Received: 2026-05-20  |  Accepted: 2026-07-30  |  Published: 2026-09-30

Title

Public governance, transport safety and regional sustainability: a qualitative analysis of urban freight systems in developing countries


Abstract

Urban freight systems are increasingly recognised as critical drivers of regional economic development, yet their rapid expansion in developing countries has exposed significant governance and transport safety challenges. This study evaluates the role of public governance in shaping transport safety within sustainable supply chains, with a focus on urban freight systems in developing regions, drawing implications for regional sustainability. Drawing on a qualitative multiple case study approach, the research examines institutional structures, regulatory effectiveness, and safety challenges in cities such as Harare, Nairobi, and Lagos. Data were collected through semi- structured interviews with transport regulators, logistics managers, and urban planners, complemented by document analysis of policy frameworks and regulatory instruments. The findings reveal that fragmented governance structures, weak enforcement mechanisms, and constraints on institutional capacity significantly undermine transport safety outcomes. Furthermore, safety risks such as vehicle overloading, driver fatigue, and inadequate infrastructure contribute to supply chain inefficiencies and limit regional competitiveness. The study demonstrates that governance plays a central role in aligning transport safety with sustainable supply chain objectives, highlighting the need for integrated policy frameworks and institutional coordination. The paper contributes to the regional development literature by linking governance, safety, and supply chain sustainability and offers policy recommendations to improve regulatory effectiveness and enhance regional economic performance.


Keywords

urban freight transport, transport governance, sustainable supply chains, road safety, regulatory institutions, regional development


JEL classifications

H11


URI

http://jssidoi.org/ird/article/270


DOI


Pages

99-114


Funding


This is an open access issue and all published articles are licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Authors

Gwiza, Aaram
University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa https://www.unisa.ac.za
Articles by this author in: CrossRef |  Google Scholar

Journal title

Insights into Regional Development

Volume

8


Number

3


Issue date

September 2026


Issue DOI


ISSN

ISSN 2345-0282 (online)


Publisher

VšĮ Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, Vilnius, Lithuania

Cited

Google Scholar

Article views & downloads

HTML views: 121  |  PDF downloads: 90

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