Features
PIARC Prize "Organization and Administration" - Identifying and Resolving the Problems of Accessibility to Basic Services Experienced by Rural Communities through the Integrated Rural Accessibility Planning (IRAP) System
José-Alfonso Balbuena-Cruz Researcher specialising in rural transport, Mexican Institute of Transport (Mexico)
Carlos-Daniel Martner-Peyrelongue Integrated Transport and Logistics Coordinator, Mexican Institute of Transport (Mexico)
Illustrations © Authors, unless otherwise stated
IRAP is a participatory local planning method (developed by the International Labour Organization) based on the concept of rural accessibility. This is understood to mean how easy or difficult it is for rural communities to use, access or obtain basic goods and services. Accessibility is an important factor in rural development and therefore perceived as one of the main factors in poverty, especially in rural areas of developing countries.