TRAC4Change

Designing a lasting, scalable solution

Helvetas holds extensive experience and expertise in rural access. This body of knowledge was developed over more than forty years while working alongside the Nepali government to support the construction of over 10,000 trail bridges. These bridges are now used by over one million people every day.

Many countries with similar opportunities and constraints have shown interest in learning from this experience and adapting this model to their own settings. To respond to these requests, Helvetas launched theTransformative Rural Access Catalyst for Change (TRAC4Change), formerly called the South-South Cooperation Unit.

TRAC4Change is a Nepal-based specialized division of Helvetas comprised of engineers and rural access experts with lived and professional experience. In ongoing work in Ethiopia and Tanzania, TRAC4Change sees the potential to accelerate the timeline for helping rural access programs reach a national scale. The progress that took 40 years in Nepal is on track to be achieved in Ethiopia in 20 years — and we're on an ambitious journey to do the same in Tanzania in 10 years.

How we work

TRAC4Change collaborates with governments, development organizations, academic institutions, donors, charities, foundations and the private sector to form strategic partnerships to overcome rural isolation, ignite economic growth and promote equitable development for all. Partners include the International Labor Organization, SNV, the African Development Bank, and the Islamic Development Bank, among others. With decades of experience in climate-resilient infrastructure, we share our knowledge, support policy development and ensure high-quality construction.

The scope of the support varies according to the recipient country's need. Past support has included reconnaissance trips, designing trail bridges, capacity building of partners, embedding trail bridge programs within government systems, and the provision of technical assistance.

Where we work

TRAC4Change can provide its technical advisory servicess anywhere in the world. To date, the learnings from Nepal's path to success have been applied in 10 countries: Guatemala, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Burundi, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Laos, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Many children in Nepal must make dangerous river crossings to get to school. © Helvetas/Narendra Shrestha

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But more and more trail bridges make the path to school safer, easier and quicker. © Helvetas / Narendra Shrestha

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Thanks to a trail bridge in a remote place in Nepal this woman has access to the market to sell her products. © Helvetas

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Nepalis in the beginning years of becoming trail bridge experts. © Helvetas

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A Nepali engineer exchanges his experiences in trail bridge construction with his Ethiopian colleagues. © Helvetas / Simon Opladen

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An Ethiopian and Nepali engineer exchange about trail bridge construction. © Helvetas/Hanspeter Bundi

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Ending rural isolation

TRAC4Change's goal is to eliminate rural isolation and the poverty that results from a lack of access by integrating rural infrastructure development within government systems. Nepal proves that this infrastructure can lead to lasting, transformative change. This goal can be achieved through the proliferation of trail bridges and green roads, and by catalyzing systemic change.

TRAC4Change aims to create solutions that empower governments and communities to build their capacities for change through our climate-resilient technology, which meets robust engineering standards. This technology is substantially more affordable than conventional options, making it ideal for countries with limited resources. Additionally, the technology is highly scalable, even in remote and underserved areas.

The path forward

TRAC4Change has been providing continuous technical assistance to Helvetas Ethiopia since 2008 to guide the establishment of its trail bridge program. Current support is provided to the TRAIL Ethiopia project, funded by the Helmsley Charitable Trust and jointly implemented by Helvetas Ethiopia and Fika. Nepali engineers are currently embedded in regions across Ethiopia, supporting their peers in developing the systems and technical expertise to institutionalize a national approach to rural access. Three hundred bridges have been constructed to date, with another 600 planned — changing what's possible for over 1.3 million people in rural areas of six regions.

In 2026 TRAC4Change began laying the foundation for a national trail bridge program in Tanzania. The program builds on experience from Nepal and Ethiopia and is in the demonstration phase, with preparations underway for the construction of six demonstration bridges. The bridges will introduce trail bridge technology across numerous districts and lay out a process for making it institutionalized.