Despite its leading role in the urban transport system, paratransit is accused of being unsustainable and hostile to modernity. The reform of the sector is necessary in the context of the modernization of the transport system of African cities. It requires the formalization of actors through technical and financial support such as fleet renewal projects. This article attempts to analyze the financing process and the level of formalism of the operators constituted within the AFTU in the context of the financing operation of paratransit operators in Dakar, Senegal. The methodological approach adopted is based on the analysis of qualitative data from questionnaire surveys carried out in the AFTU network in Dakar; official documents¹ were also used. The results show that the Dakar financing model put in place has made it possible to make significant progress in the reorganization of paratransit professionals. In addition to the concessioned lines, a salaried system was introduced, pricing is now official and the standardized ticketing system has been put in place. Nevertheless, improvements are expected on the working conditions of employees, the capacity building of actors and the evolution of the legal status of companies.

Adolehoume A. (2003). Transport and sustainable development: land transport issues in sub-Sabaran Africa (French). Available online: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Transport-et-d%C3%A9veloppement-durable-%3A-la-des-en (accessed on 12 August 2024).

Arrayo Arrayo F., Kumar A. (2024). The Senegal Bus Renewal from 2005 until 2023. In: The Senegal Bus Renewal Program: From 2005 until 2023. SSATP.

Attard, M., Guzman, L. A., & Oviedo, D. (2023). Urban space distribution: The case for a more equitable mobility system. Case Studies on Transport Policy, 14, 101096. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2023.101096

Badji P. (2015). Sustainable mobility in Cotonou: tools for regulating transport including precarious populations (French). Univerité Libre de Bruxelle.

Behrens R., McCormick D., Mfinanga D. (2016). Approaches to paratransit reform. In: Paratransit in African cities: Operations, Regulation and Reform. Routledge.

Boutueil V., Lesteven G. (2021). The role of ICT-based innovations in transforming intermediate transport in African cities. The cases of Cape Town, Nairobi, and Addis Ababa. HAL Open Science.

Boutueil, V., Lesteven, G., & Nemett, L. (2020). Toward the Integration of Paratransit in Transportation Planning in African Cities. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2674(9), 995–1004. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198120933270

Broome, K., Worrall, L., Fleming, J., et al. (2011). Characteristics of Age-Friendly Bus Information. Journal of Public Transportation, 14(4), 43–61. https://doi.org/10.5038/2375-0901.14.4.3

Cervero, R. (2000). Informal transport in the developing world. Nairobi: UNCHS.

CETUD. (2015). Urban travel policy letter for the Dakar metropolitan area (French). CETUD, Dakar.

CETUD. (2016). Dakar public transport user satisfaction survey (French). CETUD, Dakar.

Chapman, H., Chapman, M., & Ceder, A. (2011). A New Architectural Design of Elevated Small Group Automated Rapid Transit. Journal of Public Transportation, 14(4), 63–87. https://doi.org/10.5038/2375-0901.14.4.4

Coutinho, F. M., van Oort, N., Christoforou, Z., et al. (2020). Impacts of replacing a fixed public transport line by a demand responsive transport system: Case study of a rural area in Amsterdam. Research in Transportation Economics, 83, 100910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2020.100910

Cunha, L., Nogueira, S., & Lacomblez, M. (2014). Beyond a man’s world: Contributions from considering gender in the study of bus drivers’ work activity. Work, 47(4), 431–440. https://doi.org/10.3233/wor-131611

Dementiev, A., & Han, H. J. (2020). A theory of deregulation in public transport. Research in Transportation Economics, 83, 100953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2020.100953

Finn, B., & Mulley, C. (2011). Urban Bus Services in Developing Countries and Countries in Transition: A Framework for Regulatory and Institutional Developments. Journal of Public Transportation, 14(4), 89–107. https://doi.org/10.5038/2375-0901.14.4.5

Godard, X. (2008). Small-scale transport: a balance sheet for sustainable mobility (French). Available online: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228785986_Transport_artisanal_esquisse_de_bilan_pour_la_mobilite_durable (accessed on 12 August 2024).

