Today the European Commission is participating in the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, taking place in Marrakech, Morocco. As a global advocate for safer roads, the European Commission is committed to driving evidence-based policymaking and supporting initiatives that reduce road casualties worldwide. The European Commission is pleased to unveil EU-funded technical support to the African Road Safety Observatory, hosted by the African Union Commission. This collaborative effort is aimed at strengthening the observatory’s capacity to address the unique road safety challenges faced by African nations.

Furthering its commitment to impactful road safety efforts, the European Commission is also finalising a grant to support civil-society organisations in Africa. This funding will bolster these organisations’ ability to implement effective road safety projects and campaigns, empowering local communities to take active roles in advocating for safer road conditions. The funding will be channelled via the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety, a network of 400 civil society organizations working in 100 countries around the world, including 111 members in 31 countries in Africa. The Alliance mobilizes, represents, convenes, and amplifies the civil society road safety movement through globally coordinated advocacy, information sharing, and capacity building.

Furthermore, through Horizon Europe funding, the European Union is funding cutting-edge research on how the Safe System can be applied to help bring down road deaths in Africa. The Afro-SAFE project aims to enhance road safety in African countries through data-driven approaches, capacity building, and policy development, while TRANS-SAFE focuses on improving transport safety in Africa by implementing innovative solutions, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable mobility strategies.