Walk21 Foundation

What Walk21 Foundation does

Walk21 Foundation is a UK-registered charity (Charity Number 1174564) founded in 2000, headquartered in Cheltenham, United Kingdom, and operating globally with a mission to promote walking and walkability. Its core offerings include the Walkability App (a mobile citizen-reporting tool with geo-location and heat-mapping functionality available on Apple and Google stores), the STRIDE walkability assessment tool, the International Charter for Walking (a signable policy reference translated into multiple languages), the 8 Steps training methodology for cities, and a curated Conference Library of nearly 2,000 research papers. The organization also runs the annual International Walk21 Conference, rotating globally, and produces regional reports and toolkits such as the Walking and Cycling in Africa report.

Walk21 operates through a community-led, event-driven model targeting four primary segments: city and municipal governments, walking and transport researchers, walking advocates and NGOs, and international organizations and development agencies. Its distribution relies on digital self-serve channels (website resource downloads, app stores), direct conference sales, and channel partnerships with UN-Habitat, UNEP, the FIA Foundation, Alstom Foundation, and the World Bank. As a non-profit, Walk21 funds its activities through charitable activities, grants from foundations (Alstom Foundation, FIA Foundation), project partnerships with international organizations, and conference registration — primary services are offered free, with fees accruing mainly through training and conferences.

The competitive position is anchored by an ecosystem of 5,000+ organizations, experts, researchers, and advocates, governance representation on bodies such as SLOCAT and SUM4All, and alignment with WHO Global Action Plan on Physical Activity. Strategic emphasis areas include the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport, public transport integration (Alstom/UITP partnership), and capacity building in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean through the Africa Network for Walking and Cycling (ANWAC) and Regional Dialogues.

Name

Walk21 Foundation

Legal name

Walk21 Foundation

Website

https://walk21.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Walk21 Foundation is a UK-registered international charity that promotes walking and walkability globally through the Walkability App, the International Charter for Walking, the 8 Steps training methodology, and an annual conference, serving city governments, UN agencies, researchers, and advocacy NGOs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Walking Advocacy and Urban Mobility

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

Keywords

• Walking advocacy
• Walkability assessment
• Urban mobility
• Active travel
• Sustainable transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Working globally, United Kingdom

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable activities and grants: As a registered charity (Number 1174564) in England and Wales, Walk21 operates through charitable activities, grants, and partnerships. The organization conducts projects, training, and provides resources to advance walking globally.
2. Conference and event coordination: Walk21 coordinates the annual International Conference, workshops, and events to inspire action and share knowledge, which may include registration fees and sponsorship.
3. Project partnerships and funding: Walk21 receives funding and support from partners including foundations (Alstom Foundation), international organizations (UNEP, UN-Habitat), and participates in funded projects like Trans-Safe Project and Africa Network initiatives.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Walk21 Foundation is an international charity that provides knowledge, capacity, and advocacy resources to promote walking and walkability globally. Its offerings include the Walkability App for citizens to assess walking environments, the International Charter for Walking as a policy reference, the annual International Walk21 Conference series, the STRIDE Walkability Tool, The 8 Steps training methodology, and a Conference Library of nearly 2,000 research papers. The foundation works with over 5,000 organisations, governments, and researchers to develop evidence-based walking policies.

Product overview

Walk21 Foundation is an international charity focused on promoting walking and walkability. The organization operates as a knowledge, capacity, and advocacy organization that works with over 5,000 organizations, experts, researchers and advocates. The core product portfolio includes the Walkability App (a mobile application for citizens to assess walking environments and collect evidence), the International Charter for Walking (a policy signing document), the annual International Walk21 Conference series, the Conference Library (access to ~2,000 research papers), Pathways to Walkable Cities (guidance platform), Measuring Walking resources, and The 8 Steps training methodology. Walk21 also produces specialized reports and tools including the STRIDE Walkability Tool, and organizes Regional Dialogues as part of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Walkability App: A practical tool to assess walking environments and collect local evidence on people's walking experience.
• International Charter for Walking
• STRIDE Tool
• The 8 Steps

Products and services

• Walkability App A mobile application that enables citizens to share their walking experiences, assess walking environments, collect local evidence (including geo-location, age, gender, ability dimensions), generate heat maps, and create baselines to inform local and national policy makers. Available on Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
• International Charter for Walking A common policy reference document that cities, organisations, neighbourhood groups, and individuals can sign to support more everyday walking and greater walkability. Available in multiple languages and serves as a global advocacy tool for promoting walking at the policy level.
• International Walk21 Conference The annual International Walk21 Conference on Walking and Liveable Communities, coordinating workshops, events, and projects to inspire action to benefit people walking. The conference rotates globally with past editions in Rotterdam, Kigali, Dublin, Seoul, and upcoming editions in Tirana and regional dialogues in 2026.
• STRIDE Walkability Tool A walkability assessment tool used to map local streets and collect citizen feedback on walkability concerns. Deployed in projects with school children, communities, and government partners including Lagos Area Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) for street improvements requested by citizens.
• The 8 Steps Training Program A structured training program and workshop methodology facilitated by Walk21 to help cities develop walkability action plans through eight structured steps. Used in workshops with city governments such as Rotterdam.
• Conference Library Access to nearly 2,000 papers from past Walk21 conferences, sharing research, policy, projects, and practice on walking from around the world.
• Pathways to Walkable Cities A platform and resource set helping cities, practitioners, and partners measure, understand, and support walking. Includes guidance on walking data capture and use in planning and decision-making.
• Measuring Walking Resources Guidance and resources to help cities and partners capture walking data and use it in planning and decision-making.
• Walking and Cycling in Africa Report A report published with UNEP and UN-Habitat providing evidence and good practices to inspire action for walking and cycling in Africa.
• PATH Partnership Report: Make Way for Walking and Cycling A report highlighting walking and cycling's benefits and potential for climate, air quality, health and well-being, published with the Partnership for Active Travel and Health coalition.
• Walk21 Regional Dialogues Regional dialogues organized by Walk21 to shape the pathway for walking through the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport, including upcoming 2026 dialogues such as Cape Coast, Africa.
• Training Programs Various training offerings including workshops, the 8 Steps methodology, and policy training developed in partnership with research and industry partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• In Kumasi, Ghana - positive walking experiences increased from 14% to 37% after interventions; safety concerns decreased by 48 percentage points; comfort concerns decreased by 57 percentage points
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered key and core.

• AlstomkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2025Partnership on Active to Public Transport project in Danube region. Walk21 presented at UITP congress with Alstom stand. Veronique Andries, Vice President Sustainability & CSR at Alstom highlighted importance of walking access to public transport.
• European Cyclists' Federation (ECF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2022Co-organizers of COP27 side event 'Shifting Gear: Accelerating Active Mobility for Future Generations' and PATH Partnership for Active Travel and Health coalition.
• UN Environment Programme (UNEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalk21 collaborates with UNEP on sustainable mobility initiatives, including the Africa Network for Walking and Cycling, COVID-19 mobility surveys, and joint publications on walking and cycling in Africa.
• UN-HabitatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint work on Best Practice Guide for Walking and Cycling in African Cities and other urban mobility initiatives.
• UITP (International Association of Public Transport)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalk21 presented walkability to public transport reports at UITP congress in Hamburg (June 2025) on walking access to stations and stops.
• World Resources Institute (WRI)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizers of COP27 side events on active mobility and sustainable transport transformation.
• Dutch Cycling EmbassykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizers of COP27 side event and collaboration on active mobility capacity building.
• Transportation Decarbonisation AlliancekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on COP27 side events and launch of Call for Action to support Active Mobility Capacity Building.
• Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), Kumasi, GhanakeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Trans-Safe Project walkability study in Kumasi, Ghana, measuring impact of pedestrian interventions using the Walkability App.
• Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Walk21 and Alstom Foundation for women walkability project in Dublin.
• Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (CEDEUS)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on sustainable urban development research and women walkability initiatives.
• Africa Network for Walking and Cycling (ANWAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalk21 leads this network under UN Environment's Share the Road programme to champion best practice and influence research, policy and practice for walking and cycling in Africa.
• Trans-Safe ProjectkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch initiative including 30 partners across Africa and Europe working together on road safety, with Walk21 contributing walkability expertise.
• SLOCAT PartnershipkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalk21 participates in SLOCAT Transport Days at COP summits. Bronwen Thornton serves as Chair of the Board for SLOCAT Foundation.
• World Health Organization (WHO)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalk21's work aligns with WHO Global action plan on physical activity (GAPPA) which recognises walking and walkable communities as key components of everyday activity.
• SUM4All (Sustainable Low Carbon Transport Initiative)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalk21 was elected as civil society representative on SUM4All's Steering Committee.
• World BankkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Bank Global Transport Director Nicolas Peltier participated in COP27 panel on leveraging international financing for active mobility.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• FIA Foundation: International philanthropy funding road safety, sustainable mobility, and active travel. Comparable as Walk21's financial partner funding the PATH coalition coordination, operating in the same funding and advocacy ecosystem but as a much larger grantmaking entity.
• World Resources Institute (WRI): Large global research organization with sustainable mobility and active travel programs. Comparable as a co-organizer of COP27 active-mobility side events with Walk21, but operates as a much broader environmental/sustainability institution rather than walking-specialist.
• UITP (International Association of Public Transport): Global association for public transport authorities and operators. Comparable as a Walk21 partner presenting walkability-to-public-transport reports at UITP's Hamburg congress, with shared interest in first/last-mile walking access to transit.

Direct peers

• Rails to Trails Conservancy: US-based nonprofit creating walking and bicycling trails from former rail corridors. Comparable as a walking-and-active-travel advocacy nonprofit with strong community network, policy work, and project delivery on the ground.
• SLOCAT Partnership: International multi-stakeholder partnership focused on sustainable, low-carbon transport. Comparable as a peer advocacy/coalition organization where Walk21 participates, with Walk21's CEO chairing SLOCAT's board and Walk21 contributing to Transport Days at COP.
• Living Streets: UK-based charity dedicated to creating safe, attractive, and enjoyable streets for walking. Closely comparable as a national-level walking advocacy charity operating in Walk21's home UK market with similar policy and community-engagement methods.
• European Cyclists' Federation (ECF): Brussels-based active-mobility advocacy federation representing cycling interests across Europe. Closely comparable to Walk21 as a peer active-mobility advocacy NGO that co-organizes COP side events and PATH coalition work alongside Walk21, with overlapping partner ecosystems (FIA Foundation, UNEP).
• PeopleForBikes: US-based bicycling advocacy nonprofit that also promotes walking and active mobility. Comparable as an active-mobility advocacy organization running city networks, policy campaigns, and industry partnerships analogous to Walk21's model.
• Sustrans: UK charity enabling people to travel by foot, bike, or public transport for everyday journeys. Comparable as a walking-and-cycling focused charity working with governments on active travel infrastructure and policy, with overlapping UK funder and partner networks.
• ITDP (Institute for Transportation and Development Policies): International nonprofit focused on sustainable and equitable urban transport, with active mobility and walkability as core programs. Comparable as a peer organization producing city-focused tools, training, and policy frameworks for walking and sustainable transport worldwide.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Walk21
• Xtwitter.com/walk21
• Instagraminstagram.com/walk21foundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@walk21foundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/walk21foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Walk21 Foundation