iRAP is pleased to be partnering with the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) and KCB Group in hosting the upcoming 2026 Africa Regional Road Safety Conference on 26–27 November in Nairobi. Don’t miss this important regional stocktake event, exploring progress implementing the Global Plan for the Decade of Action in Africa and critical next steps for the remaining four years to 2030.
Africa insights – did you know?
- While global road traffic deaths decreased by about 5 per cent between 2010 and 2021, road deaths in Africa increased by 17 per cent, making Africa the only major global region where fatalities are rising. (WHO Global Status Report on Road Safety, 2023)
- Almost 260 000 lives are lost on the continent’s roads each year, at an estimated cost of US$36 billion per annum. (iRAP Safety Insights Explorer)
- Africa holds roughly 15 per cent of the global population and only 3 per cent of the world’s registered vehicles, yet it accounts for 20 per cent of all global road deaths. (Africa Status Report on Road Safety, 2025)
- Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders of motorized two- and three-wheelers bear the brunt of the crisis. In Africa, vulnerable road users make up nearly half of all traffic deaths, with pedestrians accounting for around 38 per cent of fatalities. (iRAP Safety Insights Explorer)
- iRAP assessments reveal that only 17 per cent of African roads meet the global safety standard of 3-star or better for pedestrians, 15 per cent for bicyclists, 29 per cent for motorcyclists, and 38 per cent for vehicle occupants. (iRAP Safety Insights Explorer)
- Achieving UN Target 4, for the majority of travel to be on roads rated at least 3-stars for safety, stands to save an estimated 98,265 lives each year in Africa, with an economic benefit of US$52.4 billion to the region – $9.90 for every $1 spent. (iRAP Safety Insights Explorer)
About the conference and iRAP’s session
The 2026 Africa Regional Road Safety Conference will bring together government ministries, national road safety lead agencies, development banks, road policing agencies, research institutions, the private sector, and NGOs over two days to reflect on progress, share evidence and experience, strengthen partnerships and identify practical strategies to accelerate the implementation of effective interventions.
The conference comes at a critical time. With just four years remaining to achieve the global Decade goal of halving road deaths and injuries by 2030, stronger collaboration, shared knowledge and accelerated investment in proven interventions will be essential to achieving measurable impact.
To learn more about the importance of safer roads, join our session with iRAP CEO Greg Smith and Safer Journeys Lead for Africa Nathalie Chiavassa on “Safer Infrastructure for Africa’s Future”.
The session will bring together government, practitioner and international perspectives drawing particularly on experience from Kenya and the wider African region to explore how a better understanding of infrastructure safety across whole road networks can inform better decisions about transport, resilience, trade and development.
iRAP in Africa
As the holder of the global standard for road infrastructure safety, iRAP is supporting African countries to eliminate high-risk roads and achieve Global Road Safety Performance Targets 3 and 4. The targets include ensuring all new roads are built to a 3-star or better standard for all road users (Target 3), and more than 75% of travel is on the equivalent of 3-star or better roads for all road users by 2030 (Target 4).
Through its regional RAPs, tools, training and network of Accredited Practitioners, iRAP is supporting governments, development banks, mobility clubs, the private sector, research organisations, and road safety NGOs with evidence-based road assessments, capacity building and investment planning to help make roads safer and prevent deaths and serious injuries.
Thus far, iRAP partners have assessed the safety of nearly 140,000 km of roads and 438 schools in 29 countries of Africa, helping to support the safety of US$9 billion of road infrastructure investment. iRAP training has increased the road safety capacity of engineers and stakeholders in 46 countries.
Don’t miss this important regional conversation
iRAP encourages its partners, practitioners, government and development counterparts, and the wider road safety community to attend and contribute to this important regional event.
Together, we can strengthen the evidence, partnerships and action needed to create an Africa free of high-risk roads.
Join us in Nairobi! Attendance is free, however registration is essential.