Rural Access Index (RAI) Supplemental Guidelines, Measuring Rural Access Using New Technologies

This document contains supplemental guidelines to the 2016 RAI methodology by the World Bank, 2016

Abstract

This document contains supplemental guidelines to the 2016 RAI methodology (World Bank, 2016). These supplemental guidelines contain detailed, step-by-step procedures for calculation, documentation and publication of RAI (SDG 9.1.1) for a country. They follow the key tenets of the 2016 methodology, emphasising the involvement of National Statistical Offices (NSOs) and government agencies in the process, and providing transparency and consistency in how the RAI is calculated. These guidelines also provide an alternative approach to the ‘all-season’ aspect of RAI by focusing on the intended purpose of the road network and the changing risks of accessibility to that network, rather than relying on physical measurements of road condition. They also encourage NSOs to engage with new online tools and platforms such as WorldPop, OpenStreetMap and others to improve the accuracy and accessibility of data and statistics for RAI.

This work is part of the Applied Research on Rural Roads and Transport Services through Community Access Programmes in Africa and Asia (AFCAP2 and AsCAP)

Citation

Workman, R. and McPherson, K., TRL (2019). Rural Access Index (RAI) Supplemental Guidelines, Measuring Rural Access Using New Technologies, ReCAP-GEN2033D. London: ReCAP for DFID.

Rural Access Index (RAI) Supplemental Guidelines, Measuring Rural Access Using New Technologies

Published 19 December 2019