World Bicycle Relief reports positive change for rural populations in developing countries

World Bicycle Relief is a non-profit organisation that aims to empower marginalised communities and rural populations through the power of the bicycle. The organisation has released its 2023 impact report that details significant accomplishments in its goals, including improving access to healthcare, education and employment prospects.

The details of the impact report go on to show just how much power access to a bicycle can give to rural and marginalised communities.

“In Kenya, the number of days students were late declined by an average of 81%, while in Zambia, the number of days students missed school declined by nearly 90%,” the report states. This of course has a compounding effect on the students as they progress into adult life.

“In Malawi and Zimbabwe, more than 95% report that bicycles have increased household income levels,” the report goes on to say. “Whilst more than 90% of health workers in Kenya and Zambia are still providing services to their communities 1-2 years after receiving bicycles, and more than 85% report that bicycle access has increased the number of clients they see.”

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In 2023 alone the non-profit organisation distributed 73,698 Buffalo Bicycles across six different nations with the positive impact of these bikes felt by a calculated 368,490 people. Beyond the bikes themselves 382 people were trained as bike mechanics to keep the bikes rolling, with this having a financial benefit to local economies. In 2023 there was a 30% growth in aftermarket sales of bicycle components in the areas that Buffalo Bikes have been introduced.

The impact report also went on to detail ambitious goals set for 2024-2026, aiming to amplify its societal influence through a strategic shift towards a social enterprise model. The refreshed strategy focuses on three key pathways: growth, partnership, and influence.

The growth pathway relies on developing the Buffalo Bicycle ecosystem, targeting increased bicycle distribution in key areas including education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Some of the ways the organisation is looking to achieve this include expanding product development, enhancing program monitoring and evaluation, and optimising local assembly processes to ensure a steady supply of durable spare parts. Plans also include extending the network of retail shops and training more community mechanics to improve accessibility to quality bicycles and spare parts in remote areas.

The partnership pathway seeks to build broader and deeper collaborations with local governments, private sector entities, NGOs, and funding institutions. Ongoing partnerships with organisations like UNICEF, The Global Fund, and national governments underscore the commitment to integrating sustainable bicycle mobility solutions into broader development agendas.

The final element of the 2024-26 strategy is developing an influence pathway that aims to raise awareness about the role of transportation in rural development. By demonstrating the tangible benefits of bicycle access to advocate for the inclusion of mobility in development agendas, the organisation hopes to inspire global action and investment in sustainable transport.

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In total since its inception, World Bicycle Relief has provided 785,331 bicycles, trained 3,388 mechanics and opened 88 Buffalo Bicycle shops.

To see the full extent of the work carried out by World Bicycle Relief in 2023 you can find the full impact report linked here.

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