Kofi Annan Road Safety Award

In 2015, a comprehensive review of the African Road Safety Action Plan highlighted the alarming safety issues plaguing rural roads across the continent. Many African countries had failed to take sufficient action in implementing recommended measures, managing road safety, and providing post-crash responses. A subsequent review in 2018 further confirmed the absence of fundamental road safety practices in several countries, such as national strategies, well-funded lead agencies, updated laws, and reliable inspection systems.

These shortcomings exposed a significant weakness in the initial Decade of Action for Road Safety, as identified by an international academic group preceding the ministerial conference in Stockholm in February 2020. Innovative solutions were urgently needed from governments, businesses, civil society, organizations, and individuals to combat the rising number of deaths on Africa’s roads.

In response, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) alongside the United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety and Kofi Annan Foundation initiated the Kofi Annan Road Safety Award.

The award is aimed at recognizing and motivating outstanding contributions in reducing fatalities and injuries from road crashes in Africa. By celebrating excellence in thinking and action, the award seeks to inspire governments, private sectors, civil society organizations, and individuals to develop and implement innovative initiatives that can save lives on the continent’s roads.

The Kofi Annan Road Safety Award also serves as a tribute to the late Kofi Annan, a distinguished statesman and advocate for road safety.

The second edition of the Kofi Annan Road Safety Award will be held in September 2023, with the country of Morocco as the designated host.

More Information on the 2023 edition of the Kofi Annan Road Safety Award