The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) and the African Road Maintenance Fund Association (ARMFA) have formalized a partnership to improve
The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) and the African Road Maintenance Fund Association (ARMFA) have formalized a partnership to improve road safety across Africa. The two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Marrakech during the Ten Steps to 2030 for Safer Road Infrastructure event, which is a side event of the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety.
This collaboration is focused on eliminating high-risk roads, reducing fatalities, and promoting sustainable road infrastructure. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights road traffic injuries as a leading cause of death and injury globally, with African countries experiencing a disproportionate number of road crashes. According to iRAP’s Safety Insights Explorer, road accidents in Africa result in approximately 260,000 fatalities and 7.4 million injuries annually, costing the economy an estimated $148.9 billion.
Under the MOU, iRAP—recognized globally for its expertise in road safety—and ARMFA, which is dedicated to road maintenance and development in Africa, will work together to identify hazardous roads, implement safety improvements, and enhance road maintenance standards. The partnership will emphasize best practices, capacity building, and data-driven solutions to ensure safer roads, particularly for vulnerable users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
Initiatives
Key initiatives include training road safety professionals, conducting iRAP assessments on critical highways, creating Safer Roads Investment Plans for upgrading high-risk areas, and developing annual action plans and communication strategies. Additionally, knowledge sharing, technology integration, and data-driven decision-making will be central to the collaboration.
The agreement supports the achievement of UN Targets 3 and 4, which aim to ensure that new roads meet at least a 3-star safety standard for all users and that over 75% of travel occurs on roads of similar safety levels by 2030. The partnership will also align with the African Road Safety Charter developed by the African Union.
Greg Smith, iRAP’s Global Program Director and Acting CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, emphasizing that combining iRAP’s global expertise with ARMFA’s local experience across 35 member countries will help make road maintenance investments safer and more effective. Similarly, ARMFA President Aubin Essaie Moussa highlighted that this initiative is a crucial step toward reducing road traffic fatalities and injuries, with the potential to save millions of lives across the continent.
According to iRAP’s analysis, achieving the UN’s road safety targets in Africa could prevent approximately 98,265 fatalities and nearly 56.3 million deaths and serious injuries over the lifespan of road improvements. This would also provide an annual economic benefit of $52.4 billion, translating to a return of $9.90 for every $1 spent on road safety enhancements. This partnership marks a critical milestone in the ongoing efforts to make Africa’s roads safer and more sustainable for all users.