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LEARN Senegal: Mobilising partnerships and building an evidence-based approach to improve road safety
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This week, representatives from national and local governments, NGOs, the private sector, media and academia have taken part in a two-day training workshop in Senegal designed to equip and mobilise different partners to join forces to improve road safety data. The data training culminated in a joint concrete action plan to assess risks, improve conditions, and advocate for greater road safety around schools.
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The participating organizations were invited because of the role they play either in road safety, strategy and education, or infrastructure. Stimulating partnerships between these diverse organisations will improve data quality, increase available resources, and promote data sharing. Present at the workshop were representatives from Ministry of Transport, Road Agencies, National Police Service, Local Police forces, NGOs, Private sector, Academia as well the media.
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The training is part of the LEARN (Learn, Examine, Review, Act, Replicate, Network) project, a joint initiative from the International Road Federation (IRF, Geneva) and the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety (the Alliance) made possible thanks to the support of FIA Road Safety Grant Programme.
The project works toward the aims of the Africa Road Safety Observatory, a continent-wide initiative to share knowledge, statistics, and road safety interventions that work. The approach to partnerships and data that LEARN is promoting in Senegal will be evaluated with the objective of utilising it in other African countries.
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“We need to institutionalise road safety education at all levels, from police school to senior management down to maternity school” said Mr Modou Kane DIAO – Head of Division policy and planification – opening the workshop on behalf of the Director for Road Transport at the Ministry. “Road safety data education will be crucial going forward”.
“Partnerships and data are the heart of the activities of our Federation and so is capacity building. For the past 70 years, we have acted as catalysers to build and foster partnerships that deliver. With our work on the World Road Statistics, we try to equip decision makers and practitioners with the tools they need to make informed decisions and to tailor evidence-based solutions. We are delighted to work in Senegal with this varied group of stakeholders. Together, we are stronger and more effective” said Susanna Zammataro, IRF DG, in welcoming the participants.
Lotte Brondum, the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety, said, “Momentum is growing in Africa for a coordinated response to the 272,000 deaths that occur on the continent’s roads every year. Civil society is an essential partner in this challenge. It is the eyes, ears, and voice of communities. Governments across Africa need to recognize the role that NGOs, the private sector, and academia play in supporting implementation of national road safety strategies. We are excited that the Government of Senegal has taken the initiative to include stakeholders from different sectors in their plans and we look forward to evaluating what is achieved by these partnerships.”
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Established in 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 policy & advocacy. Through its Expert Groups and Committees that address key economic, environmental and social issues, IRF is qualified and able to make a decisive global contribution to the transport sector. As a not-for-profit organisation, based in Switzerland, IRF provides a neutral and global platform for the road and mobility sectors.www.irfnet.ch
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The Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety (the Alliance) was established in 2012 by NGO members of the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration (UNRSC) and currently represents more than 220 member NGOs working in road safety from 90-plus countries around the world. The Alliance is a registered nonprofit organization and is the platform for NGOs worldwide to share knowledge and collectively advocate for road safety and the rights of victims of road traffic crashes. The Alliance provides services to its members in three key areas: 1) networking and sharing, 2) advocacy, and 3) capacity building. www.roadsafetyngos.org |
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