Main Takeaways on Enhancing Road Safety Leadership in African Countries
At the SSATP webinar on “Strengthening Road Safety Lead Agencies in Africa” held on June 1, 2022, road safety experts and practitioners discussed a recent study of road safety lead agencies (RSLAs) in Africa, commissioned by the Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF) with the support of UKAid. Reflecting on the study’s main findings and recommendations as well as the webinar discussions, Mustapha Benmaamar, SSATP’s Program Manager, noted that efforts to strengthen strategy development, coordination and road safety data are of particular importance. RSLAs need to have a clear business plans to deliver on agreed on results and gain credibility. 

The ‘four-wheeled dilemma’: development and environmental aspects of used vehicles: EU and global initiatives seek to address regulatory gaps
The history of the automotive industry begins in the early second half of the 19th century. In the 160 years that followed, ‘horseless carriages’ made significant advances. The automotive industry became the symbol of economic growth, prosperity and innovation. But its success became its own worst enemy, as population growth and the desire for individual motorized transport led to more and more vehicles, congestion, air and noise pollution, carbon emissions, dependence on oil and deteriorating road safety. For developing countries, these issues are compounded by illicit trade practices, some of the highest motorization growth rates and inadequate infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. To maintain the industry’s viability while mitigating negative impacts related to vehicle manufacture and operation, several initiatives are under way at EU and global level, with key implications for developing countries.

How can we invest in sustainable urban mobility in Africa more effectively? Key stakeholders share their voice
By: Hongye Fan, Edward Andrew Beukes, Xuanyi Sheng and Kaori Niina. From upstream policy making and capacity building at the national and city levels to the downstream preparation and implementation of investment projects, each type of stakeholder involved in the delivery of urban mobility services plays an indispensable role. Their key concerns and perceptions ultimately shape the prospect of ensuring sustainable urban mobility systems. Inspired by the series of studies conducted by the World Bank and the fruitful discussions that were generated during the breakout session on “Investing in Sustainable Urban Mobility for Africa” at the Transforming Transportation 2022 Conference, this blog captures responses to vital questions concerning the development of sustainable urban mobility in Africa and beyond, and offers a synopsis of solution-oriented recommendations from the perspective of key stakeholders from government, private investment funds, international financial institutions, and international operators.

The African Union Commission hosts the 2nd General Assembly of the African Road Safety Observatory Online
The Second General Assembly of the African Road Safety Observatory (ARSO) was held virtually on March 22-23, 2022. It was an occasion to host a specific meeting dedicated to the National Data Coordinators (NDCs) of ARSO and encourage countries that have not yet designated their NDCs to do so. Furthermore, during the meeting, the World Health Organization (WHO) activated the African Road Safety Network of Legislators tasked with advocating for the ratification of the African Road Safety Charter and the road safety agenda more broadly. More specifically, the objectives of the Second General Assembly were to:
•    Advocate for the ratification of the African Road Safety Charter.
•    Contribute to the ongoing consultancy on governance arrangements for the ARSO.
•    Validate the ARSO first data report and share lessons learnt.
•    Release the ARSO Annual Report and update members on recent ARSO activities.
•    Validate ARSO's second three-year work program.
•    Convene the NDCs for capacity building purposes and to plan for the second wave of data collection.
 

SSATP Fourth Development Plan 
The Fourth Development Plan (DP4) defines SSATP’s strategic priorities, and the resources needed to address transport policy challenges in Africa, building on what has already been achieved under past development plans. The thematic areas for the DP4 are as follows: Regional Connectivity and Economic Integration (RCEI); Sustainable Urban Mobility and Accessibility (SUMA); Road Safety (RS); and Resilient Road Asset Management (RRAM). The DP4 will also address the following cross-cutting issues: the COVID-19 pandemic and other communicable diseases, human capital development, women empowerment in transport, social inclusion, climate change, and using digital technologies to transform the transport sector. 

A Study of Road Safety Lead Agencies in Africa 

Road safety lead agencies (RSLAs) are responsible for leading national efforts to achieve the national road safety goals, bringing all arms of government and society together to improve safety outcomes. Despite their  presence in African most countries, road safety performance remains a concern. This study examines the performance of RSLAs in 16 anglophone and francophone countries of Africa, using quantitative and qualitative methods. RSLAs in Africa operate in different legal and institutional contexts, which is reflected in the differentiated performance of various functions that are analyzed in this study. The analysis reveals that the agencies’ performances are undermined by regulatory weaknesses and resource scarcity. The study was commissioned by GRSF through the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank as part of a global study on RSLAs led by the WHO.