Road traffic fatalities and injuries are a global concern and a significant development challenge for low- and middle-income countries, including those in Africa. The cost of road traffic crashes in Africa was estimated at US$128 billion in 2016, equivalent to 9 percent of the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Despite the presence of coordination institutions in charge of road safety in many countries, road safety performance remains a concern, management systems are inadequate, and interventions are weak. Recognizing this problem, the Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) commissioned the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) to conduct a study to review the performance of Road Safety Lead Agencies (RSLAs) in sixteen countries of Africa. This study is part of a global study on RSLAs being conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO).

This webinar presented the main findings and recommendations of the study and allowed participants to learn more about: (i) the different institutional arrangements being implemented by countries, (ii) what contributed to the success of some RSLAs, and (iii) recommendations to improve the performance of African RSLAs based on good practices.  Participants also heard from the heads of RSLAs who shared their practical experiences.