Africa’s Urban Transport Leaders Unite to Launch the African Association of Urban Transport Authorities (AAUTA) in Abidjan

Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire February 21, 2023 - February 22, 2023 Urban Transport & Mobility

 

ABIDJAN, February 21, 2023 – The Greater Abidjan Urban Mobility Authority (AMUGA, Autorité de la mobilité urbaine dans le Grand Abidjan) in collaboration with the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP, an international partnership administered by the World Bank) are hosting the Founding General Assembly of the African Association of Urban Transport Authorities at the Noom Hotel in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on February 21-22, 2023.

Given the continent’s rapidly increasing urbanization and motorization rates, providing a sustainable response to the growing urban transport and mobility needs of citizens remains a challenge for most African cities. Recognizing the need to strengthen the institutions and processes that underpin the delivery of safe, affordable and efficient urban mobility services in Africa, over 40 urban transport leaders from over 13 African countries will unite to formally establish the African Association of Urban Transport Authorities (AAUTA).

AAUTA will serve as a dedicated platform for African urban transport authorities (UTAs) to: (i) meet and exchange lessons learned and good practices related to planning, coordinating, regulating, financing and managing urban transport systems in Africa, including the operation of UTAs themselves; (ii) promote and strengthen ties between other UTAs in the continent; (iii) support nascent structures and build the capacity of existing ones; (iv) promote public-private partnerships that provide the best conditions for mobilizing resources;  and (v) strengthen cooperation with partners in development.  

"The launch of the African Association of Urban Transport Authorities (AAUTA) is a major milestone in the effort to develop sustainable and decarbonized urban transport systems in Africa” said Mustapha Benmaamar, Program Manager of SSATP. “SSATP is committed to supporting this important association, which will serve as a valuable platform for institutions in charge of organizing urban mobility at the metropolitan level to share good practices and support each other in carrying out their mandates."

"By building a strong network of urban transport authorities across the continent, the establishment of this association is a great leap forward towards creating a more sustainable and equitable future for African cities. It is my hope that by joining forces, we, as urban transport leaders of Africa, will be better equipped to handle the urban mobility challenges we face on a daily basis,“ said Romain Kouakou, Director General of AMUGA. “AMUGA is proud to be a part of this effort and looks forward to working with SSATP and other UTAs to ensure that the association is successful in its mission.”

At the Founding General Assembly, Africa’s urban transport leaders will have the opportunity to: (i) discuss and adopt the AAUTA’s constitutional documents, including the statutes, code of conduct and five-year business plan, (ii) set up the management bodies of the Association; and (iii) participate in technical sessions related to establishing and financing UTAs.

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About the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP)

Established in 1987, the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) is an international partnership of 42 African countries, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), African institutions such as the African Union Commission (AUC) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), public and private sector organizations, and international development agencies, with the mission to facilitate policy development and related capacity building in Africa's transport sector. SSATP is financed by the contributions of development partners to a trust fund administered by the World Bank. Current donors are the European Commission (EC), Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and the African Development Bank (AfDB). For more information, please visit: https://www.ssatp.org

About the Greater Abidjan Urban Mobility Authority (AMUGA)

AMUGA’s mission is to ensure the organization and coordination of the various modes of transport in Greater Abidjan. AMUGA ensures the institutional governance of urban mobility as well as the infrastructure and equipment necessary for transport, the means of transport, and the services related to transport and travel within its territory of jurisdiction. It is an Independent Administrative Authority (IAA) that was created by Article 9 bis of Law No. 2014-812 of December 16, 2014, on the Orientation of Internal Transport (LOTI) as amended by Ordinance No. 2019-99 of January 30, 2019. For more information, visit: https://amuga.ci/

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