Impact-Driven Investing in New Mobility Enterprises: Perspectives from Kampala, Uganda, and Hyderabad, India

Abstract

Private investments present a critical funding opportunity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, due to the growing recognition that socially and environmentally responsible solutions can generate impacts and financial returns across the risk spectrum. Innovative new mobility solutions—especially when driven by impact-oriented investments and enabled by inclusive policies—can be part of the solution for sustainable and equitable transport. The research paper features key insights on impact-driven investments in new mobility enterprises in Kampala, Uganda, and Hyderabad, India. The paper highlights the current challenges to impact investing in mobility enterprises, including difficulties in accounting for impact, dilution of impact from other sectors, regulatory regimes and political risks that could hinder the running of mobility businesses, and entrenched stakeholders holding back investments. It concludes with opportunities to confront these challenges and pathways to safe, clean and inclusive transportation for vulnerable urban residents in the global south.

Aspects of social innovation promoting sustainability in the mobility sector

“…The narrative framework used by Kallenbach (Kallenbach, 2020) to analyse mobility culture shows the contrast between established car-centred urban narratives and emerging transformative discourses, implying a potential transformation in mobility culture. Moreover, Tun et al (Tun et al, 2021) emphasize the significance of private investments in advancing sustainable mobility solutions. They identify the intricacies of impact investing in new mobility enterprises, which entail challenges such as impact dilution, regulatory obstacles, and entrenched interests.…”

Motorized three-wheelers and their potential for just mobility in Caribbean urban areas

“…These services generally operate in grey areas of regulatory frameworks or government planning and are privately developed without an official endorsement for market entrance or for the practices of operation and organization. These transport services are the only livelihood and mobility option for millions of people around the world, being particularly important in peripheral and disadvantaged areas (Behrens et al, 2021;Tun et al, 2021).…”