Road safety took centre stage at the 10th International Conference on Sustainable Transportation in Africa (ICTA 2025) in Liberia, with our Safer Journeys Lead for Africa Nathalie Chiavassa facilitating a workshop on Evidence-Based Interventions to Improve and Sustain Safer Roads for All .

Held from 21-23 July under the theme “Resilient Transport Infrastructure and Improved Accessibility for Sustainable Development”, ICTA2025 gathered 300 delegates including road authorities, funding agencies, transport consultants, policymakers and academics to share research, best practices and strategies to build sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready transport systems across the region.

A range of topics were explored including road safety and risk management, asset and pavement management and maintenance, data monitoring and performance, life-cycle cost analysis, public-private partnership funding mechanisms, innovative design, transformational technologies, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Participants were guided through a dynamic iRAP session focused on use of the methodology and tools to inform evidence-based investment in road infrastructure safety, and case studies of success across Africa.

“Safer roads don’t happen by chance,” Nathalie Chiavassa said. “They result from informed investment and action, grounded in evidence and context. By applying the iRAP methodology and promoting community-inclusive design, we can achieve the global standard of 3-star or better safer roads for all road users across Africa. This is especially important for the most vulnerable – pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists.

“Achieving UN Target 4 for most travel to be on 3-star or better roads by 2030 stands to save an estimated 98,000 lives every year in Africa, and millions more injuries, with an economic benefit of USD$52.4 billion annually.

“Safe, resilient infrastructure, and implementation of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety, is critical for Africa’s sustainable development,” she added.

ICTA 2025 was hosted by the Global Transportation Professional Networking Group in partnership with the Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Transport, National Roads Fund, Road Safety Secretariat, and leading institutions including Morgan State University (USA), University of Liberia, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), TRECK, and the International Road Federation (IRF).

Nathalie was delighted to meet the Hon. Taplah, Deputy Minister for Rural Development, Ministry of Public Works; Dr Oladele, organizer of the ICTA conference; and Sphe, an SARAP member from South Africa during the event.