The Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP), in collaboration with Zambia’s Road Transport & Safety Agency (RTSA), is pleased to announce the launch of the inaugural SSATP Leaders in Road Safety Management (LRSM) Training Program taking place in Lusaka from June 3-7, 2024. This landmark initiative underscores the critical importance of enhancing road safety management capacity across the African continent and marks a significant step towards addressing the pressing road safety crisis in the region.
The Road Safety Crisis & Urgent Need for Action
Africa faces a daunting road safety challenge, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that over 246,000 lives are lost each year due to road traffic crashes. This alarming statistic not only represents a significant loss of human life but also imposes substantial economic burdens on African countries, hindering sustainable development efforts across the continent.
Addressing the road safety crisis demands concerted efforts from governments, civil society, and the private sector. It requires comprehensive strategies that encompass robust policy frameworks, effective enforcement mechanisms, and enhanced capacity building initiatives for road safety management.
A Collaborative Approach to Road Safety
Recognizing the need for collective action, the inaugural edition of the LRSM training program will equip 30 road safety stakeholders from Malawi, Zambia, and Rwanda with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage road safety within their respective countries. The primary objectives of the program are to increase awareness of road safety challenges across the African continent; develop leadership capabilities in road safety planning, management and advocacy; and create a network of practitioners for sharing best practices.
Based on the pillars of the Safe System approach, the training program emphasizes holistic interventions that consider the interaction between road users, vehicles, speeds, roads and post-crash responses to mitigate the risk of severe crashes and injuries.
Mustapha Benmaamar, Program Manager of SSATP, emphasized the continental significance of this training, stating, “As a continental program, SSATP is committed to advancing road safety initiatives across Africa. The launch of this training program marks a pivotal moment in our collective efforts to enhance road safety management capacity and save lives on African roads.”
Empowering African Nations
For Zambia, a nation grappling with its own road safety challenges, the significance of this training program cannot be overstated. The Director and CEO of RTSA, Eng. Amon Mweemba, remarked, “The launch of the SSATP Leaders in Road Safety Management Training Program in Zambia is a testament to our commitment to prioritizing road safety in our country and across the African continent at large. By investing in capacity building initiatives, we are actively laying the foundation for safer roads and stronger communities.”
About RTSA
Zambia’s Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) is a statutory body established in 2006 to regulate, coordinate, and oversee the provision of road transport services and ensure compliance with safety standards in Zambia. For more information, please visit: https://www.rtsa.org.zm/
About SSATP
Established in 1987, the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) is an international partnership that aims to ensure all Africans have access to safe, sustainable and reliable transport systems. SSATP works in collaboration with its 42 African member countries, continental institutions such as the African Union Commission (AUC) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), public and private sector organizations, and international development partners to address the main policy and capacity constraints to transport sector development in the region. SSATP’s Fourth Development Plan (DP4, spanning 2022-2026) is financed by the European Commission (EC) of the European Union, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), whose contributions are channeled through a multi-donor trust fund administered by the World Bank. For more information, please visit: https://www.ssatp.org
