After a successful deployment in Tanzania, Senegal has been selected next for the implementation of the Ten Step Plan for Safer Road Infrastructure.
The Ten Step Senegal Project, funded by the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF), is a collaborative initiative involving the Government of Senegal through the Ministry of Infrastructure, Land, and Air Transport (MITTA) and National Road Safety Agency (ANASER), alongside a consortium led by the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) and including the International Road Federation (IRF), PIARC (World Road Association) and LASER International, with support from the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) and FIA Foundation.
The three-year project to implement the Ten Step Plan in Senegal aims to enhance safer road infrastructure by strengthening capacities through training, improved road design standards and targeted strategies, creating synergies with ongoing internationally funded road projects, providing key performance indicators, recommendations, and supporting the implementation of the National Road Safety Plan.
Road crashes are estimated to kill 3,609 people each year in Senegal (WHO 2018) and they are the leading cause of death for children and young people between 15 and 29 years of age. For the period of 2011-2020, Senegal established a National Road Safety Plan with the overall objective of reducing by 35% fatalities and serious injuries. The Plan provides a good example of the challenges that Senegal is facing in organising, planning, implementing and evaluating progress in road safety. It was only partially implemented by stakeholders and could not achieve its targets due to a lack of coordination among various implementing agencies, lack of technical skills within the area of safer roads, absence of a dedicated management agency to coordinate actions, and a lack of dedicated funding.
The Government of Senegal is committed to the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 and UN resolutions on road safety. Since 2020, the Government has made a significant political step in establishing the new Infrastructure and Transport Policy by establishing a Transport Development Fund (FDT) and a National Road Safety Agency (ANASER). Senegal is investing in major road infrastructure projects as part of its 2030 vision for a safer Senegal. These projects are supported by the World Bank, but also by The European Commission and The European Investment Bank.
The newly created National Road Safety Agency, ANASER, formally started its activities in 2022. The ANASER is in charge of establishing and implementing the National Road Safety Plan for 2021-2030. ANASER is typically at the stage of a newly established agency facing important skills challenges in order to fulfill its mandate.
Project Objectives
- Act as a catalyser for safer roads investment being made with support of the World Bank.
- Provide tools to measure the achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs) based on road assessments to feed risk mapping and road safety management on key aspects of road safety.
- Provide training and accreditation for engineers to be able to set up a nationally owned safer roads programme.
- Directly support the National Road Safety Plan in providing recommendations in line with UN Targets.
- Directly support the establishment of investment plans for safer roads for up to 500 km of existing roads and up to 500 km of new designs.
- Directly support the implementation of the 30 km/h policy around up to 20 schools.
The Approach
The Senegal Ten Step Plan for Safer Road Infrastructure Project comes at the right time for the ANASER to strengthen its capacity, acquire skills and tools aiming at supporting the Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan.
The first phase of the project (“Gap Analysis”) will focus on establishing synergies with ongoing initiatives, gather all required information and establish a strong coordination and communication plan.
The second phase of the project (“National Standards and Training”) will focus on capacity building, training and on providing key recommendations, tools and performance indicators to support the National Strategy and cost-effective investment plans.
The last phase of the project (“Infrastructure Safety Management”) aims to provide long-term sustainability with the establishment of a locally owned Road Assessment Programme (RAP) to support UN Targets 3 and 4 for safer roads.
Expected Impact
The expected impact of the project on road safety within Senegal is focused on supporting ongoing efforts to achieve the National Road Safety Plan, safer road infrastructures, maximised synergies between all partners and internationally funded projects, and the adoption of globally recognised road safety best practices such as the Safe System Approach,road safety audits, skills accreditation, and safety countermeasures for safe road designs and speeds.