Godard, X. (1985). What model of public transport for African cities? (The case of Brazzaville and Kinshasa) (French). Politique Africaine, 17(1), 41–57. https://doi.org/10.3406/polaf.1985.3977

Gwilliam, K. (2008). Bus transport: Is there a regulatory cycle (Vol. 42). Transportation Research: Part A Policy and practice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2008.05.001

IBIS. (2008). Dakar Bus Financing Study. Dakar. Recupéré sur World Bank Document.

Karlaftis, M. G., & Sinha, K. C. (1997). Performance Impacts of Operating Subsidies in the Paratransit Sector. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 1571(1), 75–80. https://doi.org/10.3141/1571-10

Kumar, A., Diou, C. (2010). The Dakar Bus Renewal Scheme. Dakar. The Dakar Bus Renewal Scheme SSATP.

Kumar, A., Arroyo-Arroyo, F., Zimmerman, S. (2022). Myths and realities of “informal” transport in developing countries: What approaches to modernize the sector? African Transport Policy Program (French). Available online: https://www.ssatp.org/fr/publication/mythes-et-realites-du-transport-informel-dans-les-pays-en-developpement-quelles (accessed on 12 August 2024).

Marire, J., & Iqbal, B. A. (2024). Infrastructure development, informal economy, and gender inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development, 8(6), 3413. https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v8i6.3413

Mouratidis, A. (2021). Smooth integration of transport infrastructure into urban space. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development, 5(2), 1379. https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v5i2.1379

Naysmith, S., & Rubincam, C. (2012). Women in the Driver’s Seat: An Exploratory Study of Perceptions and Experiences of Female Truck Drivers and Their Employers in South Africa. Journal of Southern African Studies, 38(3), 579–599. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057070.2012.708997

Nwaogbe, O. R., Ibe, C. C., & Ukaegbu, S. I. (2012). Quality of the paratransit service (tricycle) and its operation in Aba, Nigeria: An analysis of customers’ opinions. Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v6i1.64

Orero, R., McCormick, D. (2013). Cooperatives involvement in the paratransit sector: Experiences and lessons in Nairobi. Journal of Business, Sociology, 10, 275-280.

Reinemer, M. (1998). Older drivers bring reliability, compassion to transport service. TRB, 27(1), 6-7.

Ryley, T. J., A. Stanley, P., P. Enoch, M., et al. (2014). Investigating the contribution of Demand Responsive Transport to a sustainable local public transport system. Research in Transportation Economics, 48, 364–372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2014.09.064

Salazar Ferro, P. (2015). Small-scale public transport: an essential component in a dual system (French). Codatu.

Schalekamp, H., Mfinanga, D. (2009). An international review and integration experiences: lessons for public transport system rationalisation and improvement in South African Cities. ResearchGate, 18.

Schalekamp, H. (2017). Lessons from building paratransit operators’ capacity to be partners in Cape Town’s public transport reform process. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 104, 58–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2017.08.002

Sénégal, Ministère en charge des transports du Sénégal. (1996). Urban transport sub-sector policy letter (French). Sénégal, Ministère en charge des transports du Sénégal.

Sharmeen, F., Drost, D., & Meurs, H. (2020). A business model perspective to understand intra-firm transitions: From traditional to flexible public transport services. Research in Transportation Economics, 83, 100959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2020.100959

Sunio, V., Argamosa, P., Caswang, J., et al. (2021). The State in the governance of sustainable mobility transitions in the informal transport sector. Research in Transportation Business & Management, 38, 100522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2020.100522

Tindano, K. (2008). The viability of urban public transport companies in Sub-Saharan Africa: the conditions necessary for the success of bus-based public transport projects in Lomé, Cotonou and Ouagadougou (French). Université de Aix Marseille.

Vakaramoko, B., & Yolande, K. B. C. (2019). Stakeholders in the transport of food products at the Bouake wholesale market (Côte d'Ivoire) (French). European Scientific Journal ESJ, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2019.v15n2p169

Zuniga-Garcia, N., Gurumurthy, K. M., Yahia, C. N., et al. (2022). Integrating shared mobility services with public transit in areas of low demand. Journal of Public Transportation, 24, 100032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubtr.2022.100032