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Strengthening the financial sustainability of Africa’s road networks is essential to maintaining regional connectivity and supporting inclusive growth. As part of this effort, the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) and its partners are taking steps to modernize the continent’s road funds and embed resilience, transparency, and equity in their management systems.

In partnership with the European Union and the African Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA), SSATP officially launched the baseline survey of African Road funds during a three-day technical meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya. This milestone marks a key step in implementing the Resilient Road Asset Management (RRAM) Pillar of SSATP’s Fourth Development Plan (DP4), which aims to promote sustainable financing, climate-resilient practices, and inclusive governance in Africa’s road sector. 

The meeting brought together representatives from 18 road funds, development partners, and technical experts to refine survey tools, select participating countries, and establish coordination mechanisms for data collection and analysis. 

Laying the Groundwork for Resilient Road Systems

From the outset, Océane Keou, SSATP’s RRAM Pillar Lead, emphasized the importance of shifting paradigms toward the provision of sustainable transport services. She stated: 

“Sustainable transport development plays a critical role in fostering economic growth and social equity. Achieving this requires holistic, system-level, multimodal strategies and the implementation of a lifecycle approach including five interconnected pillars: system planning and financing, engineering and design, operations and maintenance, contingency planning, and institutional capacity and coordination. Together, these elements provide a comprehensive framework for building resilient and inclusive transport systems across Africa.”

European Union Commitment to Road Fund Reform

Sergio Oliete Josa, Head of Unit at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), highlighted both the challenges and opportunities facing road funds in Africa. 

Speaking in the context of the EU’s collaboration with SSATP and other partners to advance the RRAM Pillar — for which the EU provides financial support — he noted that road funds, which were once autonomous and directly financed through user charges, have seen their capacity erode in recent years. To reverse this trend, the EU is supporting reform efforts aimed at restoring their independence through direct revenue collection, performance-based funding, and stronger vehicle load regulation. 

Mr. Oliete also stressed the strategic importance of transport corridors and reaffirmed the EU’s commitment under the Global Gateway initiative, which promotes sustainable, green infrastructure investments to strengthen connectivity across Africa. This includes targeted EU support for 12 priority corridors aligned with the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA).

Building a Coalition for Next-Generation Road Funds

In his opening remarks, Essaie Moussa Aubin, President of ARMFA, warmly welcomed participants while underscoring the importance of the gathering. He called on all participating road funds to actively engage during the implementation of the survey, emphasizing that the study will help lay the foundation for a new era of sustainable road maintenance financing in Africa.

To this end, a dedicated session brought together representatives from donor partners and development finance institutions — including the EU, KfW (German Development Bank), European Investment Bank (EIB), African Development Bank (AfDB), and UN Habitat — to share ongoing initiatives in Africa’s transport sector and explore blended financing mechanisms and collaboration opportunities aimed at advancing the next generation of Road Funds. 

The meeting was marked by rich and constructive discussions on modernizing road fund management through stronger governance, sustainable financing models, and greater integration of climate resilience and gender equality considerations. 

Toward a Continental Roadmap for Reform

The survey of African Road Funds commenced in October 2025. Preliminary progress will be shared at the ARMFA Annual General Assembly in Monrovia, Liberia (November 17–21, 2025), while the final findings and policy recommendations for transitioning road funds toward a next-generation model will be presented at the Interministerial Meeting of Finance and Transport planned for the first quarter of 2026. 

The results of the survey will guide the development of a continental roadmap for road fund reform under SSATP’s Resilient Road Asset Management (RRAM) Pillar. By aligning policy, financing, and institutional practices, the initiative seeks to help African countries establish sustainable, climate-resilient road maintenance systems that safeguard infrastructure investments and ultimately improve the quality of life for citizens. 

Contact: 

Oceane Keou

RRAM Pillar Lead, SSATP

okeou@worldbank.org