IRF Delivers Regional Report to Advance Safe and Inclusive Road Design in North and West Africa
Jan 11
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IRF Academy
Under the stewardship of the International Road Federation (IRF), the UNRSF-funded “Safe and Inclusive Road Design in North and West Africa” project has reached a major milestone with the completion and delivery of a consolidated regional report on improved road design practices in Morocco, Senegal and Mauritania.
The report provides a comprehensive assessment of existing road design standards and practices, with a particular focus on road safety performance and the protection of vulnerable road users. Developed through close cooperation with national road administrations and regional stakeholders, the publication of the report marks a significant step forward in supporting countries’ commitments under the United Nations’ Second Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030), especially in relation to safer infrastructure.
By combining regional cooperation, technical rigor and targeted capacity-building, the initiative aims to contribute to lasting reductions in road fatalities and serious injuries across North and West Africa, while supporting more resilient and people-centred transport networks.
The report provides a comprehensive assessment of existing road design standards and practices, with a particular focus on road safety performance and the protection of vulnerable road users. Developed through close cooperation with national road administrations and regional stakeholders, the publication of the report marks a significant step forward in supporting countries’ commitments under the United Nations’ Second Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030), especially in relation to safer infrastructure.
By combining regional cooperation, technical rigor and targeted capacity-building, the initiative aims to contribute to lasting reductions in road fatalities and serious injuries across North and West Africa, while supporting more resilient and people-centred transport networks.
Critical Findings for a Region on the Move
Despite relatively low levels of motorisation, North and West Africa continue to experience some of the highest rates of road fatalities and serious injuries globally, with vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, accounting for the majority of victims.
The regional report highlights that rapid network expansion has often relied on outdated road design standards that prioritise traffic flow over safety outcomes. Key findings point to recurring gaps in speed management, intersection design, visibility, and the continuity of facilities for vulnerable road users, particularly on interurban and rural roads and through settlement crossings.
In response, the report recommends a systematic revision of national road design standards to embed Safe System principles, the institutionalisation of road safety audits throughout the project life cycle, and the development of durable mechanisms for updating design standards on a regular basis and strengthening governance frameworks, particularly along cross-border corridors.
The regional report highlights that rapid network expansion has often relied on outdated road design standards that prioritise traffic flow over safety outcomes. Key findings point to recurring gaps in speed management, intersection design, visibility, and the continuity of facilities for vulnerable road users, particularly on interurban and rural roads and through settlement crossings.
In response, the report recommends a systematic revision of national road design standards to embed Safe System principles, the institutionalisation of road safety audits throughout the project life cycle, and the development of durable mechanisms for updating design standards on a regular basis and strengthening governance frameworks, particularly along cross-border corridors.
Strengthening capacity and institutional frameworks
The report further underscores that lasting improvements in road safety depend on stronger institutional frameworks and sustained investment in human capital. It identifies clear capacity gaps among road agencies, design engineers and consulting firms, notably in the application of Safe System principles and the use of speed management by design.
In response, the project has already begun translating these insights into action through targeted training and knowledge-exchange activities, bringing together practitioners from Morocco, Senegal and Mauritania to strengthen skills related to Safe System–based design, the protection of vulnerable road users, as well as preventive screening tools such as iRAP surveys and road safety audits. These ongoing capacity-building efforts will be further expanded in 2026, supporting countries in embedding the report’s recommendations into everyday practice and institutional processes.
Voices from the partnership
Commenting on the milestone, Gonzalo Alcaraz, Director General of IRF, said: “This regional report is a concrete example of what can be achieved when countries and partners work together around a shared objective. Safer and more inclusive road design is not a theoretical exercise, it is a practical, lifesaving agenda.
By focusing on application rather than theoretical guidance, this update will help ensure that revised standards lead to measurable improvements in safety outcomes across national and cross-border corridors.
IRF is proud to support Morocco, Senegal, and Mauritania in laying the foundations for improved design standards that better protect all road users.”
By focusing on application rather than theoretical guidance, this update will help ensure that revised standards lead to measurable improvements in safety outcomes across national and cross-border corridors.
IRF is proud to support Morocco, Senegal, and Mauritania in laying the foundations for improved design standards that better protect all road users.”
From the United Nations perspective, Adel Alghaberi, representing UNESCWA, noted: “This regional report reflects tangible progress by Morocco, Senegal and Mauritania in critically reviewing and modernising their road design frameworks. Under the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030, countries are called not only to commit, but to act on safer infrastructure. By jointly assessing their standards against Safe System principles and international good practice, these countries are taking concrete steps toward embedding road safety and inclusion into national design norms, where long-term impact is created.”
From the perspective of a major infrastructure financier, Atiq Ahmad of the Islamic Development Bank added: “For development institutions, safe, inclusive, and resilient road infrastructure is fundamental to sustainable development and not a secondary consideration. This regional report provides a robust analytical and operational foundation to support our Member Countries in embedding road safety, universal access, and climate resilience into road design and delivery. By advancing safer and more inclusive corridors, the report directly contributes to reducing road fatalities, improving accessibility for vulnerable users, and ensuring that transport investments deliver long-term social and economic benefits across North and West Africa.”
Looking Ahead
With this milestone achieved, the project now enters its next phase with intensified efforts in support of training, knowledge transfer and institutional strengthening, helping road agencies and practitioners embed safer and more inclusive design principles into everyday practice.
The “Safe and Inclusive Road Design in North and West Africa “ project is funded by the United Nations Road Safety Fund through the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and by the Islamic Development Bank, and implemented by IRF in partnership with national and regional institutions.
Download the executive summary below
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