The TOTALEnergies Foundation and the International Road Federation (IRF) have entered into a partnership aiming at establishing private sector road safety coalitions in a number of countries around the world. The objective: federate private sector stakeholders to work together, in close collaboration with international institutions, NGOs, and local authorities in order to improve road safety via hands-on, impact-oriented, and scalable activities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that road crashes claim 1.35 million lives and injure 50 million people worldwide annually. Accordingly, the United Nations has set the ambitious target of reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50% from 2021 to 2030.
“At TotalEnergies, safety is a core value that is embedded in all of our processes, because it ensures our long-term sustainability as a business. With a presence in 130 countries, we work in partnership with local road safety players, such as NGOs, local authorities, and schools. By pulling now private sector strengths and resources together via these in-country coalitions, we can all maximize our impact” commented Abdoul-Wahab (in charge of Road Safety department in Total Foundation).
As a result of the ongoing collaboration with the IRF, the TotalEnergies Group and other private sector companies active in Tanzania have already entered into a partnership to use their combined knowledge and experience to reduce road crashes in the country. “All founding members of the Tanzania coalition (TotalEnergies, Bolloré, Lafarge-Holcim, Coca-Cola, Super Star Forwarders, Vodacom) believe that one road crash victim is one too many and are committed to reducing the number and severity of road crashes” said Jean-François Schoepp Managing Director of TotalEnergies Tanzania. “It is with this in mind that the members have adopted a set of values and principles “The Coalition Charter” that define and elaborate a collective commitment towards the reduction of road crashes”, he added.
The signed Coalition Charter was handed over to the Hon. Eng. Dr. Leonard Chamuriho, Minister for Works & Transport, The United Republic of Tanzania in the margins of a National Road Safety Workshop organized in the framework of the UN-funded project Ten Step Plan for Safer Road Infrastructure. “I take this opportunity to thank TotalEnergies and the other founding members of the private sector Road Safety coalition for their commitment and for leading by showing the way to other companies,” said the Minister in his official address.
“We are delighted to coordinate this work and to pro-actively engage the private sector into collaborative and coordinated initiatives. This will help us collectively to step up efforts to reach the targets set by the new Decade of Action” commented Susanna Zammataro, IRF Director General at the launch. There are four initial priority areas of work identified by the Tanzanian private sector coalition: education and awareness; drivers’ training ; vehicles’ standards and inspections; infrastructure. The initiative coordinated by the International Road Federation (IRF) and supported by the TotalEnergies Foundation is open to new members who share the same principles as defined in the coalition charter.
Beside Tanzania, IRF is already at work for the launch of private sector road safety coalitions in Senegal, Pakistan, and Morocco.
For more information, please contact the International Road Federation at info@irfnet.ch.
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TotalEnergies Foundation encompasses the citizenship initiatives conducted every day worldwide by our sites, our affiliates and our corporate foundation. Through this global program, TotalEnergies aims to contribute to development in our host communities and regions, alongside our partners. With a special focus on young people, our four priority areas of action are road safety, climate, coastal areas and oceans, youth inclusion and education, and cultural dialogue and heritage. Our social engagement is integral to our ambition to be a world-class player in the energy transition.
The International Road Federation (IRF) is a global, independent, not-for-profit organisation with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Active since 1948, IRF is a membership-based organisation, representing leading corporate and institutional players drawn from the road and mobility sectors worldwide. Its mission is to promote the development of roads and road networks that enable access and sustainable mobility for all. Its approach is centred on key strategic components of knowledge transfer & information sharing, connecting people, businesses, and organisations, and working on policy & advocacy.
www.irfnet.ch