This output has been made available through an approved open access route and deposited in a recognised repository in line with FCDO requirements, including compliance with any required timelines for open access publication.
Where third-party material is included, users should check the relevant rights statements before reuse.
Accessibility
Please contact rcc@3ieimpact.org if you require an accessible version of the full PDF.
Questions
For any questions about this publication, email rcc@3ieimpact.org with ‘Capacity Development Manual for Transport Institutions in the subject line.