The ADEME Project on Paratransit Ecological Transition: Strengthening Sustainable Urban Mobility with the Support of Jenny Salinas

The ADEME-funded project “Strengthening the consideration of the ecological transition of paratransit in the cities and member countries of the MobiliseYourCity Partnership” is a major step forward in promoting sustainable and inclusive mobility solutions. Led by CODATU in collaboration with the MobiliseYourCity Global Partnership, the initiative seeks to accelerate the decarbonization of the paratransit sector, which plays a vital role in many cities of the Global South.

Paratransit often represents the only available public transport option in rapidly growing urban areas. Yet, it faces persistent challenges: improving service quality and efficiency, securing better working conditions for operators, and addressing its environmental and safety impacts. To overcome these challenges, the project aims to identify and promote actionable levers for decision-makers and practitioners, enabling reforms that are both sustainable and socially acceptable.

The main objectives of this project are:

• To develop knowledge products to accelerate the ecological transition in the paratransit sector, by strengthening the skills and knowledge of the various stakeholders involved.
• Strengthening the skills of public policy practitioners at local, national and international levels in the ecological transition of the paratransit sector.
• Raise awareness of the importance of accelerating the ecological transition in the paratransit sector globally, as a policy to combat the effects of climate change and decarbonize transport, integrating it into the global agenda.

Within this framework, MobiliseYourCity is delighted to welcome Jenny Salinas to its team in Brussels. Jenny is an economist and holds a master’s degree in Sustainable Development Economics. Passionate about sustainable development and climate change topics, with strong experience in financial evaluation, climate finance and calculation of GHG emissions for sustainable urban mobility plans – SUMP for transport projects. She worked in Colombia (her country of origin) with international cooperation agencies, supporting climate related transport projects (active mobility, and low carbon initiatives…). She also supported the development of SUMPs with the private sector, focusing on sustainable development and local capacity building for governments in several countries.

At MobiliseYourCity, Jenny will contribute her expertise to the ADEME project by focusing on decarbonization strategies and the development of greenhouse gas calculation tools for the paratransit sector. Her role will be key to ensuring that the project not only advances technical knowledge but also strengthens local capacities and supports governments in their ecological transition.

By integrating Jenny’s experience with the project’s ambitious objectives, MobiliseYourCity and its partners aim to make paratransit an integral part of sustainable and inclusive urban mobility systems.